How do you train a dog to do tricks when the dog is almost 3yrs. old?

Question

My dog doesn't listen,but he's very loyal.He follows me everywhere,but he won't do tricks!

Answer 1

Never fear... 3 years old is barely a grown dog! Your boy is still plenty young enough to learn all sorts of new things.

I second Misa M's suggestion to look into clicker training. Clicker training is great for lots of training solutions, but it's just custom made for teaching tricks. It's even how they teach the killer whales and things at Sea World -- they just use a whistle instead of a clicker box.

The clicker is just a little noisemaker box that is nothing special on its own, but when you pair the noise with a food reward (one click = one treat, always) you can start to click when your dog does something you want, and this enables you to mark the EXACT moment that the behavior happened. You can train without clicking, but there's a lot more guesswork involved -- it's the difference between a butter knife and a scalpel. If several seconds pass between the dog's behavior and the treat or the praise, they won't connect the two things.

Also, the clicker becomes a game for the dog -- in their mind, it's like they're training you! "Okay, if I do this thing here, I can make Mom/Dad click and give me a treat... yes!" My dogs don't just like training, they go wild when I get the clicker out. While there are a lot of treats involved, it's much more about the game than the treats themselves. It's like when you're a kid, it's really exciting to get a gold star on your paper, but you're not excited about the little metallic sticker -- you're excited about winning or earning that sticker! Someone could give you a whole sheet of stickers but that's not nearly as exciting as the one single sticker that comes back on your paper with 100% and a smiley face marked on it. Clicker training is like that for the dogs -- once they understand the game, they love to play it just for the sake of playing it, and you get to teach them all sorts of tricks in the process.

One other note is that you need only train for literally a couple of minutes a day. You'd be absolutely amazed at what you can accomplish just by spending five minutes every day before breakfast or before bedtime. People always think you need to dedicate a half hour or hour to every training session, but that's actually waaaay to much time.

Happy training!

Answer 2

The best way to train any dog is through positive reinforcement. Use treats, praise and other "good stuff" to coax your dog into the trick that you want him to do. Example: teaching my dog to sit meant that I showed her a treat. I slowly moved the treat up over her head so that she naturally sat down (trying to reach it). I kept repeating "Sit" in a very nice, gentle voice so that she would associate the command with the action (and with the treat). Eventually I was able to substitute praise (petting, lots of "Good girl!" and the like) for the treat. Even adult dogs can learn new tricks. Just make sure that you work with your dog for at least a few minutes every single day. Otherwise, it'll take longer for your dog to "get it."

Answer 3

Contrary to the old saying, a dog's age doesn't have much to do with it's ability to learn new tricks. Your skill as a trainer is much more important. I read a book a few years ago that I think would be very helpful. I did a little searching just now to try to identify it. I think I got it right: "Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor. The author was a dolphin trainer.

Answer 4

be very patient. it's going to take a long time. don't do training sessions for more than 20 minutes at a time and don't switch tricks between them it will consfuse him. when doing basic tricks like sit, say the comand loud and clear and use your hand to push him into the right position gently. Only reward him when he's in that position and never scold him. Sometimes dogs will be too scared to do tricks, too. my dog is terrified of hula hoops and will not jump through them, so some tricks might not work out.
good luck!!!!

Answer 5

Lots of love and positive reinforcement! Dogs are extremely intelligent at any age, and entirely capable of learning new things. Don't become discouraged if your pet seems stubborn at first. Keep at it with the use of SMALL and LOW CALORIE treats or enthusiastic praise. He'll get it eventually. If by training you mean putting an end to bad behavior, keep this in mind: a dog that wants or needs more attention will often repeat things that it has been punished for in order to recieve that attention. When your dog does something wrong, tell them calmy but sternly, "No." Then walk away, and ignore them completely. Counter this with enthusiastic affection when your dog IS behaving. They'll get the picture.

Answer 6

ok well you will really have to keep at it with your dog, keep him on a very tight schedule while teaching and always give rewards even if it's just a pat, do this even when you have to force him to do it.....this should work,,,,,the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is so not true...i had a very old dog and we saved her from a puppy mill...when we got her she had never been out of a cage before and was very shy..in about a month i had her laying on the couch beside me and playing around all the time...she learned how to sit, roll over, high five and all kinds of stuff , happy as can be really....never underestimate your dog lol

Answer 7

Food is a good motivator. Give him a small treat... pieces of cereal, for example, after he performs the trick. You might have to help him do the trick at first...then reward him. Teach one trick at a time, like sit, lay down, shake, play dead, turn around, pick a card. Use hand signals to accompany the verbal request. After he gets the hang of it, then give treats intermittently. Some dogs are smarter than others, so teach tricks that you think he/she can learn.

Answer 8

He won't do tricks because you haven't taught him. A three year old dog is quite capable of learning. Are you capable of training?

Answer 9

Take a little time to look at some sites that can help you:
http://www.clickertraining.com/
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/

Is it possible that you are not being clear with what you want? Dogs don't speak English, so chanting "Sit....sit.....sit....." at him will not help the dog to understand anything. There are many different strategies for getting what you want when training, and as animal training superstar Bob Bailey says, "Training is simple, but not easy. Simplify each step of training, give unambiguous direction and precise reinforcements."
And check the treats you're using. They should be fantastic! Diced chicken, cheese, salmon, etc. Pay your dog highly for working with you. If you expect your dog to work for you "because he loves you", you will be asking this same question next year, too.

Answer 10

Generally the earlier you teach dogs to do tricks the more obedient & easier it is to teach them as they get older. There's a good book that shows you how to teach all ages of dogs to be obedient & do tricks:

http://mckeowns.sitstay.hop.clickbank.net/

Answer 11

The saying "you can't teach and old dog new tricks" couldn't be further from the truth. Your dog is a pack animal and eager to do things to please his master. Your first priority should be finding an activity he enjoys more than anything. Tug of war is always a good place to start. Using the game of tug to manipulate his behavior in desired ways is actually quite easy. Dog training is all about repetition. Dogs are creatures of habbit. Simply uses reenforcing stimuli to encourage the dog each time he responds correctly. Avoid physical corrections if at all possible. Often the absence of reward is punishment enough.

I hightly recommend you watch Ivan Balabanov's "obedience without conflict". He's one of, if not the, best trainer in the states. If you're truely interested in dog training pick up numerous books, attend siminars, watch videos and join clubs. There are never ending ways to train dogs and all dogs respond to different types of training a little differently.