5 Keys to Optimal Learning » Dance With Brandee

Note: I originally wrote this article in 2012. Naboo is now 6 years old, but these keys to optimal learning are timeless!

My dog Naboo, ready to learn — Improve your dancing with these 5 tips

My life has changed in many ways now that I have a puppy. There are joys, frustrations, and a different rhythm to my days.

While dogs and humans certainly have different brains, we share the same fundamental nervous system. This means the learning principles I use with my movement and dance students also apply to training a puppy!

Boost Your Learning with These 5 Easy Principles

Optimal learning…

I keep learning playful for Naboo — You learn best when you’re comfortable and having a good time

1. Is pleasant and enjoyable

If you start getting frustrated, it’s time to take a break. So when my pup wanders away during training, it’s a signal that he’s no longer having fun.

2. Is at your pace

Start where you’re at, not where others are or where you think you should be. Then add more challenges incrementally. I can’t expect my pup to “stay” for 5 minutes when he’s never “stayed” before.

3. Is playful

Make learning a new skill into a game. To learn “Come,” Naboo and I play “Hide and Seek.”

Naboo takes a rest from learning — Taking short rests gives your brain a chance to integrate what you’ve learned

4. Includes frequent rests

After a handful of repetitions, it’s time to give your attention a break. In Naboo’s case, some petting or a short game of fetch allows him to be refreshed and ready to resume training.

5. Is broken down into pieces

Instead of doing everything at once and at full speed, just do part of it, at a slower speed. Like many of the lessons I teach in my movement classes, teaching a new behavior to a puppy is done in pieces, slowly building to completion, then refining to make it easier and reliably repeatable.

So next time you want to improve upon or learn something new, I invite you to experiment with these principles and enjoy the results!