How to Start Training an Older Dog

Posted by Jeanne on January 28, 2009

Older dogs are, if untrained, a worse problem than untrained puppies for their bad habits are often deeply rooted, and they have to be broken away from bad habits as well as trained into new ones.

The first thing to do if you are bringing home one of the older kennel mates or have purchased a new, fully matured dog is to let him get thoroughly acquainted with his new surroundings before you begin any training.

Don’t leap at him and punish him for something that he has always done. Observe his temperament; note his bad habits and his good habits. Whenever he does something wrong, correct him quietly. Don’t punish him. When he does something right, praise and pet him. Above all things, try to win his trust and affection. Let him know you are his master – but a kindly, understanding one.

Most dogs, unaccustomed to being in a home, will get up on the table and steal food. If you see him do this, strike his paws quite hard and say “No.” When you correct the dog, don’t do a lot of talking; use the single word “No.” Once he has learned the meaning of this word, you’ve gone a long way with your training.

At the end of about two weeks, you will find you have corrected many of the glaring bad habits of your dog and you are then ready to start some real training. Go about it just as you would with a puppy, but you must be willing to overlook slips and lack of obedience. Don’t make your training periods too lengthy, and don’t let your dog get bored with them. Play with him, praise him, and make him feel that these training periods are something to look forward to.