It's been more than 2,000 years since Confucius wrote, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

This proverb has been validated in modern times through research studies that show that students listening to a lecture retain only about 10 percent of what they hear. When they watch a demonstration, they remember more, but still retain only about 35 percent. Even when doing — that is, practicing a task — retention rises to just 50 percent.

As a teacher and seminar presenter, I find Confucius' proverb and the research studies extremely depressing. If I present an hourlong program, I can count on the audience remembering about 10 percent of my words of wisdom — and that's probably the jokes. So I'm continually looking for ways to improve the retention.

One technique is to use alliterations, which can be useful to help students remember concepts — at least I hope they are. Alliterations are consecutive words starting with the same sound. Think of Peter Piper and his peck of pickled peppers.

Two alliterations are useful in our basic dog training classes. The first is the three “D's” of training “stay” to help our students increase their dogs' abilities and calm behavior. The three D's refer to:

-- increasing “duration” — the length of time the dog is asked to remain in position;

-- building “distance” — the space between the dog and the handler, starting with the trainer directly in front and gradually increasing;

-- acclimating to “distractions” — what the dog is asked to ignore and remain in place.

The other alliteration I use in my puppy classes I call the “Four E's of Enrichment”: experience, explore, encounter and examine. The E's help owners create an environment for their puppy to have the best possible head start to adulthood through a broad range of experiences, commonly called “socialization.”

Socialization is the process of introducing a puppy to a diverse range of people, places and things. Through this exposure, a puppy learns to accept “the new” — new environments, individuals and activities. Being able to explore and examine new things strengthens a dog's coping skills, enabling her to tolerate and accept unfamiliar things throughout life. Especially significant in the first four months of a puppy's life, the four E's importance cannot be overemphasized. Without such enrichment, dogs go through life fearful of and stressed out by anything new and unfamiliar.

If you have a new puppy, start off right. Seek out — and check out — a puppy class in your area. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations, and then talk with the trainer who runs the school to make sure the class offers what you are looking for: socialization and a broad range of positive, reinforcing, happy experiences and enrichment.

Socialization doesn't necessarily mean including everything your dog might be exposed to in the future, but it's important to provide variety during this time when a puppy's development makes him accepting of new things. With early socialization, you're well on your way to having a well-rounded, emotionally healthy, normal dog.

Gail Fisher, author of “The Thinking Dog,” runs All Dogs Gym & Inn in Manchester. If you would like a topic addressed in this column, email gail@alldogsgym.com or write c/o All Dogs Gym & Inn, 505 Sheffield Road, Manchester, NH 03103. You'll find past columns on her website.