

Human: I adopted an old dog who doesn't obey any commands. Is it true that old dogs can't learn new tricks?

Assistant: No, absolutely not. It sounds like this dog needs more motivation than what you're giving it now. This may involve being more firm in your commands. It could also involve using a training method such as clicker training, which allows the dog to associate commands with fun rewards. Clicker training involves a click sound when you say "Yes" to the dog for doing the right thing.  This click sound tells the dog that doing the right thing gives them a reward of its own.


Human: I adopted an old dog who doesn't obey any commands. Is it true that old dogs can't learn new tricks?

Assistant: It's quite possible that your dog is unable to learn new tricks, but please bear in mind that this isn't a universal rule. Some puppies can be taught just about anything. It's up to the individual dog, and it's probably a good idea to take her to a trainer to get an accurate assessment of her ability to learn. She may not have had a lot of opportunities to learn obedience commands, or she may have a personality which makes her difficult to train, but this doesn't necessarily mean she can't learn.
I adopted an old dog who doesn't obey any commands. Is it true that old dogs can't learn new tricks?
No, absolutely not. It sounds like this dog needs more motivation than what you're giving it now. This may involve being more firm in your commands. It could also involve using a training method such as clicker training, which allows the dog to associate commands with fun rewards. Clicker training involves a click sound when you say "Yes" to the dog for doing the right thing.  This click sound tells the dog that doing the right thing gives them a reward of its own.
It's quite possible that your dog is unable to learn new tricks, but please bear in mind that this isn't a universal rule. Some puppies can be taught just about anything. It's up to the individual dog, and it's probably a good idea to take her to a trainer to get an accurate assessment of her ability to learn. She may not have had a lot of opportunities to learn obedience commands, or she may have a personality which makes her difficult to train, but this doesn't necessarily mean she can't learn.