It is never too late to train your dog, whatever their age. Whether you have rehomed an adult
While most people associate training with puppies, the reality is that dogs can learn at any age. Adult dogs are often easier to train than young puppies because they have more self-control. It's also important to keep training your dog as it matures.
It's never too late to train a dog. Whether you are bringing home an older dog from a shelter (or rescue), or you'd like to work with your own older dog, there's no reason to delay doing some training with an older dog. There are actually some advantages to working with an older dog.
Well, when it comes to the bare basics, it is never too late to train a dog. A dog can learn simple commands such as “Sit”, “Stay” or “Run” no matter how long they are as long as the owner is patient.
In fact, adult dogs can sometimes be easier to train than puppies because they have a longer attention span and more self control. Puppies can sometimes pick things up faster than older dogs, and older dogs can be a little more set in their ways, but you can absolutely train a dog of any age.
The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period. Dogs become “teenagers” and seem to forget everything they have ever been taught. This period is individual to each dog, but it may begin when he's about eight months old and continue until he's two years old.
6 Months Old
Puppies are entering the adolescence stage by this point, and it is the most difficult stage to start training at. That is why it is important to start training them as young as possible!
Is there such a thing as an untrainable dog? The short answer, according to animal behaviourist Dr Joanne Righetti, is no. “Most dogs are trainable. There may be some dogs with brain disorders or injuries that find it hard to learn, but this is the exception,” she explains.
A dog that hasn't been trained is inherently harder to control, partly because it cannot be recalled or controlled using simple commands, but also because a lifetime of not receiving direction from their owner means that they develop and fall back on bad habits.
Always reward your dog when they come back
Start indoors, in your garden, or in another enclosed space with some tasty treats to hand. Get your dog's attention with their name, then use your recall cue and take a step away from them. Reward them with praise and a tasty treat when they come to you.
What about time constraints? However time wise, the dogs with the long daily sessions will complete their course in less than 4 weeks, whereas those with the short, bi-weekly training sessions will take a minimum of 9 weeks.
"Dogs get less active with age, and that should give hope to the people who have puppies that are too active," Houpt said. "And while they become less oriented to problem-solving and novelty-seeking as they get older, they remain obedient and social, which is probably the most important thing for owners."
Age is more than a number
Research has shown that while dogs of all ages can learn, older dogs don't learn as quickly as younger ones. So patience in training mature dogs is a must.
Dog breeds with a higher active nature, like a Border Collie or a Springer Spaniel, may take up to two years before they start to settle, and even then you will need to meet their exercise needs to curb their high energy levels.
While the steps are the same, adult dogs might take longer to potty train than a brand new puppy. You're competing with their previous history and learned habits — breaking bad habits is always harder than learning new ones. Don't expect too much from your dog too soon.
You may be asking yourself, “Is my dog too old to train?” Despite popular belief, you can teach an old dog new tricks. If you're wondering when it's too late to train a dog, the answer is never! Training a dog as an adult can be beneficial in some ways — he may be less distractible and energetic than he was as a puppy.
The “Winner” is
The hardest part of dog training is doing nothing. It's standing like a statue, not saying anything, not doing anything, while your dog acts a fool. She's barking, jumping, biting at the leash. If you're in public, it's embarrassing and you want to make her stop.
The more consistent the household can be, the faster your dog will learn, and the better relationship they'll build with everyone. For a given training exercise, it is usually best to have one person train the dog for that session.
The excitable, unruly, or disobedient dog would be one that after sufficient attention to training, still does not respond to commands, will not walk nicely on a leash, jumps on people, continually barks for attention, steals things or generally wreaks havoc on the household.
#1 – Afghan Hound
These days, those traits are displayed as being aloof and independent. They make up for their lack of obedience by being extremely affectionate and loyal.
Like humans, dogs go through a rebellious “teenager” phase (around 5 months to 18 months). During this time, they'll often test their owners, seeing what they can get away with.
Undesirable behaviours such as barking, chewing, counter surfing, house-soiling and jumping up commonly begin to occur at around 3-6 months of age.