Senior Dog Training: Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?

While physical changes might prevent older dogs from being able to perform certain tasks, such as navigating uneven terrain or reacting quickly to environmental cues, they still have the ability to learn new skills. However, you can expect your older dog to pick up on training at a slower rate than puppies and younger dogs.

In a study conducted at the University of Vienna's Clever Dog Lab, a test of dogs' ability to learn to distinguish between objects found that dogs around 10 years of age took more than twice as many repetitions and corrections than puppies six months to 1 year of age. However, the older dogs outperformed the young pups in logic and reasoning tasks. The study found no age difference in dogs' ability to retain their training.

While the study found no correlation between aging dogs' ability to learn based on dog breed, it stands to reason that breeds that are easier to train while young will remain easier to train as they age. Breeds that do best at learning new skills, according to the American Kennel Club, include the poodle, golden retrievers and herding breeds such as the German shepherd.

As dogs age, they may develop health conditions that limit their learning ability, including joint pain, vision or hearing loss or a decline in cognitive function. This might mean you should avoid trying to teach your senior dog more vigorous activities or tricks, but the good news is that older dogs can still learn — and enjoy — new things.

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Yes — it simply takes more time and patience to train an older dog.

Prepare for Training
 

Going into training with the right mindset is just as important as the training itself. Be prepared to take your time and enjoy the bonding that comes from older adult dog training.

Be Patient

Remember that older dogs may need twice as much time and exposure than younger dogs to learn a new behavior or trick.

Tricks or Skills

Do you want to teach skills, like crate training or leash walking? Or teach them to do tricks, which can help keep them engaged and strengthen your bond? You can do both, of course, and the same technique works for either.

For tricks, look for something your dog does naturally — like wave a paw — and then give it a name/command. Use short, single-syllable words, like shake, or crate, or speak. Keep it simple and stay consistent for best results.

Exercise First

For dogs who are easily distracted and have a hard time paying attention, a walk or a game of fetch prior to the training session will help them release pent-up energy, so they can relax and be more focused.

Time and Place Matter

Schedule training sessions for brief periods at the same time each day. Try for ten to twenty minutes in the same training space each time, so your dog associates the location with training and understands what you expect. Choose a place with few distractions, like the backyard, before kids come home from school.

Consider Your Dog's Mental and Physical Health
 

As your furry friend ages, they may experience certain health conditions that make learning certain skills more challenging. Keep these in mind, and personalize your training efforts to fit the needs of your dog.

Health Issues

Does your dog have any health concerns that might affect their ability to train? For example, a dog with arthritis may have trouble sitting comfortably, even if they understand what you want. A diabetic dog or one with kidney issues may need to "go" more often, and that impacts house training. Keep these in mind, and focus on other tricks or skills that are more in line with their capabilities.

Cognitive Dysfunction Issues

If your senior dog is struggling to remember things or even showing signs of cognitive dysfunction, it may be hard for them to learn new skills. Be patient, speak gently, and don't expect more from them than they can give.

Behavior Challenges

If your reason for training is to address a behavioral problem, talk to your veterinarian to make sure your dog is healthy enough for training; there may be underlying concerns that are impacting their behavior.
 

Find What Motivates Your Senior Dog
 

How to train an older dog basic commands starts with learning what motivates them. Different dogs are motivated by different things. They usually tell you what they love best with happy wags and excitement, so listen to them.

Also, understand that senses fade with age. What tasted or smelled good as pups might not be as exciting for them as they get older.

Reward with Treats

Reserve your dog's favorite treats for training. Giving them something they're excited about each time they do what you want creates positive associations between the command and the desired outcome.

However, be careful not to feed your dog too many treats (more than 10% of their daily caloric intake).

Reward with Smells

If your hunting breed pooch doesn't respond well to treats, or if you're watching their weight, a "sniff reward" may do the trick. For example, tiny soft cat treats may smell stronger when sniffed, which may intrigue and tickle your old dog's nose, even if not eaten.

Reward with the 3 P's

Play, praise and petting is enough to motivate some dogs to perform a new skill. This might look like playing tug of war, catching a Frisbee, or chomping on a safe, stuffed toy. Always include verbal praise with any kind of reward — along with petting, if that's your dog's ideal reward.

What to Do with Slow Learners
 

Schedule Breaks

It's easy to get frustrated when your dog doesn't seem to be catching on. Very likely, your old pup feels the same way. When this happens, stop the training and try again the next day.

Ignore Undesirable Behavior

It may sound counterintuitive, but calling attention to your dog if they get distracted, lie down, wander off or refuse to cooperate will only serve to reinforce that behavior. The best thing to do is ignore "bad" behavior and reward good responses.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Your old dog needs consistent repetition to learn a new skill. Skipping a day will only make it harder for your old friend. Keep rewarding incremental steps — for the dog looking at you, then coming toward you when called, or offering a paw to shake. Shower them with rewards when your dog gets it right.

Unless your dog suffers from dog dementia, there's a good chance they'll pick up the trick eventually. Even after they do, daily practice will help ensure that they retain the new skill.