Having an old dog is bittersweet: lovely, wonderful, and sad.  It doesn't matter if he came into your life as a wriggling puppy, an adult, or even an old friend from the pound - the white muzzle and cloudy eyes always come too soon.

Since old dogs do seem to slow down (they love a good snooze, don't they?), can they still be trained to do new tricks? 

And furthermore - should they be?

Why train at all?

Sometimes we need our dogs to change their behaviour just to keep the peace.  They're jumping on us, or dragging us around by leash ...so before we pull out our hair, we pull out the training manual and a pile of treats.  But often old dogs are, well, behaving!  We've long ago reached a point where the family just works.

Old dog, new trick?

Old dogs can absolutely learn new tricks, and are just as much fun to train as young dogs.  Research shows that it's a good thing to keep our old dog's brains engaged - and training is very much a brain game.  It's healthy for their brains and bodies.  Let's do it!

How to train an old dog.

Luckily, training an old dog is no harder than training a young dog.  First, you need to get your dog wanting to work - this usually means skipping a meal and having a bowl of healthy but delicious treats.  He may have worked for a ball toss as a young guy, but that's just not a paycheque anymore.  Second, you need a plan: what trick are you training?  The trick should be one he can still comfortably do with aging joints.  Get your paws on a great training guide (one which uses treats and sets realistic, step-by-step goals - shop for books by Jean Donaldson, Pat Miller, or other reinforcement trainers).  Third, have fun.  He loves learning and earning that special snack.  Keep your sessions as short as you want, but no longer than the point when he doesn't care about your treats. 

You may just find a new twinkle in his eye.

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Why do dogs love to hang out on the couch?  We all have our pet theories - I think it's because the couch is comfortable, it's high up, it offers a great look-out point to see the world outside the living room window, and you're there... In other words, dogs just like the couch. 

It's absolutely fine if you allow your dog to lounge on the couch, with or without you.  Sometimes, though, we don't want Rufus on the furniture.  If this sounds like you, and you're ready to make some changes, read on.

The easiest way to get Rufus off the couch is to buy him a comfortable dog bed and put it close to the couch.  Every day, lure him onto the bed, then reward him with a nice stuffed dog toy or rawhide to chew on.  Whenever he volunteers to get on his bed, make the effort to give him a nice treat or go over and pat him for a few minutes, if he's the type to enjoy a belly rub.  Over time, he'll orient more and more to his bed.

It can also help to keep the blinds closed so the couch isn't as attractive as a look-out, or to re-arrange the furniture. 

If you secretly enjoy having him on the couch but don't want him there when the mother-in-law arrives, you can keep him in the back room with a nice stuffed dog toy when she's around.  You can even train him to lay down in his own spot when guests are around, if you enjoy training (a good positive dog class or a private trainer can help with this one).  Keeping Rufus clean and brushed will help to reduce his shedding, and certain couch materials, those that are smooth, are easier to keep clean. 

If you punish Rufus when you find him on the couch, he will likely learn that it's only safe to snooze there when you're not around.  Hey...  That's not what we're looking for!  This isn't because he's evil, it's just how their very smart doggie brains work.  That's why meeting his need for a comfortable lounging spot with another bed is the best way to go. 

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