“Old” is a relative word. What’s old to some dogs is not old to other dogs. Generally speaking, you can train a dog of any age. Sure, dog training might be a little tougher with a dog that’s 8 years old than it is with a dog that’s 3 years old, but it’s probably more of a challenge for the dog’s trainer than it is for the dog.

The fact is, most people get rid of dogs because of dog obedience problems. Every dog needs basic obedience training, and if you’re not spending time training your dog, even your older dog, your neglecting your responsibility as a pet owner.

So how can you teach an old dog new tricks? With patience and persistence. Without getting into actual dog training techniques, let me tell you a story…

A man in North Carolina had a dog for 7 years. The dog had NEVER been inside the man’s house. Never! It just lived outside, roaming the property, sleeping in his dog house for 7 years.

One day, the man died, so the his niece decided to take care of the dog. The dog was a mutt, by the way. She took the dog into her house and after 6 weeks of consistent training the dog was completely housebroken and had learned to sit on command.

If you’re looking for proven dog training techniques, click here a complete dog training guide.

An ex-neighbor of mine owned a Pit Bull / Labrador Retriever mix a few years ago. She was the sweetest dog… so playful and friendly. But, man, did she like to dig holes in the yard.

When my neighbor moved into their house, their back yard was full of green grass and numerous plants and flowers. After about 6 months, the dog had completely destroyed the plants and flowers, and had scraped up about a third of the grass. Eventually, they came to me for some advice. Together we figured out the best ways (with trial and error) to stop their dog from digging those annoying holes.

Why do dogs dig holes? There are several reasons why dogs dig:

1. The dog is bored.
2. The dog has too much pent up energy.
3. The dog is trying to stay warm or cool.
4. The dog thinks it’s fun.
5. The dog is looking for something.
6. The dog is seeking attention.
7. The dog is trying to escape.

Whatever the reason, here are steps you can take to train your dog not to dig in your yard or garden.

1. Make sure your dog has plenty of exercise. Take him for a walk. Play fetch with him. A dog who gets exercise often will be less likely to dig.
2. Stay involved with your dog. Teach him new tricks (yes, even an old dog can learn new tricks). Keep his mind occupied with things other than digging.
3. Provide plenty of thought provoking toys for your dog, such as a Kong. Again, keep his mind off of digging.
4. Provide an acceptable digging area, such as a sand pit or an area with loose dirt. If you catch your dog digging somewhere inappropriate, move him to the digging area. Place a few toys partially buried in the digging area so your dog learns to dig there.
5. Provide a comfortable shelter for your pet. If your dog tends to lay down in the holes he digs, he is probably trying to warm or cool himself. Give your dog a nice, insulated shelter and plenty of drinking water in a spill-proof dish.
6. If your dog seems to be digging for pests (rodents, bugs, etc.) then call an exterminator to get rid of the pest. It’s not your dog’s fault that the little rodents are tormenting him. Help him out!
7. If your dog is digging at the base of a fence, trying to escape, try burying chicken wire at the base of the fence. Make sure any sharp edges are facing down.
8. Never give your dog attention when he digs. That may be what he’s digging for. If you think he’s digging because he needs more attention, then give him more attention at other times through the day. Dogs are social animals, so don’t ignore them.
9. This might sound gross, but if your dog is consistently digging in one spot and you can’t get him to stop… try putting some his own poo in the hole. Most likely he will leave it alone.
10. If your dog is digging in your garden, install a sprinkler in the digging area. When you catch your dog digging there, turn on the sprinkler. This works best if you can turn on the faucet when your dog isn’t looking. Then you don’t take the blame and your dog won’t identify you as the source of the water.

These are all tips that you can try with your dog. The chicken wire and the digging pit worked for my neighbor. Remember, spend time with your dog and give him plenty of exercise. Those 2 things alone will do wonders when you’re trying to make your dog stop digging holes. Have fun!

Here are the 2 best step-by-step techniques for teaching your dog to come on command (also called the dog recall).

