Positive Partners Dog Training, LLC

As our dogs age, we sometimes have to help them do things they've always been able to do on their own, or teach them to tolerate weird things.

When Knox (my Great Pyrenees) was an old man, he had to learn to tolerate wearing a lifting harness on his rear legs so I could help him get up off the floor or give him extra support when he got tired on potty walks.

As Brody ages, his little legs make it hard for him to jump into and out of vehicles, especially the Kubotas on the farm.

He's learned to navigate a ramp into and out of the car, but he does need to be lifted out of the Kubota, so I taught him 'elevator'.

He used to HATE being lifted out of any vehicle and would back out of reach. Now that he knows what is happening, you can see he actually moves forward and into position! This has been especially helpful because occasionally he has a rough day and needs help finishing going up or down the stairs, and I can ask him if he wants an elevator. If he wants help, he'll stand still and let me carry him. If he thinks he's got it on his own, he'll keep going.

He is 56 pounds, so it's also a good incentive for me to keep strength training at the gym 😆 Carrying a nearly 60 pound dog is no simple feat!

What are some skills your senior dogs has had to learn?