By Mary Jane Anderson

Before you are able to efficiently train your dog, you must first understand yourself.

Owning a dog gives few clues about your personality. You enjoy dogs and want to have them around for many reasons. Your temperament and understanding of dogs greatly affects your dog’s behavior.

You must know yourself in your relationship with your dog. Are you under control? Being under control means that you are the leader and not the dog; you call the shots! In building a relationship with your dog, it begins with your dog respecting you as the leader; dogs cannot live in a democratic society as they are genetically programmed to accept a leader in a hierarchy pack or family.

A dog’s first impression when he is brought into your home, whether as a seven-week-old puppy or an adult dog, is his evaluation of you as a leader or a follower. If the dog finds you are a follower, through your action, the dog will assume leadership. The puppy or adult dog will do this assessment while testing you, similar as a child would, to see how you react. A dog must first accept his owner as the leader before he will respect and obey commands.

In training your dog, you must be firm. As lesson should never end with the dog having his own way. The dog must obey your every command even though his performance is not perfect. If you think you are losing your temper in a particular lesson, STOP training and continue later. You will only confuse your dog while you are in that frame of mind.

NEVER, NEVER punish your dog by striking him. The tone of your voice and the use of the collar will let him know that you are displeased with his action. And NEVER call your dog to you before punishing him. If punishment is needed, go to the dog. This is only common sense; would you go to a person if you knew he was going to beat you?

Use humane training methods whenever you want your dog to behave with or without training collar and leash.

You choose the dog, you brought the dog into the environment in which he lives, and your approach to the training of the dog will determine the behavior of the dog.

The saying, “The dog you have is the dog you deserve” is a statement that must not be taken lightly. It provides and insight into your relationship with your dog. The most important question you must ask yourself is, “Am I satisfied with my dog’s behavior?” An honest answer can save or break your relationship with your dog.

“Euthanasia for behavior (problems) kills more dogs than all diseases combined,” according to Dr RK Anderson of the Morris Animal Foundation. If you are not satisfied with your dog’s behavior and tolerate his misbehavior, you must learn a meaningful line of communication with your dog through which you may work to correct unwanted behavior.

Learning basic obedience exercises such as heel, sit, down, stay and come will enable your dog to have good manners at home and in the community.

Always remember a dog out of control is a nuisance while a dog under control is a pleasure.