First and foremost you’ll want to understand your dog’s needs and your desires. From here we can determine the course of action that will be needed. There are a few things that are certain when training. To begin with you need to let them know “who’s boss”, because if you don’t they will surely take over. One way of doing this is to turn your back and ignore your dog if it likes to jump on you for attention. Once they stop you may turn around and praise them for stopping, either with words or a treat. Never overreact either way.

Another thing for certain is your dog has “needs”. Is your dog seeking attention or maybe he or she needs to go “potty”? Ignoring these will cause you as the owner problems. When trying to “potty” train a puppy it will take time and patience. Put yourself in your dog’s position. When you drink a lot of liquids you’ll need to use the bathroom. The same applies for your dog but they will go at lease twice as much as you do, which is where a lot of owners fall short. A puppy can go every hour or so, and after about four months old they can go once every two to three hours.

These are only some “general rules” that may apply to you. Again, different breeds may require different tactics. A pug will not train the same as a Labrador, nor will they have the same needs, and your wants will also vary. Is your dog a family pet, guard dog or hunter? All of these will make a difference when training. Most importantly, you need to remember that your dog has feelings. They need attention and LOVE. Show your dog attention and love and they will become less needy and more loving.