In order to keep your dog and your family safe, it is important to take the time to properly train your dog.  This may include an obedience class to help with housebreaking or teaching your dog on your own to understand everyday commands such as sit, stay, down and others.

Before discussing training your puppy or dog in certain situations, there is one thing that really needs to be stressed.  It is of utmost importance in the training of a dog or puppy:
Be firm, but NEVER hit your puppy or dog.  Doing so will cause your dog to fear and distrust you, but will not earn you the respect and leadership position your dog instinctively needs to have in you.  When you are firm without yelling and are consistent in your approach, you are teaching your puppy that you are in control.  The puppy will learn to respect you and treat you as the “alpha dog.”  Praise is also important in training your puppy.  Since you are the “leader” of its pack (your family), the puppy is going to seek your praise and try to please you.  Remember this throughout the training process.

Training your dog requires time and consistency.  Puppy training requires 10-15 minutes a day, several times a day.  Always be consistent when training.  For example, if you teach your dog to use the back door to be let out, always go to the back door.  Don’t send mixed signals by using different doors to go outside.