Are playful puppies easier to train?
Yes! They definitely are. According to studies from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Sweden’s Stockholm University, scientists have reason to believe that playfulness in dogs is directly correlated to their willingness to be trained.
When you pick a puppy, DON’T go for the calm one?
Depending on what kind of dog is right for you, maybe not! In the past, the general rule of thumb (and by that, I of course mean what my mother always said to me growing up) was that the calmest puppy in the litter would be the easiest to train. While there may be truth to that, (l shan’t defy you, Mother) it stands to reason that the more animated pups that are connecting with a person through play will demonstrate that same interest during training.
The bold little puppy jumping on your leg will most likely still value your attention when it’s training time. The puppy wants your recognition, so will be willing work to get it. This may make positive-reinforcement training easier since both parties involved (the dog and the handler) want something – the handler wants the dog to sit, while the dog wants the person to give them that sweet, sweet affirmation via attention. And treats. They also probably want treats.
A the end of the day…
Although they may seem like and endless ball of energy now, if you focus it correctly, you can train that dog to do almost anything! A puppy engaging with humans while playing will most likely grow up to be dog who is the star student during obedience class.
So, now I am trying to teach my playful dog how to moonwalk. I’ll put this theory to a test and let you know how that pans out. 😉
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