If you want a well-behaved dog, there is a lot that relies on the dog’s personality. However, nearly any dog can learn, at least a bit of manners. Depending on the dog's personality and desire to learn, you may need to work a little harder or try some different methods to get the results you desire.

Dog Training

Make sure to get everyone involved in training. If you are the only member of the family working with Fido’s behavior, then the other members of the family are giving him mixed signals. Consistency is extremely important in dog training. Also make sure that everyone is using the same key words and rewards so that the behavior will be reinforced correctly. Off and down are two different things to a dog, so make sure you aren’t confusing him.

Allowing everyone in the family to tell your dog different things will completely defeat the purpose of training him. Have a family meeting or keep a list of dog training rules on the refrigerator to remind all people that interact with the animal to be consistent with commands, punishments and rewards. Otherwise the dog will be in a constant state of confusion and every family member will be completely frustrated.

Dog training is an activity that needs to be done frequently. When trying to teach a dog a new behavior one needs to be repetitive. By frequently demonstrating the proper activity or saying the command word it will help the dog learn it. The repetition will facilitate learning of new behaviors for the dog.

Start your dog training with something that will be easy for your dog to learn. Not only will you get the instant gratification of your success, but also, your dog will gain the important foundation of what an acceptable trick or behavior is. This provides you with greater results throughout the training.

Reinforcement is a key element in dog training. Reinforcement only works, however, when it is executed with the proper timing. Excitedly saying, "Good girl!” just a few seconds too late has little positive impact on the dog’s future performance in terms of the desired act. Reinforcement for desired behavior should be immediate.

Training should be fun for your dog. Training sessions should be kept to 10-15 minutes maximum so your dog enjoys the full benefits of his attention span. Rewards should be plentiful and varied. Your dog should enjoy lots of praise for a job well-done. Making training fun makes listening fun too!

A good dog training tip is to be aware of the body language you use. Dogs pay close attention to our body language and it’s important that you are sending the right message. Talking too much can also confuse dogs, so it’s best to be succinct with what you’re trying to say.

Applying the advice given here will help your dog to be the best behaved pet that he can be. Remember, one of the most important parts of dog training is patience. Pair your patience with some creativity and more often than not, you really can teach an old dog new tricks.