The family dog can be such a great member of your family. Just like children though, if they are not well behaved, then you will have a tough time taking them out in public, or even having company over. Take the time to read this article and use some of the tips listed here to get your pet on the road to obedience.

Don't feed your dog food they aren't accustomed to when house training them. Very rich foods, in particular, make it hard for a dog to control their bowels. Stick to the tried and true in terms of types of food and the quantity you feed and the house breaking experience will proceed much more smoothly.

Be consistent when you're training your dog. Your dog doesn't understand what your praises mean. Pick one form of praise to use such as: "Good Girl" or "Well Done" and use the same phrase every single time. This will teach your dog that you are praising him or her, and when your dog hears the chosen phrase, he or she will understand it is a compliment.

Do not forget to praise your dogs for the good things they do. Humans can be a bit harsh when they are not happy with a dog's behavior, while being far less demonstrative when their dog does good things. Your dog needs you to be very generous with praise so they can easily understand what you want. Be generous with praise to show him how much you value good behavior.

When correcting bad behavior that your dog displays, you should always make sure that your corrections are short and well-defined. If your corrections are vague, your dog will not understand how to improve its bad behavior. This will frustrate both you and your pet. If your corrections are clear and easily understood, your dog is likely to make the correction.

If your dog is being destructive when unattended, it is likely a sign that he is not getting the physical exercise that a dog needs. Find a class that you and your dog can enroll in together and you are sure to find that it is fun and he will be far less destructive when you leave him.

To improve your relationship with your dog, you should incorporate basic obedience training as an every-day task. Ask for simple behaviors like a sit or a down before letting your dog out into the yard or before putting down his food bowl. Your dog will learn that you control his access to priority resources, which will reinforce his relationship with you as he starts to learn to look to you for direction.

Show your dog what is your territory and that you are leader of that territory. If your dog sits in your spot and you sit elsewhere, or if he lays in the middle of the doorway so that you step over him, your dog thinks he is the leader. Do not be violent, but you should nudge your dog calmly to get up each time so that he understands it is your territory, and you are the leader.

The main reason for crate training is to housebreak your dog. The concept of crate training is that dogs feel secure in this environment and will not soil the area in which they sleep. In this case, the crate, or den, is their sleeping area and they will not soil it, so it's the best choice for housebreaking your dog.

When training your dog to deal with its fear or anxiety related behaviors, go slow. Responding to a fear or anxiety response with aggression only leads to more fear and even mistrust. Take your time and give your dog the opportunity to succeed. He will grow in confidence and reduce fear induced behaviors.

It is a good idea to take your puppy out to as many places as possible as he is growing up and throughout his lifetime. Ongoing positive socialization experiences are important as they can keep him from becoming timid or afraid when he meets new people and other dogs.

Having a well behaved dog makes all the difference when it comes to your pet experience. Disobedient pets tend to make a mess of our lives and our schedules. This article has given you some great tips to make your family pet an appreciated and loved member of the family.