Training your pet means teaching him the skills he needs to be a valued member of our family. That includes potty training, learning not to jump on people, sleeping in their own bed, (crate training is highly recommended), obedience and manners (come, down, sit and stay on command; walk correctly on a leash) and lastly, but as they say not least, a couple simple tricks. High five-ing and shaking hands delights children no end and are easy to teach a dog. It gives kids pride in their dog and a way to “show off” their dog to their friends.

Most of us were not born knowing how to train a dog, so read, ask questions, get help.  Most dogs need an adult to take control and assume the Alpha role for dog training. Take your kids with you to the dog trainer so they can watch and learn while you do.

Check with the shelter or breeder where you got your dog to see if they have a trainer to recommend, or ask the local pet store. Most pet stores have dog training on site or are associated with or can recommend a local dog trainer.There are also dog boot camps for hard to train dogs. You send them off to camp to be trained. Then at the end of their session, you go to camp to be trained too. There are also several National Associations of dog trainers that can help you locate a dog trainer when you need one: