Category: Training Older Dogs

Your senior dog’s crate is his private sanctuary—a place where your dog can feel safe and secure. It’s never too late for crate training an older dog, especially if your primary purpose is to help your buddy adjust to a new lifestyle. Now that your older buddy is no longer as agile as before, crate training may be the only other option left. So how do you start the crate training process? Here are the steps.

The first part is about introducing your dog to the crate. This should be placed in an area where most members of the family are. Don’t lock your older buddy in it yet. Instead, encourage your buddy to enter it by placing treats. Forcing them in will only be counterproductive.

The second step is letting your dog feed on the crate. This will allow them to associate the crate with something positive, such as eating. Put the food all the way inside the crate. If your dog is anxious and simply not ready to enter, only put it as far back as your dog is ready to reach into. Once your buddy is comfortable, you can close the door in the meantime. Just make sure that you open it at once after your dog eats inside the crate for the first time. For every successful feeding, close the door a little longer until your buddy has settled in.

Third, prolong the crating period of your older buddy inside the crate.

After your dog is eating his regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine him there for short time periods while you’re home.

Crate Training an Older Dog the Slow and Sure Way

• Call him over to the crate and give him a treat.

• Give him a command to enter, such as “kennel.” Encourage him by pointing to the inside of the crate with a treat in your hand.

• After your dog enters the crate, praise him, give him the treat, and close the door.

• Sit quietly near the crate for five to ten minutes, and then go into another room for a few minutes. Return, sit quietly again for a short time, and then let him out of the crate.

• Repeat this process several times a day, gradually increasing the length of time you leave him in the crate and the length of time you’re out of his sight.

• Once your dog will stay quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes with you mostly out of sight, you can begin leaving him crated when you’re gone for short time periods and/or letting him sleep there at night. This may take several days or several weeks.  (Read more here)

Fourth, you can finally put your older buddy in the crate when you leave. At first, do this only when you leave for a short period of time—around 20 minutes or so. Make it a point not to make your departures long and emotional. After this, you can also crate your older dogs at night. Don’t do this all at once, as this might give the impression of social isolation. You might also want to move the crate near to wherever you sleep.

At first, your older buddy might whine or suffer from separation anxiety. This is the entire point of the abovementioned steps. With this, you can be sure that your fur baby don’t associate crating with anxiety and stress.

You might feel frustrated or embarrassed because of your inability to leash train your dog, but with perseverance, your dog will soon come around. Senior dogs who tug or pull their leash may be difficult to train. But after four to five weeks of steady training, they should be able to get rid of this habit. At most, leash training an older dog takes six weeks.

The first step is for the senior dog to get used to the leash, which means having to wear it often. You can also make your dog wear a leash while eating or doing fun activities—this way, your beloved pet will associate it with fun things.

On the second or third day of doing this, you can start by walking your dog in familiar places. One great place to start is your home: around five to ten minutes should be enough.

The third and fourth steps are the most crucial, and you will have to be careful:

Get Comfortable Leashing Training An Older Dog

Step #3

When you are confident enough after leash training within the house, you may take your dog outdoors. You need to allow you dog to drag the leash around. You should occasionally pick up the leash and follow him. Make sure you offer him a dog treat while walking with the leash in your hand.

Step #4

Now, comes the important part of leash training an older dog. This is where you teach him you are the master and he has to follow you. You need to hold the leash in your right hand and then coax the dog to walk on your left side. This can be done by holding the leash in your right hand and a treat in your left hand. Continue to walk and say, ‘Let’s go’ or ‘Come on’ to make him understand that it is time to walk. When he follows your orders correctly, praise him a lot. (More here)

Lastly, if you have difficulty with your dog that keeps tugging and pulling, the trick is to take a counter-wise turn, and then start walking in the opposite direction while holding the leash. You can also stop firmly, hold onto the leash, and be firm. Both will establish your authority and will get an otherwise stubborn dog to follow you.  Keep doing this, and you’ll soon realize that your senior dog is already perfectly leash-trained!

Though advanced in age, your dog might have gone through several stages and will need re-training, or they’ve probably never been housebroken before. Either way, there are tried and tested methods that will help your dog adjust to the new environment.  If you’ve just made the admirable decision of bringing home an adult dog from the shelter, potty training an older dog is the first challenge you and your new companion will overcome.

