Old Trainer: Yes, you can really teach an old dog new tricks

Dear Old Trainer: We decided to adopt a dog from a shelter and since we are retired thought we were better off getting an older dog. When I told my friends, several of them said they heard older dogs refuse to learn because their habits are set. Is that true? Lynn, Manteca

A: No, it’s pure hot air.

And while we’re at it, Vincent Van Gogh did not cut off his own ear (Gauguin sliced it off with a rapier), Einstein did not fail high school math, and you can’t get high from smoking bananas.

Old dogs learn faster – and remember longer – than young dogs because their brains are more developed and used to learning. The only limitation is they have less energy to apply to learning as they age.

That old tale – you can’t teach an old dog new tricks – has been around for decades and is just one of many misconceptions about dogs. Some of the others – so goofy you wonder if maybe General Custer, the inventor of New Coke, and the captain of the Titanic got together and invented them – are:

In addition to learning as well as any other dog, older dogs make quick adjustments to a new home. They know they have been rescued and form a stronger bond with their new humans than non-rescue dogs.

Work with your local shelter. The perfect dog for you is just waiting for you to arrive.

This story was originally published August 9, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Old Trainer: Yes, you can really teach an old dog new tricks."