Think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Consider Theodore, an 8-year-old Pug.
Pugs are “fun and cute, but the predominate perception is that they are not very trainable,” said his owner, Suzanne Roche. She’s found the opposite to be true, however.
Theodore was 3 years old when he began training. Soon, he began competing in AKC agility competitions and has earned several titles.
In addition, he is a certified therapy dog making regular visits to Erlanger and Health South rehabilitation hospitals. In fact, he does such a good job, he’s been named an “Outstanding Visitor” by Therapy Dogs International.
“He loves to work,” Ms. Roche said. “I believe that pets, like humans, need to be constantly mentally challenged or they become bored and lazy. And, as we all know, a bored animal can be very destructive. By continuously training, Theodore continues to learn new tasks which make him a better adjusted dog. Also, and my personal favorite reason for training, he and I build a deeper and deeper bond.”