There's a lot to like about having a dog of your very own, but training them is not always easy.  In fact, it can be a lot of work!  Especially when they pick up a bad habit or two that not only annoys you, but bothers everyone around you; like the neighbors, your spouse, the mailman...

If you have a dog with a problem, it probably has to do with one of these top seven:

* house training
* barking
* biting
* jumping up
* pulling on the leash
* chewing
* digging

Am I right?  These are the most common training problems, and the good news is they can be corrected whether your dog is a puppy or not.  Of course, it's easier to train them right the first time, but you can teach an old dog new tricks.

First off, let's look at each of these issues to determine if they really are problems.

House training
House training, housebreaking, or potty training - no matter what you call it, this can be a big issue.  It requires dedication, by you, to see the training through to success.  Otherwise, you'll end up with an adult dog who can't be trusted to be in the same house with your carpet and rugs.

Barking
A dog will bark.  If it's a minimal amount of barking, and there's a good reason for it, such as a squirrel running through the dog's territory, then it's probably okay.  If the dog is barking all day while you're at work and the neighbors leave you nasty-grams on your answering machine, then the barking is a problem.  If the neighbors feel the need to involve the authorities, that's also a problem.

Biting
A puppy will nip because that's what puppies do in the litter with their siblings, but it is a behavior you have to correct when he arrives at your doorstep.  If not, the dog could pose a danger to children as well as adults, and someone could get seriously injured.  Also, states have strict laws about dogs biting humans and yours could be put to death for biting people.

Jumping up
Dogs seem to think that anyone who comes to visit is there to see them and they get so excited they must jump up on the person in greeting.  That's a problem for many reasons.  Not everyone is a dog person; being jumped on could offend them or scare them.  If your dog jumps on a child, the action could knock them right over.  And what if your dog jumps on you and you're standing at the top of the stairs?
 
Pulling on the leash
Some dogs will slink away when they see the leash, but more commonly, dogs are raring to go for a walk and will behave badly by pulling you along.  Another problem, if they're not leash trained, is what they can do to your arm and back if they suddenly see a squirrel or another dog and lunge after it.  You need to be in control of your dog and not risk injury to you, your dog, or other people.

Chewing
Okay, it's cute when your teeny tiny puppy chews on your shoelace.  But it's not so cute when he's bigger and he's destroying your shoes and your furniture.  He's definitely gone too far when he's mutilated your daughter's favorite doll.  Yes, chewing is a problem.

Digging
There are different reasons why a dog will dig, but none of them are really acceptable to you.  If you'd like to keep your landscape intact and your dog fairly clean, then training him not to dig is essential.

These are the most common training problems.  In the following chapters we will address why dogs have these behaviors and what you can do about them.