Training An Older Dog

The most important thing to remember is that positive reinforcement is the key. Whether you're training an older dog, a young adult, or a newly-acquired puppy, negative reinforcement (such as yelling) is never the route to take. Instead, you need to consistently praise your dog when he does something right. It is much easier for an older dog to learn which behaviors will bring him praise, rather than the ones that will bring a scolding.

One of the most common reasons for an older of an older dog to seek training is when they're having trouble housebreaking them. Perhaps you recently adopted an older dog, or perhaps you've moved and your dog is having trouble adjusting to their new surroundings. The good news is that there are plenty of resources to assist you in this task.

Crate training is always the most effective way to teach your older dog not to use the bathroom inside. The general idea of this is to make sure your dog is in a size-appropriate kennel when you are not there to supervise them. Dogs do not like to use the bathroom in an area that they are confined to, so they will quickly learn to wait until you get home and are able to take them outside.

One of the main problems that plagues owners of older dogs is aggression. This aggression can be towards people or other dogs and animals. Training older dogs with aggression problems can be one of the more challenge tasks, but rest assured that there are plenty of ways to get them over their aggression.

There are many different types of aggression, and situations in which it can cure, but I would like to focused on food aggression in dogs for this. Food aggression happens at feeding time, and can become a major problem when other animals (or sometimes even people) come around the older dog while it is attempting to eat. The dog views this intruder as a threat to what is his - dinner. This can be vary dangerous. The best way to work on this negative behavior is to make sure the dog is relaxed when it comes time to dish out dinner. If it is "antsy" or overly eager to eat, wait until the dog has calmed down and isn't as on edge to eat. When this is the case, the dog will not view intruders as a threat to the limited supply of food.

If you're looking for more training advice, you should CLICK HERE to check out this blog - it provides a look into the life of a woman with similar dog training problems. Check out her story and what strategies and styles of training worked and didn't work for her.