Is It Ever Too Late to Start Training a Dog?

There are people who claim you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But what if you’ve missed the puppy stage of dog ownership? Is it ever too late to start training a dog?

Thankfully, the answer is you can pretty much teach your dog at any stage in life, but you’ll just need to adjust your approach.

How Training an Adult Dog is Actually Easier

While there are physical hindrances you might run into when training an older dog, other aspects of the process can actually be easier than with a puppy.

Here are some advantages to training older dogs:

• They may already have a base knowledge of some commands
• They already have an understanding of certain human words
• They already know the process of learning a new skill
• They are eager to please and appreciate spending time with humans
• Their attention span is likely greater than that of a distracted puppy

So as you question is it ever too late to start training a dog, you’ll be pleased to know the process can actually be a bit easier in certain circumstances.

When You Should Take Extra Precautions

In addition to these advantages, however, you should be aware of some limitations that your adult dog may have in contrast to puppies.

For starters, your older dog may not have the same level of energy that you would expect from puppies.

They may also have health issues that limit their level of activity or performance. Keep this in mind before you start training.

And if your dog has chronic pain, such as that caused by arthritis, make sure you’re giving plenty of time and allowances during training.

Socializing an Adult Dog

When it comes to socializing a dog, most people think of the puppy stage as the only viable window. But even if you’ve missed your chance for early socialization with your dog, there’s still progress to be made at an adult age.

Keep in mind that an adult dog that hasn’t been properly socialized or has experienced abuse from humans in the past, may be triggered into aggressive behavior. In this case, it’s best to work with a professional trainer.

The same can be said for a dog that you fear may become aggressive or one that already exhibits aggressive behavior.

For all other cases, you can take the following steps to adult socialization:

• Take your dog to as many new environments as possible, starting with the calmest location first. From there, advance toward more difficult places over time. To make the process easier and more fun for your dog, encourage them with plenty of treats and verbal praise.
  
• Ask friends and family to act as volunteers to calmly feed your dog from a distance. Just have them stand some length apart and toss your dog a treat when they are acting calm.
  
  Slowly, as your dog grows more comfortable with the stranger, have them approach and offer the food from their hand. They can even touch the dog slightly.
  
• Repeat the process as many times as possible with new people.
  
  Please keep in mind, if you suspect your dog may become aggressive, seek the help of a professional trainer right away.
  
• When with other dogs, it’s important to give your dog plenty of space from the others. Always start the process from a safe distance.
  
  As you approach, try to keep your dog focused on you, not the others. If the focus is broken, just stop your dog and try to re-establish focus back on yourself. Make sure you immediately reward your dog’s obedience.

Basic Rules for Training Your Adult Dog

Though training your dog at any age is technically possible, there are certain guidelines you should follow when teaching an adult dog. Keep the following in mind:

1. Stay Consistent in Your Training

Regardless of what behavior or trick you’re trying to teach your dog, you should always approach your training with the same method. This will keep things consistent.

The frequency at which you practice is also important, so keep your sessions close to three minutes each. Repeat two or three times each day.

2. Use Consistent Commands

Don’t make the mistake of mixing up your command words, as this will only confuse your dog and give you more work in the long run.

Keep your commands specific to each behavior you are training and stick to them in all situations. This will keep your signals from getting mixed up.

3. Refrain from Punishing Your Dog

As with all training, you should avoid negative reinforcement or punishment when training your adult dog.

In many cases, this approach is actually proven to increase your dog’s potential for aggressive behavior. Instead, be sure to use plenty of positive reinforcement, such as treats, verbal praise, and friendly physical touches like tummy rubs.

4. Teach Only Tricks Appropriate for Your Dog’s Age

Just like you wouldn’t expect a few-month-old puppy to be able to stay still for long periods of time, you shouldn’t expect your adult or aging dog to do tricks that are out of their scope of possibility.

This is especially true for older dogs that may be inhibited by physical ailments or deteriorating health.

5. Reward Positive Behavior

Encouragement and positive rewards go a long way when training your pup, and this is no less applicable to adult dogs.

While treats can be one way of rewarding behavior, you should also offer plenty of verbal praise and physical affection when your dog follows your rules. Most adult dogs are in tune with their owners and will work hard to please.

Final Thoughts: Is It Ever Too Late to Start Training a Dog?

So is it ever too late to start training a dog? We think it’s clear that the answer is “no.”

In fact, there are plenty of advantages and approaches to training your dog at an older age.

Just keep things positive and appropriate to your dog’s physical abilities. With some consistency and training, you can definitely teach your old dog plenty of new tricks!

Bonus Training Video

If you’re still questioning whether is it ever too late to start training a dog, watch the video below from dog trainer David Harris.

He’s trained dogs as old as 12 years old and outlines the differences when a dog is older.

You’ll find out how it’s possible and what you can expect. Check it out!

A Word of Advice

As you question if is it ever too late to start training a dog, be assured that the answer is a definite no. You can always work on training a dog, no matter what the age.

In certain dogs, however, it may require an extra bit of patience. You may find yourself getting frustrated but don’t stress. This is a common feeling when teaching any dog something new. How you react to this feeling, however, is what’s important.

Training a dog does require a great deal of patience and persistence. If you feel like you’re at the end of your rope, either take a break entirely and start the training again at a later time or give yourself a quick timeout.

Giving yourself a brief timeout does wonders. Just pause, breathe deeply, and count to 10. This will recenter you.

Dogs can sense if you’re hyper or angry, so taking a few moments to regroup will make the training process even more successful.

We hope you found the answers you were looking for to the question is it ever too late to start training a dog?

The answer to how long depends on your dog, of course, but know that it’s entirely possible and sometimes even easier at this stage!

And before we go, if you’re looking for additional resources, check out our training section for lots of other tips and tricks.

Jessi Larson

Jessi is a marketing strategist who loves to write about all things dog. She is the proud mom to Toby, a giant Labrador Retriever who thinks he’s a lapdog. He inspires her to be a better pet parent and to share advice with other dog owners.