If you think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, we’ve got a lesson for you! You can train an old dog just as well as a young one.

Senior dogs aren’t merely capable of learning; they thrive on it. Training can improve your older dog’s behavior, boost their health and happiness, and help them enjoy more of their golden years.

Here’s a closer look at the benefits of training for older dogs, ideal training methods for seniors, how to adapt your training to your dog’s health needs, and tips to help you and your senior dog start learning new tricks today!

Training older dogs

Like humans, many older dogs can suffer from declining senses, energy, memory, and cognitive ability—or how they think and learn. Some older dogs may also have bad habits because they did not receive early training as puppies or adult dogs.

Because of these reasons, many dog owners believe senior dogs can’t be trained. While these issues can make training older dogs different from basic adult dog training, they don’t make it impossible.

Instead, many senior dogs easily learn new skills because they tend to be more settled and calm than they were as puppies or younger adult dogs. Also, older dogs often enjoy training sessions because they value the one-on-one time with their owner and feel naturally satisfied when they master something new.

Training benefits for senior dogs

Whether your senior is a recently adopted rescue dog or a loyal companion who needs some remedial education, training can provide older dogs with many potenial benefits including:

• Good behavior — Potty training and socialization help dogs become better companions. Obedience training replaces bad habits with good ones.
• Life skills — Crate training and basic commands such as “Stay,” “Come,” and “Leave it” can help keep dogs safe.
• Confidence — Dog training encourages senior dogs to interact with their surroundings, solve puzzles, think critically, and try new things.
• Emotional wellness — Regularly spending time with your senior dog helps them feel included, loved, and safe and may reduce anxiety and depression.
• Health — Regular mental stimulation may also help slow age-related changes in your senior dog’s brain, while appropriate physical activity may help support better mobility.

Positive reinforcement training for senior dogs

Dogs of all ages deserve compassionate and humane training that respects their physical and emotional well-being. This is especially important for senior dogs who may need extra support to change bad habits, build a trusting relationship with their new owner, or adapt to their changing health.

Positive reinforcement is a science-based dog training method that encourages learning by rewarding correct behavior and ignoring “bad” or undesirable behavior.

Instead of punishing the dog for doing something “wrong,” positive reinforcement trainers try to prevent opportunities for bad behavior by making it easy for the dog to do the right thing. This may include teaching an incompatible behavior such as training a dog to sit or lie down for petting so they can’t jump up on guests.

How to train your dog using positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is sometimes called reward-based training or clicker training. This is because correct or good behavior is recognized with a verbal cue (marker) from the trainer—such as “Yes” or “Good”—or a click from a clicker.

The trainer then rewards the dog with a treat, toy, or other high-value item. As dogs associate their behavior with the reward, the desired behavior becomes more frequent and the less valuable or incorrect behavior disappears.

Key concepts and training tips for positive reinforcement include:

• Observation — Recognizing the right behavior improves communication between you and your dog and speeds learning.
• Timing — Always follow your verbal marker or click with an immediate treat, toy, or desired activity. This helps dogs connect their behavior with the reward.
• Consistency — Every click or “Yes” equals a reward. Consistency in your training will build your dog’s confidence and help avoid confusion.
• Simplicity — Teach complex behaviors in bite-sized pieces so your dog can be successful and have fun. If your dog struggles, go back a step or two.
• Compassion — Never use punishment, including yelling or physical corrections, to train your dog. Punishment is emotionally and physically damaging, can damage your dog’s trust, and is counterproductive to learning.

How to start training your senior dog

Obedience training is important for dogs of all ages because it helps them become better family members. While professional dog trainers instruct dog owners to start training a new puppy on the day they bring them home, the training process is a lifelong journey that can begin anytime—including today!

Training the newly adopted senior dog

If you’ve recently adopted an older dog, focus on training exercises that will build their comfort and confidence. Senior rescue dogs may be unsure of new people and places because of their past or health challenges, so use training to build trust, learn what your new dog needs, and create a strong bond.