First of all, take your senior dog outside on a leash when you bring him home for the first time. This will help them understand that this is where your dog should pee and poo.

The next concern of you and your new buddy is the time to eliminate. You must set up a schedule for this, and follow that schedule religiously. It could be after meals, at playtime, or during your morning walks. Follow this routine until your dog gets used to it. In the meanwhile, you can place your dog in a crate until your dog gets used to the routine.

Potty training your older dog won’t happen overnight, and sometimes they won’t stick to the routine. In this case, watch out for some telltale signs.

Tackle Potty Training Your Senior Dog

Dogs will often pace, pant, bark or run around the house to get your attention when they have to go. Take them outside as soon as you notice such behavior.

It is best not to overreact or punish your dog if he or she goes in the house. If you do, it could make your dog fearful. If you catch him or her in the act, it is best to firmly say “stop” or “no.”

Take your dog outside promptly if he or she does eliminate in the house, and continue using positive reinforcement.  (Read More)

Because older dogs are more patient, potty training them should be easy. All it takes is a positive attitude, and you and your furry pet will get there soon!

ONLY NATURAL PET STORE LLC

Ever heard of the popular adage “you cannot teach an old dog new tricks?” Skeptics may very well believe that this is true, but in the general sense this is most definitely false particularly when it comes to disruptive behavior. Barking is a natural behavior for every dog which is useful when it comes to guarding against intruders. It is a different matter when your furry friend barks at every car that passes by the window. It signifies a long neglected issue which needs to be addressed.

When it comes to training, there is usually an association of pain which is normal if you want your pets to remember this training. Same goes with people, a little spanking on your kid’s hand will do to help train them become more restrained and less spoiled. But with older dogs, hurting them simply will not do. It takes an enormous amount of patience, consistency and persistence. How to train your senior pet dog not to keep barking all the time? These are just a few helpful tips.

The Guide On Training an Older Dog Not to Bark

• Remain calm. When your pooch starts barking like crazy, remain calm and exude a positive composure. Showing your dog negative reactions and emotions while he is at it will only confirm his need to keep barking, that he is right to be as upset as he already is. (read more here)

• Give a command. You need to use a certain command for your dog to stop barking. Any command will do such No or Enough. Some pet owners have had enough luck with a certain command for that specific behavior. Whatever command you choose to give, be sure to have consistency and do not ever change the cue.
• Positive reinforcement. Each time your pet complies with your command, reward him with a treat or an extra special pat which communicates to him that he has done the right thing. Pets are most likely to remember and will look forward to that yummy dog biscuit or affectionate gestures given to him each time he does something you are pleased with.
• Negative reinforcement. Of course, there has to be a balance in training your pet. It may not be a more physically inclined form of discipline, but it has to be done. For example, you can squirt your dog with water from a bottle if he continues barking after you have given your command. This form of corrective method startles your dog and distracts him from barking at the object or person he is barking at.
• Establish your position. Once you have successfully gotten your pet’s attention, command your dog to lay down. This is another form of reinforcing your position as your dog’s alpha. Your pet needs to realize that if the alpha is not concerned, he should not be concerned as well.

Repeat. Each time your senior dog barks, repeat this process. With each progress, wait for a while longer before praising your dog from ceasing to bark. This sends the message that the silence, and the calm demeanor is not what’s being rewarded but the silence.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ythlM7OMy1U

The saying that you couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks couldn’t be more misguided. As long as you know the proper way to do it, old dogs can learn just as well as puppies. In fact, some pet owners would argue that training an older dog is a lot easier than teaching an overexcited and energized pup.

With patience, and a whole bag of treats, you can train your fur buddy to pull off an amazing range of tricks. Your senior dog may have physical limitations, but as long as you have a clear goal and consistency, your old buddy will learn new tricks soon enough. This video outlines concrete steps that you can take to teach your dog new tricks. Check it out for yourself!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlcwNqO4dCY

Training an older dog is anything but impossible. You might even be surprised at how easy teaching basic tricks can be. You can start with teaching your older buddy to lie down or drop. As you can see in this video, it’s not as difficult as you would think. Older dogs are more behaved, more composed, and generally easier to teach. While they may have physical limitations, these can easily be overcome with consistent training and a positive outlook. Your older buddy’s learning days are not over just yet; go on and teach your fur baby a trick or two.

