Can You Train a Dog at Any Age? The Answer May Surprise You

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, goes the adage. This leaves a lot of pet parents skeptical about the possibility of training a dog well past puppyhood. Whether it’s adopting an adult dog or addressing behavioral issues in your grown-up pet, you may find yourself worried and wondering, can you train a dog at any age?

Well, I’m happy to break it to you that the adage is just another one of those myths that seem to have taken on a life of its own. In reality, there is no bar on the age to train a dog. Dogs are lifelong learners, and typically, love to please their owners. These inherent traits make it possible to train a dog at any age — yes, that includes adult and senior dogs.

That said, the ease of training a dog can vary depending on age, as well as other factors like breed, background, and the training experience of the handler (be it you or a professional trainer). While you can train a dog at any age, you will see the desired results only when you take a unique approach to the process based on these factors. For a better insight into that unique approach, let’s take a closer look at the nuances of training a dog.

What is the Best Age to Train a Dog?

Yes, I did just say that there is no bar on the age to train a dog. While it is possible to train older dogs with sustained effort, it can certainly be harder than training a pup. That’s because dogs are creatures of habit, and once certain behavior patterns get reinforced, it can be hard to replace them.

Ideally, you should start training your pup when they’re 8 weeks old, starting small and gradually building up on the complexity. For instance, you may not have much success if you try to teach dog tricks at this age but pups this young can respond well to socializing and even basics like potty training. So, in many ways, the best age to train a dog depends on the nature of the training. Here is a timeline for training a dog, as recommended by dog trainers:  

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1. Socializing and house training

Age: 8-16 weeks

At this age, pups are curious and impressionable, so it’s the best time to familiarize them with the world around them. Training at this age largely involves exposing them to new environments, settings, activities, and people, so that your pet isn’t intimidated by the unfamiliar. So, go ahead and,

• Take them on car rides
• Let them meet new people, and even, new dogs (once your pup’s vaccinations are complete)
• Take them to parks
• Introduce them to traffic noises
• Schedule vet visits

This is also a good age to start house training your pet. However, bear in mind that potty training can be a learning curve for a lot of dogs because, at this age, they just do not have much control over their bladder and bowel movements. Even so, introducing the concept this early on makes the process a lot more efficient, and helps avoid the conundrum of how to train an older dog to poop in one area. Here is how you can start potty training a dog at this stage:

• Mark a dedicated spot for your dog to do their business
• Take your dog to that spot frequently—here is a good rule of thumb that has stood me in good stead: your pup’s age in months + 1 is the longest they can hold themselves. So, if your pup is 2 months old (8 weeks), you’ll need to schedule pee-and-poo breaks at least every 3 hours—at night as well. In addition to that, take them out immediately after every meal. Yes, it seems rigorous, but I assure you, within a couple of weeks, your pup will learn to tell you that they need to relieve themselves. This little hard work goes a long way in saving you the hassle of figuring out how to train an older dog to poop in one area
• Introduce cue words like “go pee-pee” and “go potty”
• Reward your pup with praise and treats every time they do their business at the dedicated spot
• However, don’t scold (and never hit) them for any accidents
• A simple “No, bad boy/girl” is enough to convey that relieving themselves inside the house is not a desirable behavior  

2. Basic commands

Age: 16 to 24 weeks

You can start basic obedience training as early as 16 weeks, and gradually build up the momentum. Here is what you include in your dog’s training program at this age:

1. Sit

This has to be the first obedience command you teach your dog. Start by introducing it at mealtime. Make your dog sit before you give them food, and then, start using it during play time and reward compliance with praise and treats. Once your pup is well-versed with the command, use it at random to drill it in.

2. Stay

Once your dog has learned to sit, the next order of business is to teach them to stay. Here, too, the key is to start small—just a couple of seconds at first—and then slowly increase the time until your dog learns to stay in place unless they hear the “free” command. Again, I find mealtime the most effective to integrate it.

