Your Dog’s Motivation
Dogs are social animals, and they are naturally adapted to living in a group. As the owner, it is your responsibility to teach your dog the rules he has to abide by. As you provide your dog with leadership, consistency and structure, he will come to see you as the one setting the rules. Too often during training, people only reprimand their dog when he does something wrong and do not provide positive reinforcement when he does something right. Motivate your dog to follow the rules by making it clear you are happy when he behaves well through tone of voice, petting, praise, etc.

If your dog needs a bit more motivation than praise, that’s okay too. Using a kibble of food to reward a job well done or tossing a favorite toy can help some dogs learn faster and respond more consistently.

Being a Leader
Act like a leader and your dog will treat you like one. See our information on providing effective leadership for things you can do to set yourself up as a leader.

When to Start
Start training your dog the moment he walks into your home. Start showing him how to please you right away. Do not make the mistake of waiting “until he is old enough.” This will only give him time to learn bad behavior.

Did you just adopt an adult dog? Don’t believe that old dogs can’t learn new tricks – in fact, dogs can learn rules, tricks and new games well into adulthood. On the other hand, if you have an older dog that has been well-mannered all his life, but then starts to have problems, see your veterinarian before you blame your dog. You do not want to scold your pet for things he can no longer help.

Consistency
The best way your dog will learn is if there is a clear and consistent connection between your dog’s actions and your reaction. When you teach “sit”, offer a reward such as a favorite toy, a kibble of food or praise every time your dog does it right. If you don’t want your dog on the furniture, say “No” and guide him off every time he climbs up. Then, praise him every time he gets all four paws on the floor. Make it very clear. Otherwise, your dog will become confused. If you’re not consistent, your dog won’t be either.

Food Rewards
Don't give any “free rides” when it comes to food rewards. Make your dog earn every one of them, even if it's just for "sit." To help control caloric intake, many nutritionists recommend that you use a piece of dog food as a reward when possible.

When training, you want to work away from giving a food reward every time. Start gradually replacing the kibble of food with praise. Once your puppy has learned a command, give the kibble every other time, then every third time, always praising lavishly. Pretty soon, your puppy will work for praise - and the very occasional food reward.

Correction
Dogs are not spiteful. If your dog is doing something wrong, he may well have gotten the idea that it was okay. You have to teach your dog otherwise. First, catch him in the act – dogs can’t connect a punishment to an action that occurred hours or even minutes ago. Never hit your dog. Instead, when you see your dog doing something wrong, say, “No” in a sharp tone. When your dog stops, praise him and give him something else to do like ”sit” or “come.” Then, praise him abundantly for responding.

Remember, training does not have to be harsh. There are many different training methods available, so seek one that makes sense to you and helps your dog learn. There’s almost always another way to teach your dog something. If the method you’re using isn’t working, try another method before you get frustrated.

Do’s and Don’ts

DO rely more on rewards and less so on punishment.

DO reward appropriate behaviors as soon as they occur even if it’s outside of a formal training session.

DO end your training sessions on a positive note for you and your dog.

DON’T rely on food as your only form of reward. Praise can be as effective as food for most dogs.

DON’T forget to be patient and have fun.