Old Dogs, New Tricks

John Fitzherbert, in his book, The Boke of Husbandry (1534), wrote, “The dogge must lerne it in his youthe, or els never”. Over time, this became the proverb we now know as, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” (I have to admit that even thinking the name “Fitzherbert” brings back a mental track of Renée Zellweger introducing “Mr. Fitzherbert” in Bridget Jones’s Diary.)

Okay, let’s get back on track. Is it true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? No, it is not. Dogs are lifelong learners. If a dog is awake, it is learning. They are constantly alert to, and learning from, their environment—responding to what they see, hear, and smell. That’s not to say that there aren’t some difficulties associated with more mature dogs.

Older dogs have learned behaviors and have developed habitual responses to their environment. Sometimes these are good, and we give the dog the attribution of being smart. Sometimes they are not so good (or even destructive and disruptive), and we call the dog names we then must tell our children not to repeat. It’s the same dog, same mechanism for acquiring the learned behavior.

People are a little like dogs. We do learn more easily when we are young. This is partly because we have so little previous data or experience that every new input is significant and interesting. Also, our young brains require less energy to make new neural connections. In other words, we have more to learn, and we do it with less effort.

However, also like dogs, we never actually stop learning. How much we slow down is, in part, up to us. If we reach a point where we are truly learning no new tricks, that is most certainly a choice. I doubt anyone ever said, “I have learned enough. I will learn no more.” At least, not out loud. So, how do we intentionally choose to remain active and agile learners?

First, we should acknowledge our own and others’ changing abilities and adapt both our methods and expectations. Like an old dog, our senses are not as sharp as they once were. We will miss important clues if we are not focused and alert. Things that used to happen automatically may now require more intentionality. We just have to work at it.

Second, we need to admit that we can be a little lazy in our approach to the world around us. As we become more experienced, we stop actively noticing our surroundings. This is what happens when you drive home from work and, once in the driveway, can’t remember the drive home. Familiarity leads to lack of attention. While we piloted the car safely, we didn’t process any of the information that was available along the way.

If we’re an “older” dog (or lead a pack including older dogs), we must work a little harder and a little more deliberately on learning new tricks. Some things that can help:

Embrace challenges and new experiences. I say embrace because I’m picturing getting up and running across the room to hug—versus sitting on the couch while they come into the room. Really go for it. Some challenges will present themselves as opportunities disguised as problems. Some you will create for yourself (take an art class, visit a place you’ve never been, order something off a menu you’ve never eaten). Whatever they are, new experiences trigger our brains to grow.

Set some goals. Remember when you were young(er) and you had a list of things you wanted to get done? I still have that list and so should you. Your list should include things that will cause you to learn new things, develop new skills, need help, and create connections with other people. I used to be upset that I was going to die with a list of undone things; now it is my intent.

Learn from mistakes. To learn from mistakes, you have to make them. Making mistakes means taking risks, doing things you are uncomfortable doing, and trying new things. Also, learning from mistakes means seeing them not as failures, but as valuable learning experiences that provide insights and opportunities for improvement. As a bonus, making and learning from mistakes is a great way to gain humility.

Celebrate everything! I love the recovery community. They celebrate everything. One week clean and sober—you get a room full of cheers. Our brains LOVE to celebrate. The chemicals released when we are praised, encouraged, cheered on, and supported make us want to have that experience again. Everything that is a step toward a goal, a new skill, or a new experience should be celebrated and turned into the driving force for us to want more.

Leaders are sometimes old dogs, but they never have to stop learning new tricks. Great leaders model a growth mindset and active learning for those they serve. People deserve to be part of a community where they are encouraged and expected to keep learning and growing—no matter how young or old they are. Leading by example as we create safe spaces for people to try, fail, learn, and try again, is, after all, the Bison Way.