Photo: graphicphoto/BigStock.com56
PETS | Behaviour and training
August http://www.facebook.com/petsmagazine
Who says senior has to
mean senile? Carrol Baker^
tells us how to teach an
old dog new tricks.OLD DOG, OLD DOG,
NEW NEW
TRICKSTRICKS
Work out what motivates your
older dog, whether it’s food,
physical aff ection or a toy.HOW IS IT DIFFERENT
TO TEACHING A PUPPY?
If you’re teaching a dog you’ve had since
puppyhood, you know his personality, what
he loves and how he responds. However, if
you have a rescue dog, she may have picked
up a few naughty behaviours along the way.
Your older adopted dog may not even know
the basics, such as sit or even the word no,
so teaching with love and understanding is
very important.
Steve Austin from Steve Austin Canine
Training and Behaviour says the key to training
senior pets is to be patient and persistent.
“I train senior dogs just as I would a very
young puppy — the key is to keep training
sessions short and frequent and to fi nish while
the dog is still enjoying themselves,” he says.
An older dog will tire more easily than a
younger dog. You might misread fatigue for
disinterest or disobedience, but your poor old
pooch could just be plain pooped. So if your
dog is looking tired, wrap up your training
session for the day.Think you can’t teach an old dog new
tricks? Senior dogs can be full of surprises,
and learning new commands and tricks in
their golden years is just one.
Training senior pets to learn new tricks
has many benefi ts. It’s good for their physical
health and keeps their brains active and
stimulated. Training also strengthens the
bond you share with your pet, as you spend
time together learning new things.PLF070_pg056-057_Old Dog, New Tricks.indd 56PLF070_pg056-057_Old Dog, New Tricks.indd 56 6/19/2017 2:42:42 PM6/19/2017 2:42:42 PM