Dog Health Questions: Dog training HELP!!! Is it too late?

I have a 3 year old male chihuahua that I got when I was still living with my parents. I recently moved into a house with quite a few roommates. He is currently still at my parent's house because I'm afraid that he will get out of the house/back yard at my new house and run away. Unfortunately, I did spoil him too much and the only command he obeys is "sit", and even then, that only happens when food is dangled in front of his face.
I understand that this is my own fault, I don't need any answers telling me that...I need some advice on what to do to train him. Is it too late with him being 3 years old?
What can I do to ensure that he doesn't run away if brought to the new house? The roommates are kind of oblivious to dogs, so I can't rely on them to watch him when I'm not home.

Dog Training For Dog Problems

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It's going to be a lot more difficult, especially with Chi's but it is possible if you're willing to put in the effort. You probably would want to enroll him in an obedience class at some place like PetSmart or Petco. They usually see dogs of all ages, so you shouldn't worry about that.
Remember while you are training him that YOU are going to need to have a very assertive and calm attitude. You are going to need to be the dominant one, you can't allow him to have any attitude that lets him be spoiled. You know that already.
As to the backyard, the best way to make sure that the back yard is safe is for you to get down back there and check for things like gaps in the fencem holes in the house that lead underneath the house, and out to the street, weak boards that he can paw his way through. Another problem could be the dirt underneath the fence. If it's just loose dirt, and no concrete, he could dig his way out. Check for that to make sure that he would not be able to dig into the neighbor's house, or dig his way onto the street.
Once you bring him home, if you don't have any dogs right now, your roommates could surprise you by taking an interest, or at the very least, making sure that they watch him to see if he runs away. Either way, even then, you would not leave him the ability to run away under the nose of your friends. Try placing reminders around the house that tells them to close doors, and watch out for your dog. It would help you, and would help them from experiencing any guilt over losing your dog.

Why it's Important For New Dog Owners to Take Dog Training Seriously

• No, it is not too late. Train him like you would a new puppy. Start ALL over, even with the sit command. I'm guessing your new house doesn't have a fence, so I advise keeping him as an inside dog. If you don't trust them to watch him, hire a dog sitter.


• Dogs are absolutely capable of learning at any age.
  
  Enroll yourself and your dog in a training class. Keep him on the leash outdoors.


• about the new house.. put up a fence.. at least a small one..
  
  i dont think its too late to train your dog.. granted it might be harder and it might be more stubborn.. but i do believe it can be done!


• Hie thee to an obedience class forthwith!!! And when you're not home keep the little guy in a crate in your closed bedroom.
  
  Old Dogs Do Learn New Tricks!!!!


• Enroll both of you in obedience training..


• It is not too late, if he hasn't had obedience training it might be a good thing. He can be weaned off foodtreats over time even if he expects them all the time now. The only way to ensure that your dog doesn't escape while you are away is to crate him, he may have to learn the crate is a GOOD place,also he needs to be gradually introduced to your new roommates.
  You need to make the rules clear to your roommates about YOUR dog so every one is consistent. Clickers are just another type of reward that you use just before treating the dog after immediately catching him doing the thing you are trying to teach him. (My dog ignores it
  Trial and errlor. A good trainer should be able to help as you go. Good luck


• Dogs are learning new things all the time! I have three dogs around my house and none of them are professionally trained. For some obvious commands you always have to reward him with food, practically this is the most important thing for them. Just give them a reward every time you ask them to do something.. This is how they learn. I've got an old doggy and we have just finished practicing on "Eat your breakfast or else I'm putting it away!"
  Don't worry! I'm sure it will learn, even though he is three years old.


• You can train him now. Age doesn't really matter as much as everyone thinks but it will be harder because of the bad behaviors he already has imprinted on him. Find a good dog trainer to work with and be strong. It is very difficult to not give in but it is better for the dog and you in the long run to stay firm.
  
  Since he's moving to your new house adding new rules will be easier since his confidence level with be a little unbalanced and it will be easier to become the dominant one in the relationship. Make sure you start off right and continue on the right path.
  
  Taking care of Chihuahuas while you're gone can be a problem. Since you should never leave chihuahuas outside, you'll need to keep him inside somewhere. Can he stay in your room so none of your roommates let him out? If a dog wants to run away there is nothing you can do to prevent that behavior. Especially if you're roommates are bad about leaving the front door open. If he stays in your bedroom you'll need to provide him with a lot of entertainment and maybe make it so he can see out the window. Also, you'll have to have a way for him to get outside occasionally so he can go to the bathroom or you'll have to come home and walk him.
  
  After he gets a better attitude you may want to get him a buddy to keep him company while you're gone. Chis are always happier in a pack. In the meantime you may see if there are any doggie daycares in your area. That way he can play all day with the other dogs there and not get lonely and anxious being alone too much.