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Any Dog, Any Trick? (Part 1)

© Lesli Richardson

You've heard the saying. You've also used that saying to let yourself off the hook. "He's too old to learn something new." Admit it. The truth is you can teach your dog just about anything they are physically and temperamentally able to accomplish. Don't use age as an excuse.

Knowing how to train isn't enough. You need to know why your dog will or won't do something.

First, if you start a training regimen that could be strenuous on your dog, get thee to a vet for a check-up. Secondly, research your dog's background and make sure that what you want to teach your dog is practical. By this I mean temperament and bloodlines. A Lab is going to be motivated in different ways to do different things than say, a rat terrier.

Think about it in terms of children. Have you ever seen one child who is very artistic and another who's good in math? You have to approach the learning process in different ways with those two children, and while the artistic one may learn Algebra he might not be great at it. The mathematical one may get to the point where he can draw simple pictures but never have the "knack." You would accept their differences and build on their strengths.

It astounds me that some "trainers" insist any dog can do any trick. What they don't tell you is you usually end up with a resentful dog and a frustrated owner. Oh yeah, THAT sounds like fun. Not.

Determine what group your dog is in: sporting, hounds, working, herding, terriers, non-sporting, and toys. If you have a mixed breed you'll have to go by temperament to guess where your pooch fits. In her book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fun and Tricks With Your Dog," author Sarah Hodgson identifies six key personality "types": Eager Beaver, Joe Cool, Comedian, Bully, Sweetie Pie, and Nervous Nell. Each personality needs different training techniques.

The first prerequisite to training is patience. The second is motivation. Part of motivation is keeping your dog's interest. Also, evaluate what you are trying to teach your dog. A ten-year-old dog with borderline hip dysplasia is not going to become a Frisbee catching maniac. And a toy breed will probably not excel in tracking exercises.

Keep your dog's interest with short training sessions immediately followed by playtime. Have several short training sessions throughout the day instead of one long one. Praise/reward frequently, and try to end on a success. NEVER scold or correct failure. That will discourage your dog. After all, did you ever try to learn something when you were little and were corrected so many times you gave up in frustration or only continued begrudgingly? Same for your dog.

The copyright of the article Any Dog, Any Trick? (Part 1) in Dogs Etc. is owned by Lesli Richardson. Permission to republish Any Dog, Any Trick? (Part 1) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.