is it TRUE that "You cant teach OLD Dogs NEW tricks"?

Question

How about a Cat with 9 LIVES?

Answer 1

Don’t they always say that life begins at 40?

Anyway, my mother was 56 when she got her Ph.D in Family Counseling and Therapy. She was the oldest person to receive the coveted scroll on her graduation day. I remember teasing her the whole day, saying that she was my daughter’s very own Supergran. I was like the proud “mother” that day, busily shepherding everyone in the family for photographs!

I don’t think that it’s impossible for us all to learn new tricks, oops... things, when we grow old. I believe it would be all up to one’s willingness to remain receptive to new ideas or otherwise. And I also believe that one needs to keep one’s mind active to stimulate the vitality of the brain cells by engaging oneself in mental activities such as reading, writing journals or even joining online forums on the net.

Attitude is the key, I believe. Those who are set in their ways and refuse to take on new ideas or shift vantage points are those who do not possess the capacity to see beyond the windows of their bedridden minds. The universe is an ever-changing thing. Refusing to learn it, no matter at what age, will render one as obsolete as the old broken down gramophone that sits forlornly alone in the attic, doing nothing but collecting dust and reminiscing endlessly about “the good old days….”

Answer 2

Not true at all, you can teach an old dog a new trick. It worked with two old dogs. As for a cat, I counted three, then the cat ran away because it was too dangerous in that neck of the woods for him.

Answer 3

Well, let's get cats out of the way. This cat has had more than nine lives & is certainly up to new tricks.
It's just an old adage of course, but I think the willingness to learn is up to the person more than the teacher. Also that age has absolutely nothing to do with it. Humans, or dogs. (Cats don't really play tricks.)

THANK YOU flutterbypurr! You tell 'em!!

Answer 4

Nope. Just look at shabarack's answer, (anyone who hasn't). It's been my observation that the older one gets, the more receptive they are to new perspectives. They've learned to "get out of the box" & value life's adventures, while many younger people think they know it all, & are very "set" in their ways. Now to cats--well, cats have far more dignity than to do "tricks" for ANY reason. If someone thinks they've taught their cat to do a trick or two, the trick is on that person. Cats are never "trained," & don't make idiots of themselves for treats. Whatever the cat does, the cat has deemed appropriate for themselves. I think the nine lives thing originated from the their psysiological structure. I saw a slow motion of what the cat does when it falls. It's beautiful! So, they always land on their feet! My dear friend, old dogs love to learn "new" tricks.

Answer 5

No, I'm an old dog and I'm still learning new tricks, and hope to do so until I die, which will be the last trick of all. But you've confused me - counting the twists and turns I reckon I've had nine lives, or more. So does that mean I'm a cat, after all? I certainly managed to land on my feet whenever I fell over in life. Now, there's a worry! I taught my last cat not to mew, and to sit where I told her; and another to ride on the back of my draft horses; and another to swim with me and my dog - but found cats very difficult to teach. So maybe I'm incorrigible, as my teachers said, which means a slow learner, I think. So maybe I'm not learning new tricks as much as I hope. Perhaps I should practice barking? THAT would frighten the horses - and the First Mate! What fun?

Answer 6

I think the whole "cat with 9 lives" question simply boils down to cats (usually) having really good reflexes. If you ever had a pet cat you'd likely know this: they have a habit of being more relaxed than people, and their *instincts* when falling are on a par with some of the skills people have to *train* for years to get. In short, cats are generally *not* as prone to accidents or physical injury as people.

As for the "old dogs"....there's two things to consider.

--Yes, anyone, man or beast, can learn anything at any age, if the will and desire are there. ^_^ But...

--There *is* also such a thing as a physical prime. As people and dogs alike get older, they get further from the prime of their health and athletic ability, and some of that is just bad luck for you.....some folks end up being good athletes to start with, and so retain more ability and potential.

While others are more like me, more couch potatoey, and have enough old injuries along with that the "prime" problem is an issue. There are some things that, while I could learn them....at age 40 with two bad shoulders and two half-bad knees, odds are I'd never be any *good at* them. Even if I were to get in the best shape of my life, learning the new stuff, I'd still get owned by people half my age who have been doing "it" for the same amount of time. Reflexes, muscle potential, cardio-vascular capacity...all of these things can go downhill if you don't *start out* a natural athlete to begin with.

Of course, this matters less with social skills, intellectual knowledge, and things that require fine hand-eye coordination. ^_^

But I'm just saying....some folks get set in their ways for a reason, sometimes it comes from knowing the *limits* of your own body, you know?

I hope this helps....have a good one! ^_^

Answer 7

you can teach old dogs new tricks just very slowly and have patience...and a cat has nine lives to pick up the new tricks right?!
♥

Answer 8

You asked if it's true you can't teach old Dogs new tricks. If you are referring to Dogs in particular, I would say, No, because Dogs as they get older, all they want to do is eat and sleep. The same thing with Cats, and I do not think that Cats have nine lives.

Answer 9

I've only used up 4 of my lives so far. The trick is that cats are really using up your life and dogs are subserviant always even when mistreated and try to please. If a cat isn't happy with you they will find a new home...We do find homes and know which way the wind blows, but always tend the garden that feeds us with love when appreciated. For every one who mistreats us cats is only a death for the owner who thought they owned us and realized when we are gone that we were blessing them by our presence. The tricks are for others who have no self esteem. Purr.

Answer 10

I think you can definitely teach an old dog new tricks as long as he's willing and interested to learn new tricks! We're all changing and growing. But, if he doesn't want to learn any new tricks (whether he's an old or a young dog), you won't be able to teach him. I know a lot of senior citizens who are trying new things - but I know a lot of young people who are already set in their ways. How sad!