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Teaching Your Old Dog New Tricks
Contrary to the old saying, teaching old dogs new tricks is more than possible!
The old adage came from a time when dogs were used for things like hunting or herding sheep. It was often thought as a dog got older that he would lose the ability to perform his job. Sadly this marked the end of life for many a dog.
Today our dogs are so much more to us, the brighten our day and fill our lives with love. And, we’ll happily do whatever it takes to keep them well from puppy to senior. Which include exerising your dogs, keeping their brain active with new tricks even as they get older.
Why Would You Need to Teach Older Dogs Tricks
One example is say that you adopted a middle-aged shelter or rescue dog. Many of these beautiful rescue dogs came to be ‘rescued’ for reasons such as abuse and neglect. Many dogs never got their most basic needs met and a thought someone teaching them tricks is only a dream form these old dogs.
This is where you come in…by adotion and older rescue, you get to al the fun stuff like training, teaching and caring for him, while your dog shower you with love.
Getting Started with Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks
The first thing you want to do is acclimate your dog to his new home. Let him get comfortable for a few days before getting started with some basic commands. Once you and your feels ready then its time to work on teaching your dogs new tricks. However, it’s not as hard as you think.
Dogs Health
Before we get into the meat and potatoes, it’s important to be aware of any underlying health concerns.
Especially in some older dogs who may have hearing impairment that may teaching learn new tricks a little more difficult. If your dog came with little history then a vet check will give you alot of answers, such as; hearing loss, breed, emotional issues, poor vision, cognitive issues, and bone health that will help as a baseline for wellness.
Getting started
Once you’ve ascertained whether or not your dog is healthy enough to go through some training with you, it’s time to get started. If your dog has attention issues, start with a brisk walk or run to get the zoomies out. This encourages relaxation and focus in your dog.
Patience is Key to Teaching Dogs Tricks
According to studies, older dogs may take twice as long to grasp new tricks, even though they are thought to have a higher capacity for logical thinking and reason.
Setting yoursef up for patiene is key. Pick a quiet time when traning or teaching your dog. This way neither you, nor your dog fees any pressure. This way you’ll not get rushed so you can maintain the necessary patience.
Follow a positive method and be sure to practice little and often. Don’t force him or get discouraged, lot, just pick training back up a bit later on. Oh, and don’t foget to give a little healthy reward, that way he knows he’ll be in for treats next time.
Use Treats for Teaching
Using treats, especially something they really love, are excellent for building an effective reward system. By offering your old dogs reward they’ll associate you teaching new tricks with their canine goodies.
Limit the Time When Teaching Older Rescue Dogs
It’s also very important to remember to take breaks when needed. Remember, if you’re teaching your doggo to play fetch or to roll over, it’s supposed to be amusing and fun for the both of you–not an exhausting chore.
If you see any signs of your dog being ‘over it’, like drooping ears, excessive panting or yawning and general distraction, maybe table it for the day. These signs are particularly important to be aware of in your rescue dog, as their threshold for new stimuli is lower than that of a dog that’s been in a stable environment.
Far from impossible!
Remember that your rescue dog will feel anxious at first. He’ll need some time to get used to his new surroundings and build up comfort and trust in you, so don’t fire the cannons right away. Introduce a new command or trick only after the first one has been mastered.
Concluding Teaching Older and Rescue Dogs New Tricks
Be sure to focus on one trick at a time, learning something new can be overwhelming! Be consistent with training times and duration, very patient and speak positively and lovingly to your dog.
Like I said, this is supposed to be fun! It’s bonding time with your dog and reinforcing a strong connection between you two.