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When training your dog, be sure to enforce every command you give. This helps your dog understand that they must listen to you when you give a command. If your dog learns to think that he can can ignore you when you give a command, it can be very difficult to correct this.

Reinforce desirable behavior from your dog. Don't just rely on treats though. You can reinforce these behaviors through positive attention as well. Petting your dog and talking to him in cheerful tones can be a good incentive too. So can a new squeaky toy or a trip to the park.

Remember that sometimes patience is key, don't become frustrated if your dog doesn't catch on right away. It would be nice if every dog could understand your every command but you have to remember they can't. Just try and be sure you are aware of your dog's emotions and when they do follow your command reward them so they know what they did was right.

Not all dogs are comfortable around other dogs or people. The best way to train your dog to be more comfortable around other animals or people is to expose them to as many people and other dogs as often as possible, preferably earlier in their life. This will make them accustomed to being around others.

Consider your dog's personality as you begin your training program. Make sure to start slowly if your pet has aggressive tendencies.  If you try to exert control over a dog that prefers to be dominant, your pet may react aggressively toward you and derail your training plans.

When you are working on dog training your newest addition to the family, try not to accidentally punish the animal for good behavior.  If you have gotten a puppy, for example, and he goes to the bathroom outside correctly do not leave the dog out there alone.  Take time with him and play with him because if you leave him alone he will be sad and think he did something wrong.

If your dog is misbehaving, try to determine why. It is important to work out why your dog is doing what it does. Knowing the reason for poor behavior can make training significantly easier. It is far more difficult to correct an action that you do not fully understand the reasoning behind.

Throwing out your dog's food bowl can assist you with your training program.  Studies have shown that animals respond well to working for their meals.  Incorporate food as a reward in your training and also, use it for entertainment purposes.  You can do this by putting the food in a toy or a puzzle.

Dog training is not something that is easy to do properly, which means you should do your homework. Learning how to train your dog is almost as important as learning about dog behaviors and how they interact in a pack. Knowing what your dog expects from a pack leader makes training the animal much easier.