Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Question

Ive always heard it was harder the older they got? Is that true?

I thought that puppys were like kids and Ive been told that kids learn better at a younger age because they are eager to learn. Wouldnt a puppy be eager to please? IKD Too many questions sorry?!

Oscar!!

when your father/mother/family member starts to loose there memory would you not want to try to get them to remember you?

Thats how I feel about an older dog. Part of the family and they get another chance with a new family to live a happy life and learning new things.

Answer 1

Yes and like what Lady Divine said, it's easier than training a puppy in majority of cases!

Dogs are very willing to learn - Puppies have short attention spans

Answer 2

Sure you can. One of my favorite shows is Mythbusters, on the Discovery Channel. They explore urban legends and test them. The two hosts were each assigned an older dog straight from the kennel with no apparent training. Each took their dog and worked with it a few weeks to see how well it would learn new commands. The one who's a little warped, Adam, had trouble, but the dog did learn pretty well. The other, Jamie, who seems to know everything, had it down pat. And then they called in a trainer, who had the dogs perfectly trained in no time flat.

Answer 3

By all means. You can teach them to wave Bye-Bye.

Cut up a hot dog and have one piece be larger. Put a smaller piece in your hand and make a fist. Let you dog smell it and let him take it. Do this like 3 or 4 times. Then don't let him have it till he puts his paw up on your hand. Then give it to him. Do this again but start saying, "Wave Bye-Bye". The dog will start to understand the sound of Bye-Bye with putting his paw on your hand for the treat. Every time you do a session make sure the last piece is the larger piece of hot dog. Within a short time all you'll have to say is, "Wave Bye-Bye". Of course this works wonderfully when someone is leaving your house and you haven't told anyone and you say Bye-Bye and the dog starts waving. Make sure you have a treat for the dog after each time. If your dog is a Lab or Border Collie expect him to learn it within minutes.

Answer 4

It could be a little more difficult with an old dog, if he was set in his ways.. It could also be easier with an old dog, depending on what you are trying to teach. But yes you can teach an old dog new tricks.. You cannot however teach an old husband new tricks :)

Answer 5

Yes, dogs can learn at any age. If you watch Mythbusters on Discovery Channel they did a study on that and proved you can teach old dogs new tricks.

Answer 6

Yes, absolutely. Not only has Mythbusters proved this, but also my two Mini Schnauzers were both rescued as seniors (about 12 years old) and both learned things that they didn't know before we rescued them.

One learned sit, stay, down, roll over, speak, backup, and come when called.

Our other is learning "settle" to hush her barking.

Answer 7

Our dog is 9 years old and just about a year ago, my husband taught him to bring his dish over to where the food is. It didn't take that long, maybe a month.

Answer 8

Of course you can.
From experience, I think it is easier to teach an older dog, than a puppy. :)

Answer 9

I've taught my old dog new tricks. She's pretty smart and picks up fast. I've also been teaching my old husband some new tricks, but he isn't learning as fast! lol

Answer 10

Of course, everyone(and everything) can always learn. It just might take a little longer