How to teach an old dog new tricks

With the help of a few training techniques — and a team effort from your whole family — a pet with many seasons under his collar can be your best one yet.

Those adorable puppies get all the cooing, but veteran pet owners know the many advantages of having a dog with some life experience. While adult pooches can certainly have their behavioral blind spots, they don’t require the attention a young pup in the home needs: “They’re usually past chewing on everything,” says Rachel Maso, an animal-behavior associate with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

More than 3 million dogs arrive in shelters every year — and for most of the adult ones, it’s “through no fault of their own,” says Maso. “Many already have experience living with a family, plus some basic training — so they may only need a refresher.” Of course, this also applies to dogs that have long been part of your family but have let some habits slide. Enlist everyone in your home to use these easy training strategies, and let the late blooming begin.

1. Teach him how to chill

If they haven’t been taught better, adult dogs may resort to begging, jumping on visitors and other bothersome behaviors in the home. But proactively training yours to relax in his own special spot will help keep him in control and out from underfoot when there’s a lot going on.

Start by putting a mat in the corner of your kitchen, suggests Chelse Wagner, head behavior consultant at Dog’s Best Friend, a training center in Madison, Wisconsin. Then slowly encourage your dog to interact with it: Surreptitiously toss tasty snacks on it, put interesting chew toys on it when friends stop by (“You want him to think it’s growing treats,” says Wagner) and at dinnertime, give him a hollow rubber toy, like a Kong, stuffed with frozen peanut butter to gnaw on there. And just before he settles onto his perch, create a cue by saying, “Place.” With practice and reinforcement, most dogs will soon follow the command “Go to your place,” even when something fascinating is happening nearby.

2. Let him know he’s a very good boy

Dogs are highly social creatures, and like humans, they typically respond better at every age to positive feedback than punishment. So praising yours for things he’s doing on his own will help him feel more confident and clear about your expectations. If house-training is a work in progress, say, “Good boyyyy!” right after he does his business outside. Or if he hears a truck backfiring down the block and huffs anxiously for a few breaths, then — rather than going bonkers — lets out a sigh and curls back up to resume his nap, use the same phrase in a vocal tone he responds well to, so he knows that you notice and approve.

When you affirm your dog’s best instincts, you deepen your mutual respect and trust, and subtly guide his behavior in the direction you want, says Matt Beisner, founder and co-owner of the Zen Dog care and training facility in Los Angeles: “It’s all about teaching them how to calm themselves.”

3. Remind him who’s in charge

If your senior dog seems to think he’s the boss when out for a walk, let him know who’s holding the leash. Step one is minimizing distractions — so when starting out, if you see another dog heading toward you in the distance, just turn and walk the other way. If your pooch constantly stops, barks or strains to check out other diversions, give the leash a quick pop, then relax the tension from your end and change course.

The key to this zigzagging technique, says Seattle-based trainer Sean McDaniel, host of the podcast “The Dog’s Way,” is to act oblivious to what your dog is doing — your nonchalance will help him relax and stay curious about where you’re going. At the same time, keep tabs on him out of the corner of your eye and mark — with a clear “Good dog!” — every time you see him watching you attentively and gamely choosing (ears perked, tail wagging slightly) to follow your lead.

A dog with aggression issues (perhaps related to previous neglect or abuse) may not be so quick to fall in line. If you have any concerns about safety, it’s best to seek help from a reputable professional trainer. Go to ccpdt.com to find certified trainers in your area — and be sure to find out how long they’ve been in business, read reviews and learn about their philosophy before signing on. No single strategy has proved to work better than others, but it’s helpful to feel you’ve found a solid fit.

After about a week of practice under progressively more distracting conditions — building up from a quiet street to a busy park, for instance — most dogs will be able to walk on a loose leash most of the time. And once yours has mastered the art of strolling comfortably by your side, because you’ve developed a healthy new leader-and-follower relationship, “a myriad of positive behaviors fall into line,” says McDaniel — from being able to sociably greet other dogs to relaxing more quickly (big yawn, forelegs stretching) after the UPS guy rings.

Pet owners willing to patiently establish new guidelines for their adult dogs tend to be pleased with the new freedom and peace the process brings. “The stress of having a dog that doesn’t quite fit in is huge,” says McDaniel. But once you’ve helped him distinguish right from wrong and tapped into his natural desire to obey, “that frustration level goes way down.” LET US HELP YOU! Email your questions to askmartha@ marthastewart.com, or send them to Ask Martha, c/o Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 805 Third Avenue, 25th floor, New York, NY 10022. Please include your full name, address and daytime phone number. Letters and messages become the property of Meredith Corp. and may be published, broadcast, edited or otherwise used in any of its media. By submitting your questions to Ask Martha, you are agreeing to let us use your name and hometown in connection with our publication of your questions.