Golden Oldies

We often see training advice for puppies and adult dogs but what about our golden oldies?

They may come with a few more care needs but that doesn’t mean training them is any less fulfilling or beneficial. The principal remains the same, reward the behaviours you are looking for and ignore the ones you aren’t. How long you conduct training may be different as your senior dog may have less energy to put into learning and you might find they loose interest quicker now that they are older.

The type of training you conduct may also be different too. As we said before, our older dogs may have a few more care requirements meaning they may struggle more with their mobility so we wouldn’t want to put extra strain on their already weary joints by teaching them something like flyball! Furthermore, you might find it harder to motivate your older dog but this is where the extra yummy rewards of cheese, bacon and hotdogs come in! These are also great for luring your senior pet when training as their eyesight and hearing may be struggling.

You might find your senior pet starts to develop new problem behaviours such as reactivity that they didn’t previously have, being more vocal in the house and having less patience, having moments of looking lost and toileting inside when previously they were clean. These can all be signs your dog is struggling and may need some more support. Your first plan of action should be to see your vet who will be able to provide you with any medical support your pet may need. Your next stop should be to a behaviourist who will be able to help create a management plan that can help ensure you and your dog enjoy their golden years together!