Even though young pups may be more actively curious, dogs never stop learning. In fact, adult dogs are often easier to train than their younger canine friends specifically because they are not as active. Older dogs are not as easily distracted as pups and can focus for longer periods of time.
Ryan Seacrest shared if you want to train your dog, they are most teachable at age 6. A recent study says the sweet spot for dog obedience is not the puppy stage, but actually 6 years old. Why? They've outgrown the excitable puppy stage, but 6 is before they are too set in their ways.
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.
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.
8 Month Old Puppy
Since their minds are young and very trainable, it's the prime time to teach them social etiquette. Consistent correction helps them learn appropriate behavior. Also continue working on leash manners, bite inhibition, and recall. Clickers are pawsome helps when it comes to training.
1. Border Collie: A workaholic, this breed is the world's premier sheep herder, prized for its intelligence, extraordinary instinct, and working ability.
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. Being firm and consistent with your training will help establish boundaries.
According to Svartberg's data (PDF), a pinscher, a Bernese mountain dog, or an English springer spaniel might be the most disloyal since each ranks very low on playfulness, with moderate sociability.
Overall, the researchers found that the dogs' attentiveness and ability to solve problems changed a lot during life, improving up until about 6 years of age and then remaining stable.
But one new study found that dogs actually experience a personality shift around their third birthday, which might be the reason they stop seeking novelty as they hit middle age. (Yes, it's true, dogs can hit that “middle age” milestone as early as two, per Science magazine.)
Good Dog: Border Collie Learns More Than 1,000 Words : The Two-Way : NPR. Good Dog: Border Collie Learns More Than 1,000 Words : The Two-Way Researchers spent three years working on the dog's vocabulary.
Border Collie
Prized for its instincts and working ability, the Border Collie is thought to be the most intelligent and easy to train dog. They have a lot of energy and love to work so they need owners who can keep them busy and provide a good amount of exercise and stimulation.
Many people are hesitant to adopt a second dog because they assume it will be twice the work and twice the money. But the truth is, owning two dogs doesn't have to be more work – in fact, it can often be easier. And as for the cost, it will cost more money than one but not twice the amount.
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that dogs often take on the same personality traits as their owner. The study revealed that dogs are like humans in that they have personalities that are shaped over time.
Like territorial behavior, protective aggression usually appears as puppies mature into an adolescence or adulthood, at one to three years of age. Many dogs show the tendency to guard their possessions from others, whether they need to or not.
The Root of the Behavior
Canines who are aging are likely to grow more affectionate to their human companion as their reliance on them grows. This is doubly so for canines who are experiencing deafness, blindness, or trouble smelling provided these are not lifelong disabilities.
When do puppies start to calm down? Most puppies start to calm down as they approach their maturity age, which is usually around 12 months, but for larger breeds it can be more likely to occur between 18 months and 2 years.
Although accurate temperament testing is not possible at a very young age, you can get a general assessment of your pup's personality. Does he seem interested in play? Does he sniff or nudge your hand when you hold it out and welcome your touch? Is he comfortable around people or does he cower when you approach?
Getting your dog to trust you can take time, practice, and a lot of consistency. You can expect anything from 2 weeks-2 months for this to happen.
The Pit Bull is the most common dog breed (along with pit bull breed mixes) found in shelters in the United States. They are also the most abused, neglected, and the most euthanized.