Older dogs benefit from training, too
A little gray around the muzzle doesn’t mean it’s time for your dog to stop learning.
Just as in humans, lifelong brain-work is enriching and can improve a dog’s quality of life.
I’ve had the pleasure lately of working with quite a few older dogs, ranging from 3 to 9 years old. Some of them are recently rescued dogs who are getting a manners refresher, others have some Very Big Feelings about certain situations … and some are working on both!
Just as humans can become inattentive as they age, research shows that our canine companions can also experience a decline in attention as they get older. Paying attention to their people is an important part of the human-canine bond and communication (rewarding a dog for paying attention is one of the first things I teach clients when we meet).
Research shows the benefits of continued training
Lifelong training can help to prevent this decline in a dog’s attention, according to research published in 2017 by scientists at the Messerli Research Institute at the Vetmeduni Vienna. This is good news, because attention is important for many reasons, including safety, as our dogs age.
In one study, older dogs who had had training throughout their lives were able to sustain attention on a person longer than dogs without such training.
In a second study, all the older dogs learned fairly quickly that a clicker sound when the dog looked at a person predicted a treat. So yes: You can definitely teach an older dog a new behavior. However, dogs who had had prior clicker training were much quicker to learn this new behavior.
Thus, the study suggests reward-based training has cognitive benefits that persist into the dog’s later life. Read the complete research paper here.
Gabby is an older gal and a recently rescued dog who’s getting a manners brush-up.
Here, We’re working on her going to her “place” and relaxing. Being able to go to a certain bed or mat and not be underfoot is very useful in many situations!
“Learning” need not mean formal classes or sessions with a trainer
First of all, your dog is always learning, often by creating patterns around their daily lives:
You picking up the leash and putting on shoes = walkies
People in the kitchen might = dropped food
Someone comes home = outdoor snack time (this is a pattern with my own dogs when I come home from a client, because I’ll often throw into the back yard the rewards that I didn’t use in the training session, so the dogs greet me then run to the porch door)
Lifelong learning can encompass practicing behaviors that you once learned in puppy class, such as touching an object, sitting politely for a treat, and a refresher on loose leash walking or coming when called.
You can also go back to square one and teach your dog to pay attention to you with a new marker word (a marker word is similar to a click - it lets the dog know she did the right thing and that a treat is forthcoming) such as a happy “Yes!” or “Good!”.
Trick training using rewards is another fun way to integrate learning. My own dogs, 9-year-old Petey and 11-year-old Daisy, spin in a circle each night before bedtime cookies.
What you may find when working with an older dog
As I mentioned at the start, I’ve been working with quite a few older dogs recently and, of course over the years. Things you may notice when teaching them something new or even refreshing their previously-learned behaviors:
Their responses are slower … they need to think about what you’re teaching, and you may need to stay at earlier, easier versions of a training plan for a longer period than you used to
It may take them more time to learn something new (similar to an older adult vs. a child learning a second language, for instance)
They likely will respond better to very aromatic/special treats as rewards (think cooked bacon, meatballs, Asiago cheese); you may want to adjust their caloric intake accordingly (always consult with your vet about your dog’s diet)
They may be more ready for a nap after training than they were when younger … brain work is both very enriching and can be very tiring!