“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is the proverb we reach for when someone is too set in their ways to change. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its view of habit.
What Does “You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks” Mean?
The proverb means that it is very hard to make people change long-established habits, ways of thinking, or methods — especially once they are older and set in their routines. Just as an old dog has done things the same way all its life and resists learning a new command, a person with fixed habits is difficult to retrain. It is usually said with a shrug of resignation, accepting that someone is unlikely to change.
Origin of the Proverb
This is one of the oldest proverbs in the English language. It was first written down — quite literally, about training dogs — in John Fitzherbert’s The Book of Husbandry (1534), a farming manual that advised teaching a dog its duties while still young, “for it is harde to make an olde dogge to stoupe.” Over the centuries the saying moved from the farmyard to everyday speech, where it has been applied to stubborn people of every kind ever since.
Examples in a Sentence
- “We tried to get Dad to use the new software, but you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
- “I’ve fished the same way for forty years — you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
- “She refuses to change her routine; you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Similar Proverbs
- A leopard can’t change its spots — people cannot change their fundamental nature.
- What’s bred in the bone will come out in the flesh — inborn habits show themselves in the end.
- Old habits die hard — long-established habits are very difficult to break.
- The old tree grows as it was bent when young — early habits shape us for life.
For more sayings about habit and character, see our smart thoughts and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” mean?
It means that it is very hard to make someone change their long-held habits or ways of doing things, especially as they get older.
Where does the proverb come from?
It is one of the oldest English proverbs, first recorded literally — about training dogs — in John Fitzherbert’s The Book of Husbandry in 1534.
What is a similar proverb?
“A leopard can’t change its spots” and “old habits die hard” both share the idea that deep-set nature and habits resist change.
