Prevent Dog Training Problems In The First Place

Dogs with issues.  You know them; the friend's dog who constantly jumps on you and scratches your legs when you visit, the dog down the street who pulls on the leash so bad his owner has to jog to keep up with him, and the dog next door who barks all night. 

You want a dog, but you don't want a dog with issues.  It's clear to you these dogs haven't been properly trained.  And instead of buying a poorly trained dog, you think getting a puppy might be the way to go.  It's like starting with a blank slate.  But where do you start? How do you train a new puppy?

There are three possible routes to take, and you may end up using a combination of all three:

Hire a dog trainer.
It's okay to hire someone else to do the job, especially if you've never owned a dog before and don't have the slightest idea what to do or the confidence with which to do it.  Before you hire a trainer, check out their background and reputation for successful training.  They should be happy to give you references.  Do your homework and ask questions of the previous customers.

There are also questions you should ask the potential trainer.  How long does the training last?  Does the dog trainer only work on one specific thing or do they cover it all?  Do they work with the puppy alone, or do they teach you how to work with your puppy?  Do they do routine follow ups?  Keep in mind price is going to be a factor in this option.

School for puppies.
Some pet stores offer programs for new puppy owners. The class may meet once or twice a week and there are other puppies and owners there too. The downside to this is you have to commit yourself to showing up at the classes every time in order to benefit from it.  Also, the other puppies may prove to be too much of a distraction for your own puppy.  But the upside is it's a great place for your puppy to work on his socialization skills, which turn out to be very important in the long term.

Train him yourself.
Training your puppy yourself can be very rewarding and yet very frustrating and time consuming.  It's a chance to build a strong bond between you and your pet which will serve you through the years you share together.  So as not to make mistakes, start off by reading up on the dog training tricks the experts use before you even bring your new puppy home.  There are plenty of books and videos from the known experts in the dog training field.  Find an expert who's tactics you agree with and feel you can follow.  Knowing the techniques to use will not only cut down on the frustration factor but produce results quicker.

It's a given that puppies need to be actively trained in order to be well-behaved dogs without behavior issues when they're older.  Which method of training is right for you depends on your circumstances, but it's something you must choose.