by M. Ness

Created on: August 15, 2011   Last Updated: August 19, 2011

Is it true that not all dogs are trainable?  Well, a more accurate statement would be: “Not every dog has the capacity to be fully trained in every behavioral area, or by every person.” Here is the reasoning behind this statement…

1. “Not every dog is mentally sound.”  Dogs can have brain injuries or limited cognitive function, just like people can. If a puppy is deprived of oxygen during birth, his brain function may be affected. If a dog gets kicked by a horse, brain injury can occur. In the case of trauma or congenital brain defects, the dog may physically not have the capacity to ‘think’ with his entire brain.  

2. “Old dogs may undergo brain deterioration.”  Like humans, canines have been known to become ‘senile’, forgetful, revert to puppy-like behaviors, or have the canine equivalent to Alzheimer’s (-a medical condition known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome).  So, that old adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”—in some cases may be true.

3.  “Physical disabilities in dogs may prohibit some types of training.”  Blind dogs are obviously at a disadvantage… blind dogs won’t be trainable in a sport like herding or agility.  Deaf dogs cannot legally be trained as Guide dogs or Assistance dogs, due to their physical impairments.  A dog with hip dysplasia may never be trained to do a proper “Sit” if the sit hurts him.  Dogs are highly adaptable but every animal has its physical limits.

4.  “Trauma or extreme negative experience in dogs can cause major resistance to certain training.”  For example, a dog which has been dropped from a great height as a puppy may have a difficult time being trained to jump into someone’s arms.  A dog that’s been attacked by multiple dogs as a puppy, may have long-term aggression issues that are extremely ingrained and difficult to overcome. 

5. “Some breeds or individual dogs have genetic traits that will make them extremely difficult to train in certain areas.”  For example, some hunting breeds have a lack of impulse control when a goose is flying overhead.  Some hound breeds may catch the scent of a raccoon, and be impossible to call off the trail.  Always keep in mind what your dog has been genetically programmed or ‘bred’ to do!  Sometimes instinct overrules all training.

6.  “Certain dogs do not have the capacity to be trained by certain people, or certain personality types.”  In certain cases, there is a fundamental personality mismatch between dog and person.  For example, an extremely dominant dog is not going to respect a weak-willed, unassertive person.  Or, an extremely submissive, fearful dog would have a difficult time accepting training from a loud or harsh person.  In these cases, I would not say training is impossible—but the human would have to undergo substantial changes before attempting to train the animal.

“Un-trainable” is a pretty black-and-white term.  There are certain trainers who will tell you that NO dog is un-trainable.  I would challenge that assertion!  All dogs have a higher or lower capacity to be trained under certain situations, or by certain people.  Trainability is often a subjective term.

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