Tips For Training An Older Rescue Dog
Posted on: 17 October 2019
An older rescue dog can be a great addition to your family. As long as you choose the right breed and personality that fits your family's lifestyle, an older dog can bring you years of love and joy, and you'll save a dog from being put to sleep or living in a shelter. You may wonder if it's possible to train an older dog, especially one who has wound up in a shelter. Most dogs can be trained as long as you're consistent and patient. Here are some tips that might help with training a rescue dog.
Allow A Short Time To Acclimate
Depending on the dog's personality and the type of past the dog has endured, you may find your dog settles in right away or stays shy for weeks or months. Give your dog as much time as they need to feel comfortable around you and don't try to rush the process. Patience is essential when training any dog, and it's even more important for a rescue dog. However, that doesn't mean you should let your dog run wild at first. That just teaches bad manners.
Teach the dog simple things such as where to sleep and to stay off furniture you don't want them on. You may even need to go through potty training again. Use positive reinforcement, praise, and treats to teach your dog the behaviors you want to see.
Establish A Familiar Routine
From the day you bring your dog home, you'll want to establish a routine you follow daily. When your dog goes outside at the same time each day and eats and exercises on schedule, life becomes predictable, and that could help a rescue feel more at ease. Establishing a routine makes dog training easier too since habits are easier to develop.
Start Dog Training Classes Soon
You may want to talk to a dog training professional and have the trainer come to your home to evaluate your dog's personality and behavior when deciding when to start dog training classes. Classes are a good idea for rescue dogs and older dogs. They can learn just as easily as pups as long as you are gentle and allow them to learn at their own pace while adjusting to their new life. All dogs need some sort of training because it makes life safer for them if they stop on command, walk beside you without straining on a leash, and know how to behave around people and other dogs.
Consider Getting One Dog At A Time
You may have a big heart and want to bring more than one dog home from the shelter. Unless the dogs have always been together, it could be best to bring the dogs home one at a time. Having two new dogs in a strange place at the same time could make it harder to train either one of them. The shelter should be able to guide you on the right timetable for rescuing more than one dog. Whether you have more than one dog or not, you may need a trainer to help your dog adjust, get over past trauma, and learn new behavior habits.
For more information on dog training, you can contact a company in your area like David's Dog Training.
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