Older Dogs: Tips For Successful Weimaraner Training

Due to the popular saying “you can’t teach old dog new tricks”, it’s not uncommon if you will run into some people who think that with older weimaraners, it’s not possible to attain successful weimaraner training. Indeed, it can be hard and complex sometimes but not impossible. Dogs, no matter what age, are capable of learning provided that training activities are programmed or designed to fit their age and condition.

The weimaraner is an extremely athletic and trainable breed valued for their physical endurance and stamina thus the need to train them as soon as possible to prevent problems from occurring. However, if you adopted an old dog from the shelter or inherited one from a friend or relative, there’s no need to worry about this pet’s behavior since there are various ways you might want to take into consideration in order to have a well-behaved adult weimaraner.

Before you utilize any training approach, it’s best to learn more about that particular dog’s background first. Is he potty trained? Does he responds well to obedience commands? Is he afraid of a particular thing or displaying signs of aggression? What’s the main reason his previous owner abandoned him? These are examples of the questions you have to ask in order to evaluate your dog’s condition, ability to learn and training methods that would suit him best.

Be aware that training a healthy young dog is different from training an adult dog that is probably suffering from health problems due to aging. Slowing, motion-triggered pains, cannot climb the stairs and getting tired very easily are some of the things you should consider before deciding what weimaraner training method to utilize.

With an older weimaraner, training that involves hard work and arduous activities must be avoided as much as possible. Running and walking, jumping, retrieving, obstacle course and the likes should be done in short periods of time, if you cannot totally avoid. Instead of 15 to 20-minute session, lessen it to 5 to 10 minutes per session. If you used to throw a ball twenty times to your young dog, make it three or five throws only with your old dog. Recovery phase between sessions should be longer too.

Same with young dogs, using treat is also beneficial during weimaraner training. However, giving of treat must be controlled so as to prevent being overweight since old dogs with less active lifestyle put on weight easily and shed weight slowly hence increases the risk of obesity. To reward them, lots of praise and time to play should be utilized instead.

One more thing you ought to think about is your pet’s hearing condition. Sometimes, a dog is not obeying commands simply because he cannot hear, not because he is being stubborn.

Successful training is not impossible to achieve and there are people who can attest to that. You only have to understand and consider your pet’s condition to find out whether or not that particular activity or technique would be useful in helping you raise a well-behaved older dog with wide-set eyes.