My Dog is Already Older… Can She Still Be Trained?

The answer is a resounding “yes”! Many people mistakenly think their dog’s habits can never change. (The myth that you ‘can’t teach an old dog new tricks’!) In reality, older dogs are often easier to teach! They may have a few habits to change, but they usually enjoy the training and all the attention they get. In turn, it makes the dog interested in the lessons and therefore a quick learner. You may find that your dog is smarter than you think, and has been pulling the wool over your eyes! When adult dogs experience more serious behavior problems, it is often the result of incorrect socialization or even boredom!

Here at Best Paw Forward, approximately 20% of the dogs we train are over 5 years old. An additional 40% are over 2 years old. Our oldest graduate was 13 years old!

If you still think your dog is too old for training… think again. The average lifespan of a dog is about 15 years. If your dog is already 6 years old, there are approximately 9 more years you can expect to live with this pet. Why not spend those years enjoying him as much as possible?