Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks

An adage tells us that we can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But what does that really mean?

Old dogs are pretty set in their ways. They know when they get fed, where the water bowl is, when they get taken for a walk, etc. They generally aren’t too eager to have their routine disrupted. And if you think dogs are bad, cats are infinitely worse in that regard.

Painting contractors often have to deal with old dogs. They generally take the form of experienced painters, typically much older than the company owner. Not only are they unwilling to learn new “tricks”, they are convinced that they already know everything worth knowing.

Which raises an interesting question: If they are so damn smart, why are they working for someone else? Why aren’t they sitting on a beach in the Bahamas sipping a rum and coke?

The answer of course, is that they really don’t know everything. They are likely good craftsmen, schooled in the “old ways”, and they stubbornly refuse to change.

While they may be excellent with a brush and a roller, there is more to a paint job than putting paint on the walls. There are things like efficiency, meeting the customer’s expectations, and making a profit. And there are things like making the boss happy.

This last is perhaps the least of their concerns. They are going to do it their way, come hell or high water. And if the boss doesn’t like it? Well the boss is just a young pup who can stick it, for all they care.

Old dogs come in many breeds. They can also be old before their time—i.e., the same attitude can strike an individual at any age. The attitude is an aversion to change, an unwillingness to listen to reason, and utter defiance. It is the attitude that they are a victim. And it is an ugly attitude.

Another adage tells us to let sleeping dogs lie. I say we should do the same with any dog that doesn’t want to learn new tricks.

© BEP Enterprises Incorporated 2008