Do you notice your older buddy having a hard time getting in the car or on higher floors? Sadly, this is another effect of aging. But the good news? By training a senior dog use the ramp or stairs, you can help your older buddy have a well-adjusted and comfortable lifestyle.

First things first: by using positive reinforcement as you train your dog, the entire training process will be enjoyable and your dog will gain more confidence.

When ramp training your dog, you can start by placing the ramp on a flat area, like the floor or a carpet. The next part is about teaching your dog to follow the treat slowly by luring your buddy with treats while slowly crossing the ramp.

Be generous with the treats: give one when your dog is able to place a paw on the ramp, and another when all paws are on it. Every step deserves a treat. In no time, your dog will get the message: crossing the ramp is a positive thing!

Sometimes, your dog will turn around. You can be firm and give a stern command such as “No”, “Up” or “Out” before directing your dog with hand gestures to sto

Once your dog has fully understood how to cross the ramp, it’s time to raise the ramp a little. The incline shouldn’t be too high or steep, as it may stir panic in your old buddy.

Stair training is a bit different—some people even claim that it’s a bit easier.

Training a Senior Dog to Use the Ramp or Stairs

When you’re training your dog to use stairs, be patient and go at his pace. Create a trail of treats from the base of the stairs to the top and onto your couch or bed. As your dog investigates the treats, stand next to him and, with gentle praise, drop treats on the next stair or two. You can also use a lure held slightly out in front of your dog’s nose and reward him for following it. Some pets may be comfortable going up the stairs but more cautious going back down, so it’s essential to practice both.

Once your dog starts to use the stairs with ease, fade the treats or food lure. Do this by adding a verbal cue, such as “climb,” and toss a treat, or use an empty hand as a target to lead the dog up or down the stairs. Next, say your verbal cue and pretend to toss a treat. If your dog moves up or down the stairs, immediately reward him with a treat placed at the top or bottom of the stairs. Keep your dog motivated by rewarding him with praise, petting and the occasional treat.  (Read more here)

Both ramp training and stair training may prove to be a challenge for you and your dog. But if you think of it as an opportunity to bond with your fur buddy, you’d surely have a lot of fun along the way!

Whoever said that old dogs don’t know how to have fun was badly mistaken. Just because your old buddy isn’t as fast, as excitable, and as wide-eyed as before doesn’t mean your loving canine isn’t up for a round or two of games. There are many ways for you to have fun playing with a senior dog, and here are a few ideas to get you started!

1. Find it Game

You and your dog know this game all too well. Essentially, it involves your dog looking for a piece of treat that you tossed to the ground. For starters, have your dog sniff on the treat, then drop it in front of them. Continue the entire process, except that for every succeeding turn, you should throw the treat farther and farther. Dogs never—I repeat, never—seem to tire of these hunting games and you can even feed them entire meals just by playing this game!

2. Hide and Seek

This is a cop-out of the Find It game, except that your dog will look for an entire person. Once they find the person, they’ll get a huge treat. Now, what old dog would bark ‘no’ to that?

3. The Muffin Tin Game

Quite a unique game specially made for older dogs, the Muffin Tin game will require a 6- or 12-muffin tin. Place a treat on each tin, then put a tennis ball over half of them. Your dog will then get familiarized to the scent and figure out that underneath the tennis balls are exciting treats awaiting them.

4. Go Wild And Freezy

Feeling a little hippie and dance-y? You might be surprised that old dogs still have the groove in them, if you play this game with them.

Fun ideas for playing with a senior dog

A famous game is “Go Wild and Freeze,” first developed by the trainer September Morn. You can find September’s e-mail address at the bottom of this page. There are many ways to play “Go Wild and Freeze” – here’s one. Start by dancing around and acting excited till your dog gets going, too. After a minute or so, you all of a sudden stop moving. Ask your dog to sit, or down, or do another behavior she knows well. The moment she does it, start dancing around again; when your dog joins in, stop, ask for that sit or down again, and reward her by re-starting the party.

Mix things up by varying what behaviors you ask for and how long you wait before re-starting the game. If your dog is super-excitable and likely to mouth you or ricochet off you, start with a pale-vanilla version of “going wild” — your dog’s introduction to this game can be “Take a Single Step and Freeze.” You can also retreat behind a baby gate if need be.

