A well-trained dog has more freedom. And in training your dog you will strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Training can be dog and human friendly. Done right, it will be fun and positive for you and your dog. Training is as much about teaching you how to train your dog as it is about training your dog.

Lots of dogs get in trouble because we insist that they know better. But do they? Remember we are two different species, canines and primates, with very different ways of communicating with each other. Shelters are full of dogs who have outgrown their cute puppy stage and are now "out of control adolescents". Too much for their owners to handle. Your job as the human is to be a consistent leader, teaching your dog basic training commands, socializing them, learning how to reinforce desirable behaviors while discouraging inappropriate ones and how to set limits.

Dogs learn best through positive reward- based training techniques. Most people when they hear the word reward think food treat. A cookie is definitely a good reward but there is more. Think of a reward as anything including cookies which motivates your dog.

How many of your dogs like to go for walks? Toys? Attention from you? Now you can establish that very important leadership role by developing a relationship where your dog learns to earn from you those rewards they love the most. Leadership is a word which makes some people cringe with all kinds of negative images coming to mind. Don't worry, you can be a benevolent leader who is consistent, sets boundaries and is gentle. Your dog will be happy to follow motivated by many of the good dog things in life coming to them from you.

Start training as soon as you get your dog. Group classes are an especially good option for puppies and young dogs. It is a nice structured environment where you can learn the basics training techniques as well a place to learn proper doggy socialization skills.

Remember dogs learn best with lots of repetition keeping training sessions short, fun and positive. Early and continual socialization to other dogs and everything else in their environment is critical for your dog to learn good doggy etiquette.

Classes are not for everyone. Some dogs who have not been socialized with other dogs may not do well in a classroom environment. Private sessions are a good option for people who want a specifically tailored training program in their own environment or for dogs with specific behavioral issues.

The third option is a combination of both privates and group classes appropriate to needs.

-- Submitted by Camilla Welhaven, Ain't Misbehaving Dog Training