“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, says the old wives tale…and many adult dogs want us to think that too!
Actually, puppies and adult dogs are usually about equal as far as dog training challenges. Puppies may not already have many bad habits, but they’re usually so distracted that they have a hard time paying attention. Older dogs may have a few behaviors that need changing, but with their stronger attention spans, they’re often more able to focus on learning.
Dogs are extremely intelligent animals, but without constructive things to think about (such as obedience commands), many pets can become bored or mischievous. “Selective hearing” is a common problem mentioned by owners of adult dogs, along with the declaration, “I thought this breed was supposed to be smart!”
Dogs are pack animals. If there’s not enough leadership in the household, many dogs will instinctively step into the role of family boss. It can actually be kind of funny to take note of the subtle things your pet may have trained you to do. For example: Let dog in/let dog out (constantly), give him a treat when he whines by the cookie jar, make you catch him instead of coming when called, or keep throwing his toy whenever he barks at you.
While it may be humorous to recognize the small ways some dogs train their owners, occasionally there are much more serious problems at hand. Some dogs who step into the role of Alpha can be malevolent dictators…growling when someone comes near “his” couch, behaving possessively over the food dish area, or a multitude of other problems.
Most people find that once they begin some obedience training with their adult dog, their exclamations about him change almost immediately. The former lamenting of “dumbness” is quickly replaced with statements like, “Wow, he is smart!”, or “He’s been pulling the wool over my eyes all this time!” Obedience and behavior modification can quickly turn an irritating relationship into an enjoyable one between you and your pet.
The truth is, adult dogs are often so smart, they’ve tricked their owners into thinking they’re not, simply so they can get away with things. With the average life span of a dog being 15 years, even owners of a seven year old dog can benefit from eight years of increased enjoyment of their pet. When it comes to dog training, “1/2 hour a day, keeps mischief away”!
Lori Verni-Fogarsi has been an author, speaker, small business consultant, and Certified Master Trainer for 18+ years. Her novel, “Momnesia,” (contemporary women’s fiction) has been designated a National Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist, and her nonfiction book, “Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies and Adult Dogs,” has been widely acclaimed in its genre. To learn more, please visit www.LoriTheAuthor.com and join Lori on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LoriTheAuthor.