3. Recall

Next in order is the “come” command. It’s essential that your dog is aware of and responds to a recall cue. Even if the results may not be 100% when you’re dealing with a curious, mischievous puppy, it’s important to introduce it to their training as early on as 16 weeks.

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4. Leash training

Leash training must also begin well before your dog discovers that they can walk ahead of you and pull the leash to take you where they want to go. Once your pup is 16 weeks, start walking them on a short leash, making sure they walk right beside or a step or two behind you. It helps to hold a few treats in your hand or have a treat pouch tied to your waist, so your pup can smell the treats and learn to focus on your cues in the hope of being rewarded.

Every time your pet walks ahead of you, stop and make them “get back”. Periodically reward them for walking beside or behind you. Yeah, leash training can be as tedious as it sounds but you will be glad to have done it once your dog is older. Especially if you have a big dog — as a mom to GSDs, I certainly know leash training is a lifesaver.

5. Polite play

Teething pups bite and chew whatever they can get their hands on—people, furniture, shoes, toys. While it’s adorable when they’re little, the habit of biting can become a nuisance once your dog is older. That’s why, it’s important to introduce the “no biting” command into your dog’s training once they’re past the peak teething phase — which should happen by six months.

6. Fetch

This is also the best age to train a dog to fetch. It’s best to start once your pet has mastered the sit, stay, and come cues. Start training in a closed space and begin by teaching them to hold the ball/toy. Then, add the drop command. Finally, start throwing the ball/toy, telling your pup to “get it” or “fetch”. Increase the distance as you go. At first, you may have to use the “come” cue to get them to bring the ball back to you but soon enough they get the drift. 

Pro tip: Never chase after your dog if they don’t come back to you after fetching their ball/toy. Simply disengage until they give up and come running to you

7. Different tricks

If you want to teach dog tricks like bow, salute, tall, roll over, and crawl, this is the right age to get started   

3. Mastering basic commands

Age: One year

By their first birthday, your dog should show visible growth in impulse control and have mastered commands like sit, stay, leave it, come, and walking on the lead. At the same time, undesirable behaviors like biting, rough play, excessive barking, or aggression should be resolved if they’ve been trained the right way.

At this stage, as your dog becomes a little more mature (for large and giant dogs, 1-year is still puppyhood but even so, they do become a shade mellower than their bursting-at-the-seams-with-energy selves), and so, you can introduce concepts like off-leash and loose-leash walking. This is also a good time to get your dog used to being alone for extended periods without getting anxious or displaying destructive behaviors like tearing up furniture.

When is it Too Late to Train a Dog?

Now that you know the best age to train a dog, depending on the nature of the training, let’s turn our attention to another vital question: When is it too late to train a dog? The answer is NEVER! It’s never too late to address behavioral problems or even issues like pulling on the lead or poor recall.

In fact, you can even introduce new elements to an adult dog’s training. These go a long way in keeping your dog mentally and physically fit. Activities like scent training and trick training, for instance, can be great for senior dogs as they’re mentally stimulating but don’t put any strain on the body. Here is why you should never stop training and reinforcing desirable behaviors in your dog:

• Keeps your dog strongly bonded with you
• Prevents bad habits from forming
• Keeps your dog productively engaged
• Great for their mental health and well-being
• Allows you the opportunity to correct any undesirable behaviors
• You can closely observe your pet and spot any changes in their health and fitness early on  

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Tips for Training Older Dogs

Can you train a dog at any age? You absolutely can. Is training older dogs? Doesn’t have to be if you approach it the right way. Now, the next important question is, what is the “right way”? As always, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to it. The right approach to training an older dog depends on factors like their age, past experiences, whether they’ve had any training at all, and the goal of the training.

