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Step 1
Pay attention to your dog's personality before you begin training. If it is a people pleaser, then it will be easier to train when praise is the reward. If your dog loves food, use treats for a reward during training sessions.
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Step 2
Use your dog's energy level. If your dog is energetic, your training sessions can be longer and more frequent than one who is more laid back.
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Step 3
Become the pack leader. Every dog wants to know who is in charge, and you need to make sure you're the alpha dog at all times. Be kind, but be in control.
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Step 4
Teach your dog to respond to basic commands, like sit and stop, first. This is especially important for high-energy or high-maintenance dogs like Border Collies or Dalmatians.
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Step 5
Use the same training techniques and tone of voice each time you train your dog. Train the same amount of time each day. For laid back dogs this is more important, as dogs learn through repetition. If you're only training once a week, it's going to take longer for your dog to learn what you want.
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Step 6
Include fun time in the training process. Take an active dog for a brisk run after training, or spend some time petting a more reserved dog in a quiet and calm manner. Your dog will be more agreeable to training if it includes fun.
