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

Dogs have enormous vocabularies for animals who dont talk. They can understand hundreds of words. Add that to gestures and different tones of voice your dogs potential repertoire is limited only by your imagination.

Its 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 youll be able to astound your friends with your dogs brilliance!

Training should be a game you play with your dog every chance you get. And training sessions shouldnt 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. Dont 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 dogs cases), first he has to touch your hand with a paw. Then you can move your hand up, gradually. One day hell 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 youre willing to teach.

Hope Saidel is the co-owner of http://www.GollyGear.com, a bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun, affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a decade and is Registrar of the North Shore Dog Training Club.