What is the story behind, or the definition of the Phrase "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" ?

Question

I'm preparing a speech on the definiton of the phrase "you can teach an old dog new tricks. So i wonder if there is any story or background behind this saying that i can use for my speech. I'd greatly appreciatte it!!

Answer 1

All I know is it is trying to impress upon you how people and animals stick to their old habits. Lilke when we went to computers in our police cars, the old timers were really upset about it. Then they discovered slowly but surely they can be pretty handy to have and you don't tie up dispatch running all your tags, driver's licenses, etc.
So, use examples, my theory is if you offer the dog a good enough treat, they can learn new tricks.

Answer 2

The phrase "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is simply based on empirical evidence that the older one is, the more difficult it is to learn something new. As you age, your brain tends to lose a certain amount of its "flexibility" - it takes longer for a person to learn new skills and new methods of doing tasks. So much so that older people may attempt to learn something new only to give up the effort after barely getting started - because all their memories and life experiences keep "crowding out" their new knowledge. Have you ever noticed that older people can talk for hours - literally - about their high school years yet they can't tell you the major news story of yesterday?

Answer 3

This might be helpful:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/46/messages/605.html

and - (1536 Fitzherbert - 'Husbandry'): 'The dogge must lerne it when he is a whelpe, or els it wyl not be; for it is harde to make an olde dogge to stoupe'

Answer 4

same thing as -a leopard does not loose his spots

people characters do not change

the old dog refers to an adult that cannot change his habits any more,or does not want to