Dogs are indisputably mans’ best friend, and proof of this is found in the fact that they are one of the world’s most popular pet species. In some places cats just about take first place and in others, dogs are preferred. In general though, dog ownership is seen as something of a rite of passage in many cultures and many people don’t feel that their home is complete without having a dog in their family.
There are hundreds of different dog breeds with lots of variation between them, and the differences span more than just their size. They also vary a lot in their coat types and colours, their genetic predisposition to certain health conditions, their temperaments, their willingness to please. Dogs that are more willing to please their owners tend to be more trainable than others though every dog is an individual with their own personality.
With that in mind, some breeds are known to be much easier to train than others and often it is because they are genetically predisposed to this kind of behaviour through their breeding. Genetic predisposition plays an important role in how a dog may behave. Retrievers will naturally want to retrieve things for their owners, pointers point, and shepherds will instinctively display herding behaviours.
There are many reasons why you might prefer to choose a dog breed that is known for its trainability. Perhaps you are in search of a working dog to assist in hunts or other jobs like scentwork, or maybe you even have your sights set on winning an obedience trial at Crufts, or maybe you are looking for a trainable dog to alert you when a stranger comes to the house. Alternatively, you may simply want a good companion that you can train well.
Ultimately the dog will be more easily trainable if they are being trained to do things they genuinely enjoy and if you can find the right thing to motivate them, be it praise, treats, or a game of tug with their favourite toy. The most important thing is to play to the dog’s natural strengths, so choose a dog that is proven to excel at the skills you need them to have.
German shepherd dogs
The GSD is an iconic German dog breed that is of working stock. When given a job to do, they can be single minded and extremely focussed on the task at hand. Highly trained GSDs are excellent guard dogs and can excel at scentwork. They are herders by nature, but they are so reliably trainable that they can be encouraged to focus their attention on a range of skills and will benefit from training with dog whistles for recall.
This versatility makes them extremely popular among the police and the armed forces and they do need a firm but gentle hand in order for a handler or owner to gain their trust and respect. The GSD can be prone to become suspicious of strange people and dogs unless they are properly trained and socialised from a young age. Enrol your new puppy in a training class and keep up the momentum for a well rounded and highly trained dog.
Standard poodles
The standard poodle casts a more imposing silhouette than the smaller toy and miniature poodles, and retains much of its original working temperament. The working nature of these dogs is apparent in their noble bone structure and their love of advanced training that really gets their bodies and minds working. They are one of the most intelligent dog breeds and will need a trainer that knows what they are doing as these dogs can be prone to stubbornness.
Where the GSD has a thick double coat that sheds, poodles have hair that grows long and sheds at a similar rate to human hair. They are also hypoallergenic, but will need regular grooming and trims to keep their coats healthy. Standard poodles are large, agile dogs that excel at agility and obedience, but they are also wonderful family pets that are gentle, friendly and patient. They do need a lot of exercise because they are still genetically a working dog, so keep on top of their exercise needs to keep them happy and healthy.
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