Dog Training for Smart Dogs

While we generally don't like to label dogs as stupid, it is true that there are some breeds of dogs which are smarter than others. A Boston terrier, for example, is believed to be a smarter breed because they generally learn quickly and actually think about their actions before they do them. If you have a dog, regardless of the breed, that has shown that they learn easy, training him/her can actually be harder in some cases.

Most of the breed of dogs that have heightened levels of intelligence were originally bred and trained as fighting and hunting dogs. They were forced to rely on their thinking skills to get through life. In this manner, evolution created breeds of dogs that, hundreds of years later are more difficult to train. They have become stubborn - so to speak. It's not really stubbornness, but rather a hesitation to change what they know: relying on their brains to get through life.

It is these smarter dogs that have the ability to read our emotions on our faces before we even speak. It is also these dogs that have learned how far that we can be pushed before we get angry. More intelligent dogs are actually manipulative. They can twist things around very easily to get what they want.

Smarter dogs will also adapt and find more creative ways to be mischievous. Believe it or not, smarter dogs actually understand what you are saying to them, without repetition. They simply choose not to hear you.

The best thing that you can keep in mind when trying to train a smarter than average dog is that training sessions will be limited. Once your dog has lost interest you might as well call it quits for awhile. They're determination will keep any further training from being effective; your efforts will be mute.

Pay attention to your dog. Spend some time studying his/her activities and attitudes. You can learn when the best times for training are based on the information that you learn from watching how your dog acts throughout the day. You should try to add some activities to your training in order to break it up a bit. Hiding a toy in a creative place to teach your dog the 'find it' command can help maintain their brain functions.

If your dog is a bit more difficult, try making your training session seem more like playtime. Try to add a little confusion. If you are trying to hide something, try hiding it in a pocket or something nearby so that when your dog finds it you will chase him/her down for tug of war. Chasing and tug are two favorite games for most dogs.