Whoever said that teaching an old dog new tricks was a waste of time, has never owned a dog.  Dogs are extremely intelligent and love to learn new things to get your approval.  When teaching an old dog new tricks, remember to consistently use the same commands and tone of voice.  For example, don’t call your dog Buddy (unless of course that’s their name) one time and then call your dog Mister the next time.  Being consistent will reduce your dogs confusion and frustration.

A couple of tips to take into consideration when training your dog is to reward them with treats for good behavior, but also be sure and give them plenty of praise and attention.  You don’t want your dog to perform a trick simply to get the treat, you want him to learn a new behavior.  You also might want to think about enrolling your dog in an obedience class.  This will help them get extra practice and also learn how to socialize with other people and animals.

You should try and keep your training sessions short and have several throughout the day.  Dogs have short attention spans and will quickly become bored.  Following are a few of the easier and more popular commands to teach your dog.

• Come – use a toy or treat to encourage your dog to come to you.  Praise them as they’re making their way toward you and once they reach you, give them the toy or treat.
• Sit – gently press on his backside and say “sit” or hold a treat above his head moving it backward.  When your dog looks up and back, they will automatically sit.  As they are going into the sitting position, say “sit.”  Give them a lot of praise and their treat.
• Down – once your dog is in the sitting position, gently guide their legs straight out in front of them.  As you’re doing this, give the command “down.”  Have them hold that position for a least 30 seconds so they can associate the action with the command.  Now it’s time for more praise and their treat.
• Stay – when your dog is in the sitting position, take a couple of steps backward.  As you’re moving backward, give the command “stay.”  If they move from the sitting position, tell them “no” and have them sit down again.  If they stay, give them plenty of praise and then a treat.  Don’t forget to tell them that it’s okay to move.

Teaching an old dog new tricks requires persistence, consistency and patience.  Remember to always praise your dog and give them their favorite treat or toy when their learning a new trick.