Those generous souls who select their forever pet from humane societies and rescue associations will be rewarded with a loyal companion and friend. But remember that dogs that come through an adoption process will carry with them lessons from their previous home and their interim caregivers. They may be insecure from all the changes or they may have picked up some bad habits. To help you make the most successful transition into your home of an older dog, David Taylor has written a helpful book called, Old Dog, New Tricks: Understanding and Retraining Older and Rescued Dogs. The book is available on line and at your local book stores in both paperback and hardcover.   

Old Dog, New Tricks provides insights into adult dog behaviors, as opposed to training puppies. It explains how to communicate effectively with an older dog especially one who has perhaps had a rough go of it in life. The book contains practical solutions to ensure good dog behavior including:

* Step-by-step obedience drills
* Welcoming the new arrival
* How to assess a dog's problems
* How a dog "thinks"
* How to be a good owner/master
* Communicating with a dog
* What to look for in a rescued dog
* Tackling problem behaviors
* Understanding the effect of a dog's prior history
* Mental and physical changes in older dogs

You can also get a used copy of the book inexpensively from Amazon.

Old Dog, New Tricks

Posted by Barbara.