With the proper care, all dogs are trainableâbut some may fit particular situations better than others. âA lot of dogs have the ability to learn the same skills, they just have to be taught correctly,â Layton Kelly, a professional dog trainer who runs All Dogs Unleashed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, tells Mental Floss. Kelly has been in the dog training business for nearly a decade, and heâs shared some important tips.
Many people get a dog based on the temperament of a breed. According to Kelly, those who are looking for an easy-to-train or more convenient dog breed may have luck with breeds like golden retrievers and labs.
But itâs important to consider your own lifestyle. If you spend long hours each day out of the house, you probably shouldnât get a puppy. Take note of how active you are and try to find a dog that matches your energy levels. A breed like a German shepherd , for example, wouldnât be a great fit for someone who prefers a more sedentary lifestyle. Also keep in mind that every dog has its own personalityâjust because a certain breed may be known for certain traits, that doesnât mean an individual dog will share those characteristics.
A dog trainer should use reward-based training to positively reinforce good behavior. In practice, this usually looks like using training treats or some kind of food as motivation for the dog. âTraining has to be positive. I would hand feed my dog around a lot of high energy distractions to desensitize him to those things,â Kelly says. âYou want to make the experience very positive, very fun. Thatâs why people can teach their dogs to sit and lay down quickly because the owner is into it and itâs fun.â Kelly also emphasizes training for obedience, such as teaching dogs to come when called, to sit, and to reduce or eliminate unwanted behaviors such as barking, chewing, and begging.Â
But just because a trainer identifies as a reward-based trainer doesnât necessarily mean that theyâre humane. For the best results, make sure to ask about their training methods. Do they use electric shocks? What about prong collars?Â
Ask potential trainers a lot of questions about their methodologies and training philosophy. And be sure to carefully read their reviews, too.
Here are four dog breeds Kelly has identified as easily trainable, based on their common traits and personalities.
Doodlesâthough technically mutts and not a purebreed dogâare known for being loyal and wanting to please their owners. Theyâre often quite outgoing, intelligent, and loving dogs. âFrom my experience, I would say that any kind of doodle, including the Goldendoodle, Labradoodle , and Aussiedoodle make things pretty easy,â Kelly says. âTheyâre sweet, theyâre fun, theyâre goofy.â
According to Kelly, golden retrievers are known for being able to handle a lot of stress, which makes them fantastic service dogs. Golden retrievers are notoriously trustworthy and determined to please their owner. Itâs one of the reasons theyâre a great candidate for learning specific tasks.Â
Kelly says that Labrador retrievers , like golden retrievers, have many traits that make them good candidates for task-specific training: âLabs make fantastic service dogs because of their temperament and demeanor,â he says. âThey can handle high-stress situations.âÂ
Although they are a large breed, Bernese mountain dogs are typically easy to train. Kelly says theyâre gaining notoriety as a very smart and unique breed. âI think Bernese mountain dogs are like the modern age golden retriever,â he says. âTheyâre super smart, and they have great temperaments.â However, he cautions that the breed may not be a fit for everyone because they require so much space and exercise.
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