Set basic training goals and priorities for your newly adopted dog. Work on one or two things at a time and gradually build on your dog’s success. Areas to focus on include:

• Basic commands and obedience training
• Crate training
• House training (potty training)
• Socialization

Training an older dog with health issues

Many older dog health problems can affect training and learning. Regular veterinary exams can help you recognize these challenges and adjust your approach.

Even if your senior dog is healthy right now, preparing for future health changes can make your training more successful. Health-related accommodations may include:

• Hand signals — Teaching your dog hand signals ensures they can still understand you if they lose their hearing.
• Vibrating collars — Vibrating collars (not to be confused with shock collars) can help improve communication with senior dogs by providing gentle, tactile cues. These are useful for dogs with hearing or vision loss.
• Potty training — Old dogs may need to have more frequent poop and pee breaks or have physical issues that make it difficult to go outside. Training your dog to use an indoor area—like when your dog pees on potty pads or a litter box—can be a suitable solution for easy clean up. Diapers may also come in handy.
• Ramps and pet steps — Teaching your older doggy to use a pet ramp or stairs can improve their independence and may help reduce the risk for injuries.

Choosing the right activities

Unlike early life training, which focuses on building a strong foundation of basic obedience, senior dog training should be about creating a good quality of life.

In addition to being positive and humane, training for senior dogs should be gentle on their bodies and tailored to their physical abilities.

Alongside teaching new behaviors and basic dog training skills, introduce activities that challenge your older dog’s mind without straining their aging joints. This may include:

• Nosework or sniffing games
• Low-impact tricks (avoid jumping or tight turns)
• Puzzle toys and snuffle mats

Common senior dog challenges and training tips

Training a senior dog is an incredibly rewarding experience for both ends of the leash, but late-life learning can pose unique training challenges. Help your best friend learn to learn with these solutions.

• Challenge: Lack of motivation — If your dog seems disinterested, think about how you are rewarding them. Is there another food or toy they prefer? Embrace your dog’s preferences and let them decide what is reinforcing.
• Challenge: Lack of understanding — If your senior dog struggles with training, it doesn’t mean they can’t learn. Try training smaller pieces of the behavior to get greater success or go back to the last step where your dog was successful and slowly rebuild. Also, remember that dogs can have bad days, too. Take a break from training and try again tomorrow.
• Challenge: Lack of focus — Certain health issues may affect your senior dog’s ability to focus, including sensory loss, dementia, pain, and decreased stamina. Train in short sessions—a few minutes at a time—when your dog is most energetic, such as around meal time, and avoid repetition.
• Challenge: Behavior or personality changes — Unexplainable changes in your dog’s responses or temperament can indicate pain, illness, or an underlying health issue. If you notice these, contact your veterinarian.

When to work with a professional dog trainer

While it is possible to train your own dog, a qualified professional dog trainer can help you navigate challenging behavior or health issues that may slow your dog’s progress. Group classes can also be a great way to socialize your senior dog to new situations.

Look for a trainer who uses positive reinforcement techniques, has completed a formal dog training program, and has experience with older dogs.

If your dog’s behavior changes are new, visit the veterinarian to determine if underlying pain or illness may be the cause. Your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary behaviorist for conditions like aggression, separation anxiety, or noise phobia.

Old dogs, new tricks, and timeless love

Whether you’re a first-time dog owner or a lifelong canine caregiver, the joy and pride you feel watching your senior dog learn something new never gets old. Every new trick or basic command your older dog masters is more than a behavior, it’s a showcase of your bond, a gift to their health, and a boost to their quality of life. Help your senior dog’s golden years sparkle by adding training to their daily routine!

Jaime Bast RVT, CCRP, KPA-CTP is a proud registered veterinary technician and professional copywriter who enjoys combining her passion for dog training and behavior with her love for the written word.