News flash! All dogs are trainable - young and old, large and small, fuzzy and short-coated. The trick is to find a dog who is interested in what you want to teach them, beyond the basics (house training, coming when called and walking politely on a leash).
This is an important point to make, because too many people assume that THEIR dog is untrainable, when in reality they are trying to turn a Beagle into an obedience champion or they aren't consistent with their training program. And small dogs, often labeled as untrainable, are often just under-trained, simply because it's easier to pick them up than it is to make them behave.
- What are you expecting?
Keep in mind what you are expecting your dog to do for you. If you want a therapy dog, make sure you select a dog that's calm and sociable. If you want an agility champion, look for a dog with energy. If you're going for obedience, select an attentive, willing dog. If you want a hunting or tracking dog, look for a dog who buries their nose in every available odor who isn't afraid of loud noises.
If you are choosing a specific breed, do your research on their general skills and history. DogBreedInfo is a great source of information on every official and unofficial dog breed. But don't overlook a mutt - a Lab-mix or a Beagle-mix may make an excellent hunter, and a Border Collie/Shepherd cross would be a great choice for an obedience work.
If you are just looking for a good family dog who'll mind their manners around the kids and visitors (manners are trainable, it's a slightly less strict program than obedience training), consider a more sociable breed or mix. Avoid breeds that tend to be one-person dogs and look for a dog that's less interested in running that in hanging out with the family.
A final word on picking the right dog/breed - all dogs are individuals, and their are social Chows and snippy Labradors. Evaluate each dog you're considering as a unique personality, and work with your breeder or shelter councilor to find the right dog for you and your needs.
- Do you have the right training strategy?
Once you have your dog, and before you pronounce your dog untrainable and take them back to the shelter or breeder, evaluate your own training strategy and your training abilities. Is your dog getting sufficient exercise, or do they spend 12 hours a day in a crate or kennel? Is everyone who interacts with the dog using the same commands and being consistent in what they expect the dog to do? Are you asking too much of a young puppy, or are you expecting an older dog to change overnight?
Make sure you've ruled out any medical problems - if you're having problems with house training, does your dog have a bladder infection or kidney problems?
- Make sure you're in control
First of all, make sure your dog is on a leash or long-line during your training sessions, especially if you're working outside or in a large area. This doesn't mean you should jerk them around, but rather use the leash to keep them running off or to get their attention.
Second, make sure you stay calm, and don't loose your patience or your temper. If you loose your temper, you'll only train your dog to fear you. If you become impatient, your dog may decide it's play time. Either way, your dog won't be trained - at least not the way you want him to be!
- Are you using the right incentive?
All dogs are quite happy to cooperate when offered the right incentive. Food is the great motivator for 99% of all dogs, followed closely by attention. Positive reinforcement works much better than corrections, because you're showing the dog what you want, not just telling them what you don't want.
The classic example is training a dog to come when called. It starts with the dog NOT on a leash or long line, doing something that's very interesting and ignoring the owner. It ends with the owner chasing the dog (a great dog-game) or with the owner screaming at the dog (who wants to come near a screaming lunatic). And when the dog is finally caught, they are scolded or smacked or both. The owner has failed to provide the right incentive for returning when called and had no control over the situation. The better strategy is to keep the dog on a line while teaching them to come, and giving them a warm welcome and a treat when they do - whenever they do.
- A quick test
If you find an individual dog you like, test their trainability by teaching them a basic command, like "sit. Any dog should be able to learn "sit" in 10 minutes or less, even using only positive reinforcement - and it's a command all dogs SHOULD learn. If the dog doesn't pick up on it, you either have the wrong dog for you or you are using the wrong method.
All dogs are trainable, the trick is to find the right dog for you and for what you want to do. Researching to find the right dog and the right method are critical to training success. And before you pronounce your dog untrainable, take a look at your training strategy.