My senior dog stopped listening. How can I get her good behavior back?

Question

My dog is 13 and is acting quite stubborn—She’s difficult to take on walks (always stops to sniff, never use to), doesn’t come when called, and doesn’t listen to any of the other basic commands she use to follow. Is there a way to get some of these positive behaviors back? Pet's info: Dog | American Eskimo Dog | Female | spayed | 18 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

At 13, it is likely that Meika is starting to lose some of her hearing which might be playing a role in what you are describing. I would recommend repeating some obedience training with her like you did when she was younger using treats for reward to get her excited about doing training again. I would also start training her with hand signals if you didn't previously do that to help her if she is starting to lose her hearing. Finally, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine her to make sure she doesn't have arthritis which is contributing to her not wanting to walk as much or follow commands. If she has arthritis, it might be uncomfortable for her to do some commands. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

My senior dog stopped listening. How can I get her good behavior back?

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