Hill's Science Plan Puppy Small & Mini Breed Dog Food with Chicken is a complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology.
100% balanced nutrition to support optimal growth & the immune system.
Hill's Science Plan Puppy Medium Breed Dog Food with Chicken is a complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology.
100% balanced nutrition to support optimal growth & the immune system.
Hill's Science Plan Puppy Small & Mini Breed Dog Food with Lamb & Rice is a complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology.
100% balanced nutrition to support optimal growth & the immune system.
Hill's Science Plan Oral Care Adult Cat Food with Chicken contains clinically proven kibble technology to reduce plaque & tartar build up.
Hill's Science Plan Adult Sterilised Cat Dry Food with Chicken is specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology. It is a precisely balanced nutrition, tailored to meet the needs of sterilised cats, to help keep sthem lean & healthy.
HILL'S SCIENCE PLAN Hypoallergenic Adult cat food with egg & insect protein is a complete pet food for adult cat 1–6 years old. It's formulated for cats with delicate skin and stomach, with limited high quality novel protein sources & no grain.
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Jean Marie Bauhaus
|July 31, 2019
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks," might be a cliché saying, but is it true? Read on for the real scoop on teaching an old dog new tricks, and learn tips for training an older dog.
The original saying went, "An old dog will learn no tricks." No one is certain of the exact origins of the phrase, but it appeared as early as 1721 in the book "Divers Proverbs" by Nathan Baily, says Know Your Phrase. While that proverb uses dogs as a metaphor for the stubbornness of human nature, an even older version can be found in a book on animal husbandry from the 1500s which states, "it is hard to make an old dog to stoop," referring to teaching a dog to put their nose to the ground to track scent. Cuteness points out that these sayings originated at a time when dogs were trained to perform specific jobs such as herding or hunting, abilities that would naturally decline as dogs aged and lost the use of their senses.
While declining health might prevent older dogs from being able to perform certain tasks, they still have the ability to learn new skills — though at a slower rate than puppies and younger dogs, according to an article in the journal, Age. In a study conducted at the University of Vienna's Clever Dog Lab, a test of dogs' ability to learn to distinguish between objects found that dogs around 10 years of age took more than twice as many repetitions and corrections than puppies 6 months to 1 year old. However, the older dogs outperformed the young pups in logic and reasoning tasks, suggesting that older dogs stubbornly refuse to unlearn what they already know. The study found no age difference in dogs' ability to retain their training.
While the study found no correlation between aging dogs' ability to learn and dog breed, it stands to reason that breeds that are easier to train while young will remain easier to train as they age. Breeds that do best at learning new skills, says iHeartDogs, include the poodle, golden and Labrador retrievers and herding breeds such as the German shepherd, collie and Shetland sheepdog. Both Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh corgis are also highly trainable.
There are many possible reasons for training an older dog: Perhaps you've adopted a senior dog who needs to learn how to fit into your household, or maybe your older dog has had a rough past and needs to be resocialised or desensitised to fear triggers. Here are a few more reasons you may want to train an older dog:
As dogs age, many develop health conditions that limit their learning ability, including joint pain, vision or hearing loss, and decline in cognitive function, says Rover.This might mean you should avoid trying to teach your senior dog more vigorous games or activities, but the good news is that older dogs can still learn new things. It simply takes more time and patience to train an older dog.
Here are some tips to help make teaching an old dog new tricks a little easier:
Evaluate your pet: Does your dog have any health issues or cognitive dysfunction that will make it hard to perform the task you want to teach? If your reason for training is to address a behavioural problem, could an underlying health problem be to blame? For example, an older dog who's started soiling the carpet might have bladder problems that need to be treated rather than a refresher in house training. Talk to your veterinarian to make sure your dog is healthy enough for training.
Exercise first: For dogs who are easily distracted and have a hard time paying attention, a walk or a game of fetch prior to the training session will help them release pent-up energy, so they can relax and be more focused.
Reward them: Giving your pup their favourite dog treat each time they do what you want will create positive associations between the command and the desired outcome. If your pooch doesn't respond well to treats, or if you're watching their weight, reward them with lots of praise and petting, or give clicker training a try.
Ignore undesirable behaviour: It may sound counterintuitive, but calling attention to your dog if they get distracted, lie down, wander off or refuse to cooperate will only serve to reinforce that behaviour. The best thing to do is ignore it, reposition your pooch, and try again.
Take breaks: It's easy to get frustrated when your dog doesn't seem to be catching on, and it's very likely your old pup feels the same way. When this happens, stop the training and try again the next day.
Be patient: Remember that older dogs need twice as much time and twice as much exposure than younger dogs to learn a new behaviour.
Practice, practice, practice: Your old dog needs consistent practice to learn a new skill. Skipping a day will only make it harder for your old friend. Keep going for as long as it takes, continuing to reward with treats and praise when your dog gets it right. Unless your dog suffers from dog dementia, which might make learning impossible, there's a good chance they'll pick up the trick eventually. Even after they do, daily practice will help ensure that they retain the new skill.
Despite the old adage, teaching an old dog new tricks is possible. Training an older dog simply takes time and repetition along with a whole lot of patience and love.
Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, pet blogger, and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of fur babies.
Hill's Science Plan Sensitive Stomach and Skin Small & Mini Adult Dog Food with Turkey is a complete premium pet food for small breed adult dogs aged 1–6 years. This deliciously soft mousse is enriched with ingredients that support digestive health & skin care.
Hill's Science Plan Adult Small & Mini Dog Food with Turkey is a complete premium pet food for adult small dogs from 1 year old that are prone to weight gain or slightly overweight. This deliciously smooth mousse is formulated to deliver the appropriate amount of energy to support weight maintenance in adult dogs.
Science Plan Hypoallergenic Medium Adult dog food with Salmon is a gentle, science-led formula crafted for dogs with food sensitivities. Made with carefully selected, high-quality novel proteins and no grains, it’s tailored to minimise common triggers that can lead to skin and digestive discomfort.
Hill's Science Plan Puppy & Mother Tender Mousse Dog Food with Chicken is a complete premium pet food for puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs. Formulated with chicken and other specially selected ingredients, including minerals and antioxidants to support gut health and optimal growth, it comes in a soft mousse texture they'll love.
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Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.