Your approach can also vary depending on whether you’re trying to figure out how to train an older dog basic commands, how to train an older dog to walk on a leash, or how to train an older dog to poop in one area. That said, there are a few basic principles that can make the process of training older dogs a lot less daunting—both for the trainer and the trainee. Let’s take a look at them:

1. Start by ascertaining what your dog already knows

If you’ve or are considering adopting an adult dog and find yourself wondering, “Can you train a 5-year-old dog?”, this is where you must begin. Likewise, if you’re trying to correct certain behavior issues in your pet and losing your mind over how to train a 3-year-old dog, it can help to go back to the basics and see how much of it your dog comprehends and responds to. This is important because even if you trained your pet as a puppy, a lot of the commands and cues can fall by the wayside if not reinforced regularly.

It’s not hard to figure out a dog has good household manners and responds well to basic commands like sit, stay, come. You just need to pay attention to their cues and responses. Once you’ve ascertained the level of your dog’s training, you can treat it as the baseline and build upon it.  

2. Training older dogs is not different from training a puppy

Whether you’re wondering how to train a 2-year-old dog or a 2-month-old puppy, the process doesn’t change much.

• Start small and gradually build up on the complexity, giving your dog time to get acquainted with what’s expected of them. For instance, if you want to teach your dog to stay, start with the sit command, then make them stay for a couple of seconds at first, and slowly, increase the duration. Finally, add the ‘free’ cue
• Dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So, use treats and praises to reward your dog for doing what’s expected of them — every single time. Express your displeasure at undesirable behavior by disengaging and using verbal cues like “no” or “bad”, but do not hit or scold your dog
• It’s best to work on one training command at a time
• When you introduce a new command, don’t forget to practice the one they’ve learned before it

3. Crate training goes a long way in house training older dogs

When it comes to house training older dogs, getting them comfortable with spending time in a crate is a great starting point. It gives them a safe space to call their own—one they wouldn’t want to soil if they can help it. This way you can get your dog to give you cues for when they want to be let out much more easily.

Likewise, if you’re struggling with destructive behavior, crate training can help break that pattern. However, this can be an effort-intensive process at first. If you’ve tried your hand at it but haven’t made headway, follow our guide on crate training an older dog.

4. Consistency is key when training an older dog

Dogs are creatures of habit. When you’re training an older dog, you have a dual task at hand — breaking old habits and replacing them with new ones. To be able to achieve it, you need to be consistent in your approach. Plan training sessions at the same time every day. Keep reinforcing training lessons throughout the day, make it a habit to correct bad behaviors, and reward good ones.

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5. Be mindful of your dog’s past

If you’ve adopted a dog who has a history of abuse or neglect or are trying to retrain your dog after they’ve suffered a trauma, expect the training process to be far more challenging. Our adopted GSD, Prince, for instance, had so many behavioral issues that we had to rope in a trainer to work with him. Once, during a training session, he just grabbed her bag full of treats and ran around the yard, raising his heckles and growling every time she tried to approach him to take it away.

His resource-guarding behavior was on full display. The trainer had to give up and let him gorge on the treats. While discouraging, such setbacks are to be expected when training an older dog with a traumatic past. With consistency, you can make great progress, even if certain behaviors may never go away entirely.

6. Keep up the ante

Training can be a great way to keep your dog stimulated and bond with them. As we’ve already discussed, it’s never too late to train a dog. Even if you have a well-trained older dog, don’t let the process fizzle away just because your pet has reached a certain age or knows basic commands.

Keep reinforcing basic commands and also up the ante by introducing new tricks, activities, and tasks. Maybe teach your adult dog to fetch the newspaper (if you still get one), open and close doors, or crawl. It’s the only way to truly soak up the joys of being a pet parent.  

The Takeaway

To see results, you need to stop fixating on the right age to train a dog. As long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort and lead the way, your dog will always follow. While success depends on a lot of factors, patience and consistency are key. To achieve those, you need to keep the entire experience positive for both yourself and your dog and have fun while training your pet. Go on, teach your old dog new tricks. Good luck!