Practical tips for training your senior dog

If your senior dog is struggling to pick up new tricks, it’s probably not because they won’t (or can’t!) learn them. More likely, your young-at-heart cutie has the will to learn, but something about their senior status is standing in their way.

 

Get around these old-age roadblocks with a few simple senior-friendly training tips:

• Check your expectations. Some tricks, like roll over or the begging pose, are just not compatible with creaky joints. Better choices are tricks that don’t stress old limbs, like touch or sad puppy, happy puppy.
• Keep it short. Your older dog is bound to fatigue faster than their younger selves. Keep training sessions short and sweet to avoid pushing your pooch beyond their abilities.
• Use padding. Even senior-appropriate tricks, like shake or go to place, can get ouchie when you’re asking your pet to sit or lie down on hard ground. Eliminate the ouch by giving them a nice, padded spot to practice on.
• Speak up and add in hand signals. Your friend’s vision or hearing may not be 100%, so projecting your voice (without yelling) and adding some visual cues may be all your dog needs to understand your instructions.
• Consider soft treats. If your senior dog has oral or dental pain, hard treats may not be the best reward. Soft treats are easily chewed, allowing your dog to return their focus to their training faster.
• Be patient. Sitting down takes some time when you’re a senior citizen. The same is true for your elderly dog. Give your command and then wait a little bit; your dog may be working themselves up to the right response.

If you’ve given these tips a go and are still making no progress, speak with your veterinarian to make sure something else isn’t getting in the way, like canine cognitive dysfunction or uncontrolled arthritic pain.

Check out joint supplements designed to help creaky senior dogs stay limber. >>