How to tell your dog no

Training a dog requires firmness, consistency and watchfulness. Master these 3 skills and your dog will know that you mean business when you say “no.”

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start early. Puppies are much easier to teach than full-grown dogs, so decide on your rules right at the beginning and stick with them.

2. Don't be tricked or swayed. People often don't expect dogs to be as smart as they are. Distracting you, ignoring you and giving you “puppy dog eyes” are some of the tricks that dogs use to get around the rules. Be firm and your dog will learn the rules.

3. Start as soon as the problem behavior begins. If you correct your dog later in the day, it will not understand what it did wrong. As soon as the dog starts to misbehave, tell it "no."

4. Use tone, volume and body language. Say “no” loudly and firmly, leaning towards the dog menacingly.

5. Don't vary your wording. It is easier to teach your dog to respond to “no” than to respond to “stop it,” “you know you're not allowed to do that,” “knock it off” and half a dozen other admonitions. The simpler the command, the more effective.

6. Don't hold a grudge. You want your dog to link disobedience with your response. When it does something wrong, act angry. When it stops misbehaving, be friendly again.