There are a number of situations in which you could find yourself caring for an adult dog desperately in need of a little discipline and direction.

Maybe you just adopted an older dog from a shelter and know nothing about his background. Or your daughter recently gave you her yellow lab because she’s just too busy to deal with him anymore. Or maybe the terrier you’ve had for 8 years has gotten a little ornery with age.

Regardless of the circumstances – and counter to the old adage – you can train an older dog. In fact, sometimes it’s easier to train adults than a puppies because their attention spans are longer and they are more likely to recognize you as their leader.

Whether you’re dealing with an adult or a puppy, some of the training principles remain the same.

• Reward good and desired behavior. Be slow to reprimand and never reward bad behavior.
• Make training sessions fun so your dog – and you — look forward to them.
• Be consistent. Use the same type of rewards each time and always reward desired behavior. If a behavior is rewarded intermittently your dog will have difficulty associating the reward with a specific behavior.

Teaching an adult dog to change an established behavior can be much more difficult than teaching him something new. The key, again, is to be patient and consistent. And focus on the positive – rewarding the new behavior while ignoring the old.

If your dog came from a shelter or rescue organization, he may have landed there because his previous owner couldn’t deal with some problem behavior the dog was exhibiting, such as uncontrolled barking, chewing or jumping. Unfortunately, in addition to being annoying, these behaviors can be destructive or even dangerous – and sometimes require the help of a professional.

At the Folsom Dog Resort, we can tailor a training program to meet the specific needs of your dog. The Dog Guy’s methods can address everything from excessive barking and jumping to digging and backyard destruction.

Dogs by nature are pack animals. In the wild they live in packs where they quickly become socialized, learning from the verbal cues and body language of other dogs. For domestic puppies, socialization begins almost at birth by interacting with littermates, and continues when the puppies are adopted into human families.

But what if you are adopting an older dog that was never properly socialized? While it is significantly more difficult to socialize an adult dog, there are things you can do to help your pet fit more comfortably into his environment.

The first step is to socialize the dog with your family. Be patient with the dog, increasing his exposure to other family members a little at a time. Once the dog has become accustomed to his “human pack” you can gradually introduce him to other new people. When meeting for the first time, have the person offer the dog a treat. It also helps to speak in a low, encouraging voice. Don’t force the dog to approach the person. He’ll eventually succumb to the irresistible combination of a tasty treat and words of praise.

Once he’s been socialized at home, it’s time to introduce him to other dogs. When walking your dog, vary the routes so he can be exposed to different sights and sounds. And choose a path where you’re likely to encounter a variety of people and dogs. Even if your dog becomes agitated or uncomfortable, avoid jerking your pet’s leash or yelling at him because that will only reinforce that engaging other dogs is a negative experience.

You can also try taking your pet to a dog park — but don’t go in. Instead, stand on the other side of the fence and let your dog watch the behavior of other canines.  

Folsom Dog Resort understands the importance of play and socialization in a dog’s life. If a dog is social he can play with other dogs similar in size and age, using our ¼-acre of outdoor play yard space. If the dog doesn’t get along well with his peers, he’ll still get plenty of exercise at the resort but he’ll be playing with members of the staff rather than other dogs.

Occasionally, adult dogs will not respond to standard socialization techniques. In those cases, obedience training may be the best solution. The Folsom Dog Resort, featuring Jason Davis, The Dog Guy®, offers several training packages that can be customized for your specific needs.

Give us a call at (916) 439-7202  for more information or to to schedule a FREE training evaluation. Or visit our web site, www.folsomdogresort.com.

Teaching your dog to come to you immediately is arguably the most important rule you can enforce. This may save her life someday, especially if she were about to run into a busy street. Although you may be furious and frustrated, never get angry at her when she wanders away from you. It may deter her from returning. When she does come back, give her a ton of praise – lots of pets and “good dog.”

Your well-mannered friends usually don’t barge into your house and sit down in the family room unless you’ve invited them over and welcomed them in. Expect the same from your dog. Only allow her in the house and on your furniture if she is invited by you specifically.

Some of my clients have told me that their friends won’t come over because the dog gets all over them. Teach your dog to stay on a dog bed when guests arrive. This will impress your guests and keep your dog off of them and the couch they will be sitting on. Take the privilege of getting on the couch away for a while and give it back slowly, periodically and always on your terms.

Sometimes potty-ing in the house and yard is confused with “marking”. When a dog marks he is leaving his information on whatever he has peed on. Dogs smell it and learn a lot about the dog who left the scent. For both instances, take away all roaming of the house for three weeks, then allow very limited amounts of supervised roaming. Teach your dog to stay on a dog bed in the house for extended periods of time. When you cannot supervise him, put him in his crate, outside or in the dog run. Be sure to get your carpets cleaned by a professional that specializes in pet stains and odor to ensure that your dog doesn’t go back to mark his spots again once he regained roaming privileges.

“Not true, just takes longer and the older they are often the longer it takes for control to turn to good habit. Sometimes you never get the good habit but have to remind regularly. It depends on the behavior. Mind you, it takes only a few repetitions of a bad habit for a dog of any age to learn it” Martin Deeley.

Digging is a natural activity for dogs. They do it to play, to keep busy when they are bored, and often to get cool or warm by curling up in the freshly dug bed. However, digging generally does not fit well within our lifestyles. I have seen thousands of dollars worth of damage at many of my client’s homes where their dog has destroyed the landscaping. Your dog can only be taught not to dig in your yard when you are there to teach and reinforce the rule. This is very difficult since most dog owners are gone the majority of the day.

I highly recommend that you build a dog run, or an enclosed area of the yard that can be built out of wood, decorative fencing or ready-made. This will at least isolate the digging. The enclosure should have water, toys, a dog house, and shade. Ideally, the ground surface should be either synthetic turf or pea gravel.

Supervise your dog! Think of your dog as a two-year-old child. Would you ever leave your toddler unsupervised? Your dog is an animal that can only be taught the “moment” he is chewing and destroying your possessions. Do not get angry at your dog after your things have been destroyed. He won’t understand discipline after the fact. The most effective way to keep your belongings in one piece is to keep them out of reach and out of sight (a good rule for toddlers too). Teaching your dog to go to its bed, using a crate, and building an outside dog run are tools that be used to contain your dog when you cannot supervise him. I recommend giving your dog three dog toys that he can play with when he’s alone.

Teach your dog that his teeth are never allowed to touch a person, even when playing! Playing tug-of-war and other games with dog toys is fine, but I recommend winning (showing that you’re the leader) and teaching the dog to release the toy on command. It is very natural for a dog to play with other dogs with their teeth. Some dogs will give others massages with their teeth. Typically, the firmer the grip the more aggressive the dog is being, and some play very aggressively. I teach dogs that they are not to be aggressive even during play with other dogs. Remember, never let a dog put their teeth on you or others, ever.

Barking is a natural way for dogs to communicate. Their “voice” might not be pleasant to our ears, but a dog’s bark can have many different meanings – let’s play, I’m lonely, back off, frustration, etc. Dogs that excessively bark while owners are gone are often frustrated. To help alleviate this, be sure to work with your dog daily. Walk or run your dog in the morning – wear him out – so he is tired throughout the day. It is a good idea to have three toys that your dog can play with while you are away. If barking is excessive and very difficult to curb, bark limiter collars can be effective tools. Always consult with a professional before using one for the first time.