17.Never use a training technique that is not natural and comfortable for

you. If you are using a technique that does not come naturally, your dog will

sense your hesitation as quickly as he will sense fear or anxiety. This can

lead to your dog ignoring any commands given and cause frustration for both

of you. Therefore, work to find techniques that you understand and feel

comfortable with before starting to train your dog.

18.Consider an obedience training class. There is no shame in asking for help

with training your dog. Some people are simply not equipped to train their dog

on their own, either due to a lack of patience, inexperience or not enough

knowledge. Investigate different obedience training classes in your area and

sit in on a few to determine whether or not they might work for you.

19.Consider a training club. Some kennel associations offer training clubs to

their members and the general public. These groups will often allow member

access to professional trainers, and the knowledge of other members. Some

breeds are more difficult to train than others, and having this type of resource

available may be an excellent asset to your own training program.

20.Learn about your dog’s breed. Different dog breeds may respond better to

different methods of training. Dogs of different sizes may also require

different types of training. For example, if you have a small terrier who likes

to jump it is less dangerous to all involved than if you have a St. Bernard that

weighs in at 150 pounds who likes to jump! You will need to concentrate on

different areas with different breeds and sizes of dogs, and knowing what to

expect is half of the battle.

21.See yourself as the team leader during training. You are not the only one

responsible for successful training sessions. If you see yourself and your dog

as a team in training, you will be much more successful than if you assume

the burden of all responsibility. You need to be aware of everything that goes

on during training, because you are the leader. However, realize that your dog

must be a willing participant for training to succeed.

22.Remain calm and relaxed. Your dog will sense fear, anger and anxiety.

Therefore, in order to be effective you must stay calm. Issue commands in an

authoritative voice and be firm and consistent to keep your dog’s attention.

Any behavior on your part that is out of the ordinary will keep him from staying

focused and reduce the effectiveness of your training efforts.

23.Be consistent. If you aren’t serious about wanting your dog to perform or

stop a specific action, then do not issue the command. Otherwise, you are