January 20, 2010, dave schappell asked a Dog Training question:

Are there certain breeds of dogs that are more receptive to training than others?

I have two dogs (a French Bulldog puppy, and an older lab mix) -- neither of them seem overly receptive to training :-) But, we keep working on it. Are there dogs that are, as a breed, very receptive to dog training?

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So far, 3 people answered dave schappell's question

Over the years, there have been several studies comparing the trainability of purebred dogs. The researchers have all looked at the same 3 factors: aggressiveness, reactivity, and trainability. One of the more well known of these studies was published in 1998 in the journal Research in Veterinary Science: "Determination of behavioural traits of pure-bred dogs using factor analysis and cluster analysis; a comparison of studies in the USA and UK". How's that for a mouthful?

The highly trainable breeds in this study that exhibited low/medium aggression and low/medium reactivity were: Labrador Retriever, Boxer, Rough Collie, Golden Retriever, Standard Poodle, Samoyed, English Pointer, English Setter, Dalmatian, Shetland Sheepdog, Border Collie, and Whippet.

Interestingly, the VERY high trainability breeds also tested VERY high in aggression: Dobermann, Rottweiller, and German Shepherd. The problem with these studies is that breed traits can change dramatically in a short period time due to selective breeding and limited gene pools.

Kudos to you for continuing to train your dogs! Training is the best way of building a bond with your pets, so keep at it and more importantly, have fun doing it!!

Answered January 27, 2010 by Christine Hibbard

Christine Hibbard offers Fearful Fido »

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There are specific breeds of dogs that were developed to work closely with man and others that were designed to work independently. I believe finding the motivation, what tickles yur dog's fancy (toy, treat, praise), whatever the breed or mix, helps to keep them engaged with you. Be interesting to your dog, keep your training sessions short and varied. Leave them wanting more.

Answered January 21, 2010 by Canine Training Essentials Inc

Canine Training Essentials Inc offers Agility I »

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Some dogs may appear to be more eager to please than others, however, finding the right way to motivate your dog is the key to successful training. Regardless of breed or even species, including humans, there must be some type of motivating factor.

Answered January 21, 2010 by cntr4heeling

cntr4heeling offers Private 1:1 Basic & Puppy Training »

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