Training Old Dogs - Is it Possible?

Training Old Dogs – Is it Possible?

Posted on August 24, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs

Is training old dogs identical to teaching old dogs? Is it true that 20-year olds have the peak of the brain power and old dogs’ lives are over? This has been the belief for a long time from the American people, based on what was available through science. Of course, they were referring to the two-legged types, but four-legged fluffy varieties would qualify also.

Old is old, with aging considered the shaky yellow brick road leading toward it. Declining mental faculties are front page news, from dementia to Alzheimer — for aging dogs and humans alike. What has always been perplexing to me is this …why has the United States generally placed middle-aged to elderly men in the White House or any leadership position if their mental faculties are declining as original thought?

: The brain of an aged person is more flexible, vigorous and organized than that of a younger person. Where does that leave the old dog? (Artist Nancy Houser/Designer Sandra Marquiss)

Barbara Strauch, science editor of New York Times, began researching the aspects of midlife brain fitness for a new book for baby boomers – “The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind.” Surprisingly, she found out that the brain of an aged person is more flexible, vigorous and organized than that of a younger person, especially a 20-year old. This makes the statement “training old dogs” look pretty good, doesn’t it?

Strauch looked at current psychological testing of middle-aged cognitive expertise and the latest findings in the brain scans of the middle-aged people. What makes aging brains increase in pattern recognition, solving problems and wisdom is the continued growth of myelin in the brain of an older person or dog. Of course, the aging person will still become distracted and oversights will bother them, there is more good news for the aging than bad anymore.

The Myelin Controversary for Old Dogs

This goes against the belief in science that when a person approaches their middle ages, myelin is slowly lost. Myelin is important as it is responsible for a “fast signaling” in the brain and protects the nerve axons. It has long been believed that once a person begins to age, they lose the battle. Their cognitive and motor functions begin to decrease and their brain cannot repair myelin in the brain.

According to recent scientific studies, “the process of age-related myelin breakdown slowly erodes myelin’s ability to support the very highest frequency AP bursts. That may well be why, besides achy joints and arthritis, even the fittest athletes retire and all older people move slower than they did when they were younger.” (Read more at (Science20, 2010)

A Quick Summary on Aging

Between studies and research on aging, there does not seem to be a common denominator whether the aging dog or person has myelin in their brain, and whether or not it is working. This means nobody knows if an aging person can learn or not. I guess until I learn whether I have myelin in my brain or not, I will not worry if I am capable of learning anything or not.

Personally … as an aging person caring for aging dogs, I would rather side with Strauch for my own preservation and that of my dogs. I can learn and I can do things, just not the same as a younger person. Usually older people are ridiculed by the younger ones who feel speed is the answer. They go too fast and seem to be in a hurry to get something done as compared to getting it done right. This is where old age comes in — patience and wisdom. We may not have time on our side, but we are more relaxed on how long it is going to get something done. Maybe this is why the elderly prefer the company of our own?

My old dogs learn all the time. Many come here from kennels where they have never set foot outside their pens since puppies — if then. Others were simply never loved and have lived lives of abandonment and neglect. In two weeks, they have adjusted with the other girls and are running with their head in the air and ears behind them. The old dogs teach the younger dogs through their actions, which the new dogs seem to learn much quicker than if I went through the steps myself. They are learning, but not because they are being taught by me. I am watching and sitting back, letting each dog learn from her own teacher.

Suggested websites for training older dogs

The Senior Dog Project

Training Older Dogs

Tips for Training Old Dogs

Training an Older Dog

Necessary Pet Euthanasia

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