OT: A question about dogs

[GrantC]

I've never had a dog that I didn't raise from a pup. This question concerns a slightly older dog.

Someone has offered me a 3-1/2 year old Rottweiler/Shepherd mix. She's a friendly and fairly smart dog, but has had no training or obedience work. Luckily her temperament is good, but she's undisciplined; she runs around like hyperactive puppies tend to do.

Can a dog this old be properly trained? Like I said, I'm used to starting from "scratch" with puppies - can one successfully instill proper obedience to an older dog like this one?

[Malamute]

I would say yes, you can work with an older dog. A few years ago I aquired a 7+ yr old Malamute female that the rescue people said probably couldn't be adopted out because it had been left in a kennel virtually all her life, hadnt socialised normally, and had been abused and neglected. When I saw the dog, I knew I wanted her. They made me wait a few weeks, but I finally adopted her. People that saw her over time told me that they couldnt believe what a different dog she was even after a couple weeks. She turned out to be a really good dog, she just hadn't ever had anyone take time to teach her how to act and learn. Takes time, patience, and TLC tho, it doesnt happen by magic.

[mescalero1]

We adopted a greyhound from the track.
He was strange at first, but as he got to know us he turned out just fine

[OJ]

Yep - contrary to old wives tales, you can teach an old dog new things - nothing to do with tricks. I trained an older Rhodesian Ridgeback some years ago and he could go into the ring and score 190 out of 200 points any day (takes 170 to qualify for a "leg" and 3 legs for the CD Companion Dog basic obedience title). A good obedience school is the best way to go and, it not only makes a better pet but it establishes a special bond between you and your dog - but you should do the training - under guidance - and not ship the dog off for someone else to train.

I showed Mastiffs for decades but retired and just enjoy their company now - got more titles in the obedience ring than the conformation ring (beauty - in the eyes of that particular judge that day) but did OK in both. They're not resistant to training but just do everything at "Mastiff speed" - a "sit" isn't like a Border Collie who will bounce butt on the sit instantly - a Mastiff "sit" is a 4 or 5 step manuever.

Here are my pair after the "sit" command. We got them a 11 weeks and they are now four years old and have had obedience training every day we've owned them - weather permitting. They think it's just a fun walk and love the attention involved.



When they sit on their own -





Or -

[gundownunder]

If the temperament is right there is no end to what you can teach the dog as long as it knows who the boss is.
If the dog is friendly and sociable as you say and is not fearful around you or other people, then I would say give it a go
I got a two year old Rottweiler and she is now nine years old and still a much loved member of the family even though she was a bit of an idiot when we got her. Before her we had a male Rottie who we got as a two year old and he lasted till he was ten and we wouldn't have traded him for all the tea in china.
I once picked up a one year old Neo Mastiff that had been brought up wrong from when it was a pup which destroyed his temperament and the only way I could make him a SAFE dog was by shooting him ( I should've shot the bloke that raised him wrong, as well).
I know a bloke who does competition dog sled racing and he and his wife get all their dogs as pound rescue dogs at two or three years old and train them for racing.

[Tycer]

I recently got a 1.5 year old Border Collie/Spaniel mix. Was supposed to be a Cavalier/Brittany mix. Nancy wanted him as a companion for our other dog. Not happening yet. Very sociable and sweet, likes dogs, cats, kids, adults.....BUT he's never been in a house before, and potty training is a challenge (6 weeks so far), and he want's to be MY contstant companion....drives me nuts. Nice little guy, handsome too, but dang busy, and I gotta tell ya, I've mentally visited that point in his head where the intersection of the two imaginary lines that extend from ear to eye resides. Bang! That little pecker is driving me nuts. He knows who the alpha is and squirts a little pee when I bark.....drives me nuts... ....MY dog Jackson goes and hides from the new guy, saying "too busy for me". They do play some, but I feel bad that Jackson is not his usual social self with Nancy and me. Bang!......Won't happen except in my mind..... but there's this little white spot on his forehead........

[2ndovc]

This is Abbey, she kind of adopted me when she was about a year old. Just ran up and jumped on the front seat of my truck. Some kids were throwing rocks at her and she was looking for somewhere to hide. My first thought was " Looks like I've got another dog".

She's a boxer/ whatever mix that was totally wild when I got her. Throught a LOT of patience, caring and lot of work she has become the best dog I've ever had and my best buddy. An older well trained dog in the house hepls alot too.



She's only about 60# or so but she has the heart of a grizzly and would take on an army if she thought one of the family was in danger!


jb

[shawn_c992001]

A dog can be taught anything at anytime, it only takes time. How much though, is another question all together.

