old dog new tricks

[E13]

I've never actually heard if there's truth in this!

Can you teach an older dog? With regards to a six year old who thinks he's a puppy, is so excitable and has more energy than anyone I've ever met! He pulls awfully on the lead (our fault, I know, not his) and we can't often let him off lead as he will bomb off and not come back. Is it too late to rectify this? And what about teaching him tricks? I've taught both our dogs some, but a while ago. I presume, at least with tricks, it is still perfectly possible, I'm thinking that the walk-related stuff would be harder as the behaviour is ingrained...and he gets so excitable that commands he obeys in the house don't work (so yes he can come to call, but go out on a walk, no he can't).

 

[RLS]

One of my dogs was 4 years old when I got him, the other was 8 years old when I got her. They are certainly not the best behaved dogs in the world (that would be a slight undertstatement) but they did learn new stuff at that age. E.G. they learned that they're not allowed to chase the cats (doesn't always stop them though!), and they've both learned to "have a piddle" when prompted, and their recall has got better over time (that is the hardest when outside in the big exciting world). So yes, dogs can learn new stuff all through their lives. Maybe it's us old owners that can't learn new tricks?!?!?!?
(hehehehe)

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yes, it's perfectly possible, just not as easy if the behaviour is ingrained, but it can be done.