Short-term Memory

The greatest thing about dogs is that they have a super short-term memory. After all the money that I spent on his toys and treats, it's good to know that I can recycle his toys after a few days (assuming he hasn't already torn into the stuffing and the squeaker inside).

It is also important to remember this trait about dogs when you're training or interacting with dogs in general. All newer dog training books tell you that there's no point in punishing a dog over an action that happened a long time ago. For example, if a dog has an accident on your bed, but you discover it 5 hours later, there's no point in punishing the dog at that point. If you're angry with him, he'll know you're angry, but will have no idea why. It's better for you to save your training to times when your dog can associate an action with an immediate consequence. If you don't, he's not going to know when you'll blow up or be affectionate and that can impact your long-term relationship with him.