You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Meanings of “You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks”

The phrase/proverb “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” means it is impossible to change old people’s habits, mindsets, or traits. It also refers to the fact that young dogs and people are more adaptable than old ones. The phrase is also used when a person with experience in a certain field is taught the same basics he/she is aware of.

Origin of “You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks”

The phrase/proverb “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” has got its initial citation in John Fitzherbert’s, The Boke of Husbandry, published in 1534, where it is stated as; “.and he [a shepherd] muste teche his dogge to barke whan he wolde haue hym, to ronne whan he wold haue hym, and to leue ronning whan he wolde haue hym; or els he is not a cunninge shepeherd. The dogge must lerne it, whan he is a whelpe, or els it will not be: for it is harde to make an olde dogge to stoupe.” Since then, the phrase/proverb has been used in different senses in different contexts by different writers.

Examples in Literature

Example #1

You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks by Seasick Steve

“There must be something wrong with me
What it is I can’t quite see
I can’t seem to do nothing right.
Maybe I need to change my style
Been this way for a long long while
Maybe there’s a few things I ought to fix.
Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
Wanna put a little fire in my life
Climb a little higher, did it right
Tired of this ordinary bullshit.
Maybe I need to change my style
Been this way for a long long while
Maybe there’s a few things I ought to fix.
Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
Can you teach an old dog new tricks?”

The song starts with self-realization; the speaker feels a dire need to change his choices and lifestyle. He desires to fix the things that might have gone wrong in his life, but keeping his age in mind, he thinks that is it possible to learn new things at this point in time. He seems tired of the old ways of living; therefore, he wants to bring new exciting changes in life. Unfortunately, the idea of getting an age hunts his life and stops him from making any vibrant change in life. The phrase has been used as a metaphor for aging that learning and adaptation are associated with age. The last two lines also show the phrase/proverb used as a repetition.

Example #2

The time Stealer by James Laughlin

She bites off chunks of time
And hides them at first she
Was concealing them around the
House and I was out in the veg garden
Where they are hard to find
You have your own time I tell
Her why can’t you make do with
That I need all my time have
Important work to do she says
If you are a good husband you’d
Understand that my time
Is your time and your time is
My time I know she is right but
You can’t teach an old dog new
I am crusty self-centered
Cantankerous old buzzard
And I wish she’d quit stealing
So many big chunks of my time.

The poem narrates the story of a self-centered Oldman who does not want to change his mindset, while his wife wants him to change his ways of living. She wants him to give her proper time and attention. On the other hand, the old man believes that the lady has already got precious hours of his life. In fact, the old man uses this phrase/proverb to show that you can’t teach new behavior to those who are set in their ways. Hence, it shows its metaphorical use.

Example #3

Dog-End by Alastair Robertson

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
Though he may still endear you with licks!
So don’t be alarmed
You will come to no harm
If you just keep on throwing him sticks!”

The speaker reflects on the behavior of the dog that once it is old, it becomes difficult for it to try new ways of doing things. This shows that the phrase/proverb has been used in the same meanings as given above.

Examples in Sentences

Example #1: “I tried telling my uncle how to use new gaming software, but it seems you can’t teach an old dog new tricks because he didn’t take interest in learning. He preferred his old simple mobile gaming.”

Example #2: “Linda’s doctor advised her not to eat junk food anymore, but she still has pizzas and burgers in every meal. It seems you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

Example #3: “I tried to get my younger brother how to operate a computer, but he says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

Example #4: “You need to have a fresh brain to try out new ideas. I am an old son, and you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, said, my father.”

Example #5: “The manager fired some of the old employees before signing a new contract. To him, new work demands high proficiency, a vigilant approach, and new ways of learning and you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.”