BASIC TRAINING

Be consistent. Make it fun. And bring lots of treats.

- JENNA STREGOWSKI

PROPER TRAINING and socialization are among your dog's basic needs, and it is important to teach your fur baby to sit, stay, come, go to his crate, drop it, and go potty outside-and the sooner the better. Establishing consistent protocols from the outset will make life together easier for you and your dog.

Use Positive Reinforcement

This means you reward the behaviors you like and ignore the ones you don't. There are lots of ways to acknowledge Spot's good work: treats, playing with him with a toy or with other pets, or anything else the dog responds to. "Rewarding" techniques can even be used to teach fully potty-trained canines to ring a doggy doorbell to let you know when they need to relieve themselves.

Make Training Fun

Keep training sessions short to prevent frustration, keep your tone light, and be fair to your pup. If you're both enjoying yourselves, your sessions will be much more effective and productive. If you're finding the process challenging, consider getting assistance from a pro, either with private lessons, where your dog can benefit from the one-on-one attention, or in group classes, which can be helpful in socializing your pet with other animals and people.

House Training and Crate Training