you can't teach an old dog new tricks

proverb

It is impossible to change people's habits, traits, or mindset.

Opposite
it's never too late to mendyou're never too old to learn
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Meanings

proverb
  1. It is impossible to change people's habits, traits, or mindset.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
it's never too late to mendyou're never too old to learn
Also see
the fox may grow grey but never good

Origin

A form of the now-obsolete An old dog will learn no tricks.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian не мо́же да нау́чиш ста́ро ку́че на но́ви номера́
  • не мо́же да нау́чиш ста́ро ку́че на но́ви номера́ (ne móže da naúčiš stáro kúče na nóvi nomerá)too old to change
Chinese Mandarin 老狗變不出新把戲 /老狗变不出新把戏
  • 老狗變不出新把戲 /老狗变不出新把戏 (lǎogǒu biàn bù chū xīn bǎxì)too old to change
Czech starého psa novým kouskům nenaučíš
  • starého psa novým kouskům nenaučíštoo old to change
Danish man kan ikke lære en gammel hund nye kunster
  • man kan ikke lære en gammel hund nye kunstertoo old to change
Estonian vanale koerale juba uusi trikke ei õpeta
  • vanale koerale juba uusi trikke ei õpetatoo old to change
Finnish vanhalle koiralle ei voi opettaa uusia temppuja
  • vanhalle koiralle ei voi opettaa uusia temppujatoo old to change
French il faut ployer l'arbre pendant qu'il est jeune, on ne change pas les vieilles habitudes
  • il faut ployer l'arbre pendant qu'il est jeunetoo old to change
  • on ne change pas les vieilles habitudestoo old to change
German was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr
  • was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehrtoo old to change
Greek τώρα στα γεράματα, μάθε γέρο γράμματα
  • τώρα στα γεράματα, μάθε γέρο γράμματα (tóra sta gerámata, máthe géro grámmata)too old to change
Hungarian öreg/vén muzsikusnak/zenésznek nem lehet új nótát tanítani (már), késő az agg ebet táncra tanítani
  • öreg/vén muzsikusnak/zenésznek nem lehet új nótát tanítani (már)too old to change
  • késő az agg ebet táncra tanítanitoo old to change
Icelandic það er erfitt að kenna gömlum hundi að sitja
  • það er erfitt að kenna gömlum hundi að sitjatoo old to change
Irish nuair a chríonann an tslat is deacair í a lúbadh
  • nuair a chríonann an tslat is deacair í a lúbadhtoo old to change
Italian il cane vecchio non si abitua più alla catena
  • il cane vecchio non si abitua più alla catenatoo old to change
Latin senex psittacus negligit ferulam
  • senex psittacus negligit ferulamtoo old to change
Norwegian man kan ikke lære en gammel hund apport
  • man kan ikke lære en gammel hund apporttoo old to change
Polish przyzwyczajenie jest drugą naturą człowieka, czego Jaś się nie nauczy, tego Jan nie będzie umiał
  • przyzwyczajenie jest drugą naturą człowiekatoo old to change
  • czego Jaś się nie nauczy, tego Jan nie będzie umiałtoo old to change
Portuguese papagaio velho não aprende a falar, pau que nasce torto nunca se endireita
  • papagaio velho não aprende a falartoo old to change
  • pau que nasce torto nunca se endireitatoo old to change
  • pau que nasce torto morre tortotoo old to change
  • burro velho não aprende línguastoo old to change
Russian ста́рого пса но́вым шту́кам не нау́чишь
  • ста́рого пса но́вым шту́кам не нау́чишь (stárovo psa nóvym štúkam ne naúčišʹ)too old to change
Scottish Gaelic an t-aon nach teagaisgear ris a' ghlùin chan fhoghlamar ris an uilinn
  • an t-aon nach teagaisgear ris a' ghlùin chan fhoghlamar ris an uilinntoo old to change
Spanish perro viejo no aprende trucos nuevos
  • perro viejo no aprende trucos nuevostoo old to change
Swedish man kan inte lära gamla hundar sitta
  • man kan inte lära gamla hundar sittatoo old to change
Thai ไม้อ่อนดัดง่าย ไม้แก่ดัดยาก
  • ไม้อ่อนดัดง่าย ไม้แก่ดัดยาก (máai òn dàt ngâai, máai gàe dàt yâak)too old to change
Turkish ağaç yaşken eğilir
  • ağaç yaşken eğilirtoo old to change
Welsh anodd dysgu hen gostog, anodd diddyfnu hen
  • anodd dysgu hen gostogtoo old to change
  • anodd diddyfnu hentoo old to change
Cite this entry
APA

you can't teach an old dog new tricks. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20can't%20teach%20an%20old%20dog%20new%20tricks

MLA

“you can't teach an old dog new tricks.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20can't%20teach%20an%20old%20dog%20new%20tricks. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “you can't teach an old dog new tricks,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20can't%20teach%20an%20old%20dog%20new%20tricks.

Source: you can't teach an old dog new tricks on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.