OJ, I know what you mean about the speed of a Mastiff. I have an 11 month old St. Bernard, that takes his sweet time doing everything. I keep telling my wife, he knows that his time is short, so he's taking his time getting there.

2ndovc I have a Husky mix the is about 33lbs. but has a 200lb. attitude when he thinks there is danger. He's one of the best dogs I've had. I have four dogs in the house amd two cats. I think the cats were harder to train

[dr walker]

As long as the dog has not suffered physical or mental abuse there should be no problem with training. If the dog has been abused you may have to spend considerable time to gain trust and focus, before any real training can begin.

I am not any kind of expert, but have experience retraining older dogs. If you have any specific questions you can email or PM me.

[Rexster]

I've never had a dog that I didn't raise from a pup. This question concerns a slightly older dog.

Someone has offered me a 3-1/2 year old Rottweiler/Shepherd mix. She's a friendly and fairly smart dog, but has had no training or obedience work. Luckily her temperament is good, but she's undisciplined; she runs around like hyperactive puppies tend to do.

Can a dog this old be properly trained? Like I said, I'm used to starting from "scratch" with puppies - can one successfully instill proper obedience to an older dog like this one?

3.5 is still plenty young enough, and smart comes with the territory with Rotts and Shepherds. The hyperactivity probably comes from the fact that Rotts and Shepherds are working breeds, and NEED A JOB. While it is necessary to establish dominance over such a dog, it must be kind dominance, not sadistic dominance. Obedience training is indeed best done as a game; part of the dog's daily activity.

As for the "job," it need not be herding cattle and sheep. A dog can be taught to carefully search and patrol your property, and to "find" things you have placed beforehand, as one example. Long walks may or may not be enough stimulation; it helps to spice up the walks with impromptu or planned games. Dogs LOVE to go on walks, and so that can be a great time to insert small bits of obedience training along the way.

If you have kids, teach the dog to go and find them. Start with the kid running a short distance, then hiding behind an object, as the dog watches. Gradually work up to the dogs finding your kid after he/she has gone several blocks, with twists and turns out of the dog's sight. The possibilities are endless.

If this dog is smart, and likes to look for things, but just not for you, let me know, and I might be able to tap into the networks of people who are looking for dogs like this to look for lost kids and elderly people.

EDITED TO ADD: I might know of a home for this dog already, if she is not for you, and you are anywhere near Texas.

[GrantC]

Thanks for the replies. The dog is from a good, loving home, and has never been abused. The owners are moving and cannot take the dog with them, which is why the offer was made.

I see a new dog in my near future!

[Hillbilly]

OJ...wow those mastifs are cool.

Anything I ever had that big wore nailed on shoes, ate oats and wore a saddle.

Jeff

[Hillbilly]

Any dog can be trained ... Dont be afraid to get a little professional help if you really like the dog.

Usually it's the owner who needs the schooling worse than the dog.
~Jeff

[OD*]

Our meathead came nose to nose with the biggest puppy she had ever seen when we were at the Grand Canyon this past May.

[Grizz]

he want's to be MY contstant companion....drives me nuts. Nice little guy, handsome too, but dang busy

Tycer,

That's the spaniel bit. It has to do with his genes and expectations. He expects to learn every clue you give about WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. It's the ANTICIPATION gene. He will anticipate when you will get out of the bathroom. He will anticipate when you shut your computer off. He will anticipate when you will go out, and he will anticipate forever when you will return.

It's his work ethic. He is born to be out in front a little ways. He will flush rabbits and birds, and he will retrieve them when you've shot them. The anticipation gene checks your general direction of travel and works the ground in an arc in front of you. When he can't be doing this he wants to anticipate the other things you do.

It's useful to have a retrieve toy and let him get some exercise fetching it. That makes him feel useful and employed. Now he can probably do this for hours on end, but if you just do it every once in a while he will learn to anticipate that.

'FIND' is a great game because it gets the DNA switched on and let's him connect the dots. Take a kibble from his feed and hide it, then tell him find. Praise and adoration is a great reward, with an extra treat. Extend the range and difficulty gradually. It's a game for him, but it's also LIFE. Spaniels are full of life.

He will lie down on your foot when he's happy but doesn't want to miss it when you get up. There is a balance among the dog jobs and rewards and the quiet times. He's active, so he wants a job. You can train him to recognize lots of words, maybe a hundred. Everything is a training event, and no job is too small or beneath the dignity of a Spaniel, because he knows you love him when you give him work to do...

Grizz