The Basics
A dog will learn best if he is rewarded immediately for his actions.
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A dog will learn best if he is rewarded immediately for his actions. An important ingredient in the learning process is attention: If the dog isn't paying attention to you, the lesson will not be successful. A tired or anxious dog will have more difficulty concentrating. Distractions also can interfere with learning. A particularly enticing reward can help bring back the focus to the task at hand.
Beyond basic training, some dogs can learn to perform more elaborate tricks, like standing on their hind legs to beg. This level of trainability rises to an even higher plane with some performing dogs on television and in movies, which can learn to carry out almost humanlike tasks on cue from a trainer. These dogs are often chosen from the herding group, which includes breeds such as collies and shepherds — among the most trainable of domestic dogs.
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