Training sessions are a great way to play with your dog. And, just like playing numbers and letters games with toddlers, it’s a great way to teach your dog whatever behaviors you want. The payoff is terrific, too. Your dog will know what’s expected of her and become the companion you always wanted.

Dogs have enormous vocabularies for animals who don’t talk. They can understand hundreds of words. Add that to gestures and different tones of voice – your dog’s potential repertoire is limited only by your imagination.

It’s true that some dogs learn “tricks” faster than others. It depends not only on the “smarts” of the individual dog, but also on what the dog was originally bred to do. Border Collies are often called the “most intelligent” of dogs because they were “designed” to work with people, taking their cues from their humans. Other kinds of dogs, such as terriers, were bred to work independently. Once you develop a training relationship – every dog can learn new behaviors. And you’ll be able to astound your friends with your dog’s brilliance!

Training should be a game you play with your dog every chance you get. And training sessions shouldn’t be formal or lengthy. If you find yourself with five minutes to spare, grab a handful of dog treats and teach a new trick.

We have to “break down” each behavior into small bits to teach your dog. If you want to teach your dog to “play dead” when you point your finger like a gun and say “Bang!,” first he has to learn “down.” Then he has to learn “roll over.” Don’t try to link the parts of the trick together before he knows each part well. And you can add on as you go – you could teach him to roll onto his back and stiffen his paws – sure to get a laugh every time.

The same goes for any other “trick” you want to teach. If you want your dog to give you (or anyone else) a “high five” (or four, in most dog’s cases), first he has to touch your hand with a paw. Then you can move your hand up, gradually. One day he’ll be leaping into the air to deliver that “high five!”

Your dog loves you. He loves spending time with you and he adores being the focus of your attention. A couple of five-minute training sessions every day will make a huge difference in his behavior and in your relationship. Keep training sessions short. Keep them happy. End on a positive note. And be patient. She can learn if you’re willing to teach.