How to Train an Older Dog

Expert Author Rebeca Rambal

When you get a new dog , after the excitement of welcoming a new member of the family , whether it's a puppy or an older dog , the first question that arises in your mind is " how do I train him or her ? " ( I'm going to talk about " him " to facilitate reading , not a specific preference , OK ? )

Of course , if the puppy , it is very easy to teach him basic obedience and house training . But , how to train an older dog ? You always hear " You can not teach an old dog new tricks " , but nothing could be further from the truth . How to go about it is to approach it like you do when training dogs of all ages . The most important thing is to build a bond with your new pet . This is an important step to be able to train him successfully . You have to develop a caring and loving relationship with him to win his trust . Talk to him , go for a walk (never underestimate the importance of walking your dog , even if you have a big yard for him to play in ) , spend quality time together , have a play session , etc. It is very important to develop trust , but there also must be mutual respect between you and your pet . It takes time to develop trust , and respect will come from defining boundaries and treating any breach with firmness and fairness . You have to develop the limitations , in order to develop respect , and respect you need to develop a bond .

Once you have built a bond with your dog , train him or teach anything at any age , should be done , but always keep in mind that training an older dog will not always be as easy to train puppy . House training older dogs will sometimes take more time and will require more love and patience on your part , especially if he is not house trained before, but it certainly can be done .

House Training an Older Dog

If your dog is urinating and defecating in places that are inappropriate , the first thing to do is to rule out a medical problem . It is always a good idea to have your new puppy examined by a veterinarian when you first adopt him . Sometimes even a change in diet may do the trick . Being an adult dog , they may have problems such as incontinence , which can be treated with medication . Good talk with your veterinarian about all the possible medical reasons for the behavior .

You have to keep your dog in a consistent feeding schedule and remove the food he did . You also have to take him out on a consistent and frequent schedule . You have to take it out first thing in the morning , last thing at night , and before closed or left alone . A fully house trained older dog should eliminate the outside at least four times a day . At first , know where your dog at all times . Watch for signs that he needs to eliminate , learning to read body language . If you see him pacing , whining , circling , or acting restless , it probably means it's time for a potty break . If you do not have a chance to watch him constantly, you may need to use a crate or put him in a small room with a baby gate or door is closed . Take him out every few hours , and when he learned , you will be able to give him more freedom .

Every time you take him out and he goes where you want him to go , he praised abundant and even bring a tasty treat as a reward for going where he should be.

What to do if you catch your dog in the act ? Clap loudly or make a loud noise to startle her , but not enough to scare . Avoid yelling or punishing him because if you do , he may decide that eliminating in the present you is a bad idea , and find another place to do it . When you surprise him , the dog had to stop in the middle of the road , then arrested him and took him outside immediately . When you are in a hurry , do it gently and encourage him to follow you all the way . When he finishes eliminating outside , reward him with praise and maybe a treat or two . If you find that he had an accident after the fact . Do not do anything to him because he will not be able to connect the punishment would be something he did hours or even minutes ago .

Try to control your reaction to your dog's accident . If you shout angrily and punish you will jeopardize any bond that you may have achieved . Pet urine can be taken care of with an enzymatic cleaner designed for that purpose , it's not the end of the world .

If you can not get your dog out quite quickly , perhaps because of his age , or mobility problem , whether you or hers , or if you live in a high-rise apartment building , consider training your dog to eliminate on pads , paper or even a litter box dog .

Spread the news about an older dog . There is a magnificent adults are left in a shelter for the fact that people do not know how to train an older dog and afraid they are not trained . They may have lost a wonderful making new friends .