Technique #1: Food / Treat Method

1. Start with meal time. When your dog is hungry, feed your dog by hand, piece by piece. This technique takes advantage of the fact that your dog is hungry, and will respond to his craving to eat.
2. To begin, grab a few pieces of food and give them to your dog. These are freebies for your dog. You’re just getting his interest.
3. Next, move a few steps away from your dog, hold our a piece of food in your palm, and say, “Come Fido” or “Fido, Here” or whatever command you choose.
4. As your dog starts to approach the food, praise him for being a good boy, then give him the food when he finally reaches you.
5. Repeat this process over and over throughout his meal.
6. After numerous successful trips back and forth, work on getting your dog to sit before giving him the treat. This will teach him that he should not only come to you when called, but that he should also sit next to you after coming.
7. If you dog loses interest during the meal, stop feeding him, take away the food, and try again during the next meal. Don’t worry, he won’t starve. He’ll realize the only way he’s getting his food is to come to you when you command him to come.
8. Repeat this process at meal time until you’re confident that your dog or puppy understands.
9. Eventually, you can step up the training with treats between meals. This will really get his attention if you use his favorite treats as a reward.

Technique #2: Leash Method

1. This method relies on the fact that your dog is totally under your control by being attached to a leash that you are holding. The leash can be as short as 6 feet or as long as you want it to be (30 feet or more).
2. First, say your command… “Here Fido” or “Fido Come” or whatever command you choose.
3. Give a gentle tug on the line to get your dog’s attention.
4. If your dog responds and starts to approach you, tell him what a good boy he is as he is coming nearer.
5. If your dog loses attention or doesn’t respond, tug again.
6. Gradually real in the leash until your dog is beside you.
7. When your puppy arrives by your side, give him a nice little treat for his obedience.

Important tips for teaching your dog or puppy to come when you call it’s name.

1. Always keep the experience positive. If he comes to you, reward him with a treat or a pat on the head and some praising words.
2. Never discipline your dog after the “come” command. This will have a negative reaction to your dog. Find a different word or phrase if your dog does something wrong and needs to be disciplined.
3. As with all dog training techniques, be patient with your dog. All dogs and puppies learn at a different pace. Some learn quickly. Some learn slowly. YOU are the key ingredient in your dog’s successful training.

With patience and consistent effort, you’ll have your dog learning to come to his name. Good luck!

First, let’s think about why dogs lick. There are several reasons why your dog licks you:

• He may be telling you that he wants your attention and that he likes you.
• You may have “trained” him that when he licks you, he gets a reward
• He thinks you like it and he’s trying make you happy. Or, the licking just makes him happy. Do you know any people who just like to hug and kiss everyone? Some dogs are the same way.
• He likes the taste of your skin, or a cream or lotion that you wear.
• This might sound gross, but it’s possible that you just need to take a bath, and he’s helping you out. Dogs like salty, sweaty skin. Yuk!

So how do you make your dog stop licking you?

You need to train him that’s it’s not acceptable for him to like you excessively. If your dog has developed a licking habit, you need to teach him another habit.

Sometimes, all you need to do is let him get his licking done and over with, then he’ll be satisfied and not do it any more. The best way to do this is to have a “licking session.” This is a time where your dog is aloud to lick you as much as he wants. You teach him the word “lick” while he’s doing it, then you bring the dog licking session to and end by saying, “No lick.” If your dog learns there is a time for licking and a time for not licking, you’re on your way to a lick-free home.

If your dog is licking for attention, then teach him another (better) way of getting your attention. Sitting, shaking, rolling over, etc. are great tricks for your dog to learn when he wants your attention. The key is to ALWAYS give him attention with that “attention-getting” trick.

Other times, you might need to apply something that tastes bad to dogs (lemon or hot sauce) and let him lick that. That will teach him that licking your skin is gross.

Other dogs will respond if you act like it hurts you when your dog licks you. If you say, “Ouch” or “Don’t lick” every time your dog licks you, your dog may respond by not wanting to cause you pain.

As with all dog training, it will take time to teach your dog to stop licking. Be patient and consistent. Your dog want to make you happy, so teach him how to make you happy.