[Tofu_pup]

A dog that is a whiz kid with interactive toys shows a promising future in shaping?

In my mind, it's basically the same thing. The dog says,"What do I have to do to get the treat?"

 

[hanksimon]

yup!!! Go for it.

 

[Poly]

I agree - go for it. A dog that shows an ability to learn is certainly an asset.

But a dog that will learn on its own may not be necessarily biddable. They may have a tendency to want to work independently.

Some trainers would rank biddablilty right up there with learning capacity, maybe even higher, when it comes to dog training. Other trainers actually like the challenge of the independent problem-solver. But never forget that the latter types can be a challenge.