“Go Wild and Freeze” is not only fun, it helps teach your dog self-control as she learns to respond to your cues even when excited. End the game clearly, for example by saying “All done!” and sitting down with a book. If you say the same phrase every time, your dog will learn that it signifies the end of play for now. Ignore any attempts to reel you back in — otherwise, she’ll learn that pestering works. (Read More Here)

The best part about these fun games is that they also train your senior dogs in the long run. This should dispel any notion that training dogs require force and heavy hands. You can teach your dog to sit and run, to spin on cue, and close the door among several simple commands—all while you and your buddy spend time together!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhC47KFMtpo

Why would you want to adopt an older dog?  There are lots of reasons! Most of the time, older dogs are not in shelters due to behavior problems, but because of family issues like divorce or moving etc.  Keep an open mind when going to look at dogs to adopt and consider an older dog because with them, what you see is what you get.  By this we mean that you will have a better indication of the kind of temperament they have, as well as know their size  and grooming requirements.

Older dogs are easy to train, if they aren’t trained already.  They have the patience that a puppy lacks in training sessions and have been around people more.  They also tend to be super loving! They understand a bit better in regard to what is going on and are usually really grateful to be part of a family again.  Older dogs also don’t require the same watchful eye that puppies do.  So you can relax a bit more and simply work on everyone getting to know each other.

It is also highly likely that older dogs up for adoption are already house trained, so you might not have to go through that trouble.  Also think about the fact that the commitment of an older dog would be for a shorter time.  Obviously, a puppy could live anywhere from 8 to 20 years.  With an older dog, some of that time has already elapsed, so depending on your situation, that might be something else to think about.

Senior dogs can be more at ease and more relaxed in general as well.  They can sleep a lot and require less in the way of constant attention or exercise.  Again, depending on your lifestyle and family situation, this could really be a great way to add the love of a dog into your family without taxing everyone involved more than necessary.  Pets of any kind are work, but it just might be a little bit less with a more mature dog.  Think about selecting an older dog when adopting. You will be saving their life and perhaps your own in the process! They are ready and willing to love you with all their hearts.

 

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkapxaexrBA

Training an older dog with a leash can be tough, especially for senior dogs that won’t follow you. The resistance of older dogs with a leash comes in different ways. Often they will pull away or tug at you. Other times, your dog might gnaw at your clothes, circle around, or grab your pocket. Which of these methods have been used by your dog against you?

Whatever it may be, this video has one advice: stand still. It might take as long as eleven minutes, and your dog will try different methods. But if you stand still, your dog will eventually follow you. At this point, you can complement them by giving a treat or telling them “Good Boy!” Keep on doing this, and eventually your dog will be fully trained with a leash.

How do you train a senior dog with the leash? You might feel frustrated or embarrassed because of your inability to leash train your dog, but with perseverance, your dog will soon come around. Senior dogs who tug or pull their leash may be difficult to train. But after four to five weeks of steady training, they should be able to get rid of this habit. At most, training an older dog with the leash takes six weeks.

The first step is for the senior dog to get used to the leash, which means having to wear it often. You can also make your dog wear a leash while eating or doing fun activities—this way, your beloved pet will associate it with fun things.

On the second or third day of doing this, you can start by walking your dog in familiar places. One great place to start is your home: around five to ten minutes should be enough.

The third and fourth steps are the most crucial, and you will have to be careful:

Leash Training Your Senior Dog

Step 3

When you are confident enough after leash training within the house, you may take your dog outdoors. You need to allow you dog to drag the leash around. You should occasionally pick up the leash and follow him. Make sure you offer him a dog treat while walking with the leash in your hand.

Step 4

Now, comes the important part of leash training an older dog. This is where you teach him you are the master and he has to follow you. You need to hold the leash in your right hand and then coax the dog to walk on your left side. This can be done by holding the leash in your right hand and a treat in your left hand. Continue to walk and say, ‘Let’s go’ or ‘Come on’ to make him understand that it is time to walk. When he follows your orders correctly, praise him a lot. (Read More Here)

Lastly, if you have difficulty with your dog that keeps tugging and pulling, the trick is to take a counter-wise turn, and then start walking in the opposite direction while holding the leash. You can also stop firmly, hold onto the leash, and be firm. Both will establish your authority and will get an otherwise stubborn dog to follow you.  Keep doing this, and you’ll soon realize that your senior dog is already perfectly leash-trained!