Dogs
When Is It Too Late to Train a Dog?
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Table of Contents
· What is the Best Age for Training a Dog?
· Is It Ever Too Late to Start Training a Dog?
· What Are the 7 Basic Dog Commands?
· Can a Dog Be Untrainable?
Even experts have difficulty agreeing that while most puppy trainers say that training should be delayed until 6 months (where a dog will still be young enough to learn but have lost much of its puppy rambunctiousness) some other experts, especially those that use hunting dogs, say the sooner the better. In this article, we aim to help you understand better when is it too late to train a dog.
Well, when it comes to the bare basics, it is never too late to train a dog. A dog can learn simple commands such as “Sit”, “Stay” or “Run” no matter how long they are as long as the owner is patient. However, for complex commands and things that go against their instincts. Such as retrieving pieces a hunter has killed without eating them or running after live prey, the cut-off age is about one year. Dogs that have reached adulthood without training might be too old to learn commands that go against their instincts.
What is the Best Age for Training a Dog?
When it comes to determining what age is best for dog training, it’s best to first consider the amount of time you are willing to invest in your dog’s training. If your dog is young for example a puppy them it will be harder to train because of the short attention span they have because of their age. Even though they might have a short attention span you can still take the time to teach them basic commands like sit, down, and stay. Which will benefit them when they start to age and learn new commands. When you lay a good foundation it will make training them at an older age a lot easier. You can start to teach them these basic commands as young as 7 to 8 weeks age or you can go the formal route and begin at 6 months of age. When it comes to training in adulthood it might require more persistence and time as well. In adulthood, some commands might be harder for you to teach them because of their age.
Is It Ever Too Late to Start Training a Dog?
It is never too late to start training your dog where there is an older dog or a young one. If the dog is older then they might already know some of the basic commands which will then make it easier for you to train them. Unlike puppies, you might have to start from scratch and it might be more time-consuming as well. There are different factors to consider like the breed, where the dog was acquired, and just the dog's personality as well. That’s why it’s important to understand and choose what best will suit you. Doing this can avoid a lot of problems and most especially stress because then you will have an understanding of what it’s going to take to train the dog. You will also know where to start as far as the training. Most older dogs are easier to train than puppies because of the foundational training and wisdom they already have.
What Are the 7 Basic Dog Commands?
Dog obedience is probably one of the most important subjects anybody can learn about epically if you are looking to train your dog. You also would not need that much time to train your dog when you put in a good amount of effort daily. You can start with just these basic commands sit, down, stay, come, heel, off, and no. These 7 commands are some of the most important because of the frequency that they are used. There the basic foundation for a good well-trained dog that will behave and follow your lead. When teaching your dog these commands make sure to reward them for their effort, this will encourage them. Make sure to use their name with the command to avoid confusing your dog and try to keep your words short. Remember that dogs get distracted easily, so try to keep the training session short and keep everything positive for them.
Can a Dog Be Untrainable?
Having an untrainable dog can be quite frustrating especially if you are not sure what to do. When dealing with this type of dog it’s always best to stay as calm as possible and try your best to understand them. Most of the time an untrainable dog is a result of using training methods that maybe don’t fit your dog. That’s why it’s important to understand the type of dog you are dealing with first before any training begins. Never get angry or frustrated at your dog it will only complicate things. Having negative feelings can affect a dog’s behavior and mood. Remember that the way you treat your dog will determine how well they will listen and respond to you.
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