15 Ways to Enhance Your Dog’s Learning Ability - Canine Campus Dog Daycare & Boarding

Is it possible to enhance your dog’s learning ability?

The short answer is an emphatic YES!

While some breeds like border collies, poodles and German shepherds are renowned for being the smartest canines, the truth is all dogs are capable of increasing their ability to learn. Dog parents can enhance their dog’s ability to learn by supporting their physical, mental and emotional health.

Here are 15 ways to enhance your dog’s ability to learn and gain new skills.

Support Your Dog’s Physical Needs

Prevent illness and injuries

Dogs are vulnerable to illness, injury and disease. If your dog is in pain, he or she will not be able to learn and behave properly. In addition to an annual well-dog check-up, be sure to take your dog promptly to your veterinarian if you are concerned about possible illness or injury.

High-quality food

A well-balanced, high-quality diet will help your dog stay healthy, vital and increase his or her attention span. Certain supplements can also increase your dog’s ability to learn. Omega-3s, for example, support cognitive function, behavior and memory in dogs, even as they age.

Exercise

Every dog, just like every person, is unique; your dog’s breed, size, age and overall health all are important factors in how much exercise your dog needs. Most dogs need between 30 minutes and two hours of active exercise every day. Does your dog need more exercise? Consider bringing him or her to daycare, where he or she will burn off excess energy and be ready to go home tired, but happy.

dog grooming – bulldog getting ears cleaned by woman

Grooming

Your dog needs regular and consistent grooming. Brush your dog’s coat daily, and tend to his or her nails, ears and teeth. Does your dog need professional grooming? Consider booking an appointment with Chris, our expert groomer. Chris has been grooming dogs a long time and is truly one of the best in the business. Your dog will receive the most loving, kind, gentle grooming session and will look and smell amazing when you’re ready to pick him or her up.

Most of the time we’re able to book a same-day appointment or find a time when you were already planning to bring your fur-baby in for daycare or boarding. Chris is able to provide full-grooming services tailored to your dog’s breed and needs. She will even give you a written report of your dog’s session and any concerns she might have about your dog’s health! Just give us a call at 719-448-9600 to ask any question you might have or book a grooming session. A session with Chris will boost your dog’s mood and enhance your dog’s learning ability.

Consider alternative healing methods

Healing energy therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, reiki, therapeutic touch, homeopathy, CBD and other healing modalities are gaining acceptance with veterinarians in the U.S. Acupuncture, for example, can be used to treat behavioral disorders, allergies, anxiety, excessive licking, skin problems, respiratory problems, digestive disorders, reproductive problems, hormonal imbalances, burns and other injuries, and any chronic or acute condition. Alternative healing methods are allies in a dog’s healing process, working within the dog’s body to help it repair itself.

Provide Mental Enrichment

Dogs, like humans, need mental stimulation to live long and happy lives. Consistent stimulation will promote good behavior and deter destructive ones. There are many benefits to dogs when you ensure they receive the mental nourishment they need. Psychological enrichment plays a key role in your dog’s learning ability.

Interactive (project) toys and games

Engage your pup’s mental abilities by investing in some stimulating project toys. You can also turn meal time into a skill-testing nose game by hiding pieces of kibble around the house or yard for your dog to sniff out. Activities like this will keep your dog’s brain sharp and he or she will have fun in the process!

Be consistent

Always use the same verbal and hand signal cues when interacting with your dog. Dogs learn through repetition, so it’s important to be patient and repeat the same cues over and over. Be sure to stay consistent and keep using the same rules and commands. For example, if you don’t allow your dog on the bed, don’t make exceptions for “special occasions”. This will only confuse your dog and slow down the learning process.

Rest

Dogs need rest and relaxation just like humans. Prevent physical and mental burn out by giving him or her breaks and time to relax throughout the day.

Challenge (but not too much)

Keep your pooch engaged during training sessions by making things challenging, but if your dog is not catching on, ease up on your demands so he or she doesn’t become discouraged. However, if your dog seems to be getting bored, make things a little more challenging. Try to find the sweet spot between “too easy” and “too hard”.

Socialization

Your dog needs social interactions in order to learn how to adapt to new situations. Be sure to expose your dog to other dogs, people, places, sounds, smells and other stimuli. Socialization helps your dog create positive associations with new experiences, making it easier for your dog to meet your expectations.

Support Your Dog’s Emotional Needs

When it comes to your dog’s learning ability, don’t overlook the importance of his or her emotional health. We know, based on scientific research, dog’s DO have emotions. Dogs who feel safe and happy will be more open to learning. A dog who feels scared, angry and confused will not be able to relax and focus on the learning tasks being asked of him or her, so be sure to nurture your dog’s emotional being.

Quality time

It can be hard to find time in your busy schedule to just be with your dog. But building a better bond with your dog will make him or her feel more connected and fulfilled, as well as build trust.

Praise, not punishment

Positive reinforcement is far superior to using punishment. Humane, kind techniques instill positive behaviors and make training sessions more fun for both of you.

Set a routine

Dogs thrive on a routine because they don’t have to worry about what is – or isn’t – about to happen next. Routines reduce anxiety, helps with housetraining, can help with weight management (when you feed your dog on a regular schedule) and help with training. One caveat – although routines are helpful for dogs, it’s important to remain flexible so your dog is able to adapt to changes.

Recognize signs of distress

Recognizing the signs of anxiety, depression and stress in dogs to help improve your dog’s quality of life. Especially when a dog is suffering from depression or grieving, work on getting your dog out, do things they enjoy and teach them how to entertain themselves. Encourage activities your dog finds fun. For example, if your dog loves to go on walks, try taking them to new places so there are new smells and sights. Or, if they love to chase things, play fetch with them often. Try adding new toys for them to chew on or play with. Also, remember dogs often “take on” the emotions of their owners. Dogs are amazingly social beings, so they are easily infected with our emotions, including stress and anxiety.

Essential oils

When used safely, essential oils offer many benefits for pets. But you have to choose the right oils; the wrong oils can be toxic to pets! (Do not use citrus essential oils such as lemon or orange, which are toxic to pets.) You can use essential oils in a diffuser or rub the oil on your dog’s coat.

The best essential oils for dogs include:

Lavender
Frankincense
Chamomile
Cedarwood
Peppermint
Lemongrass
Geranium
Eucalyptus
Clary sage

Read more: Dog-Friendly Cleaning Solutions (includes a section on Dogs and Essential Oils)

Building a strong bond based on trust creates a solid foundation for an easier, fun life with your dog. There are many ways to ensure your dog’s mind stays sharp for a long time. There are more things to do now than ever for our dog’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. Following these tips will help you keep your beloved dog healthy and improve his or her learning ability. And how exciting is that!

What methods have you used to enhance your dog’s learning ability? What should be added to this list? Please share with the rest of the Canine Campus community in the comments below.