It’s a myth that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. In some ways, it may be more challenging to train an older dog than it is to teach a puppy, but in other ways, it can be easier.
Advantages of Training an Older Dog
Puppies are bundles of energy with short attention spans. They know few or no commands and often have no idea what humans want them to do. That sometimes makes it difficult to train them.
Older dogs, however, tend to be calmer and find it easier to stay focused. They generally know at least some basic commands and a handful of human words, which can be helpful when it comes to training. Older dogs also understand what is typically expected of them and are eager to please. If your dog can make you happy and also enjoys a new task, it will be likely to master it quickly.
Potential Challenges of Training an Older Dog
Some older pets have health problems such as arthritis, previous injuries that limit their range of motion, or other issues that can make training a challenge. An older dog may not be physically able to do some of the things that a puppy can do easily. A senior dog may be able to do the same tasks, but it may need more time and may not be able to repeat the same movements over and over. If your dog has any health concerns or is simply slowing down with age, you will have to take that into consideration and make accommodations in your training regimen.
Train Your Dog to Stay in a Safe Area
One of the most common challenges that pet owners face is teaching their dogs to stay in the yard or in a designated area. If a dog runs off, it can get hit by a car, cause damage to a neighbor’s property, or get into a confrontation with someone else’s pet or a wild animal, such as a skunk or a raccoon.
A hidden fence is a simple and effective way to keep your dog in your yard without having to construct a physical barrier. Your dog can wear a collar that detects a signal. The collar will give your pet a warning if it gets too close to the boundary.
With a hidden fence, your dog can quickly learn where it is and is not allowed to go. Once it understands where the boundary is, you can let your dog out to play and not have to worry about keeping an eye on it every second. Contact DogWatch of Eastern Connecticut today to learn more.
