If you want a well-behaved canine, there’s a lot that relies on the canine’s personality. However, almost any canine can learn, at least a tad of manners. Depending on the canine’s personality and desire to learn, you may need to work a little harder or try some different strategies to get the results you desire. Beyond the recommendations mentioned here you can take a class or buy a good dog book for more info.

Never punish your pet for coming when called. A good recall command is essential, not only for obedience, but for your canine’s safety as well. It may seem obvious that calling your pet to you for punishment is bad, however when you’re angry at a dog who has darted into the street or does not come for a bath, it is easy to forget. By keeping their “come” command in connection with positive experiences, you can be assured that next time they get away from you, they will conscientiously return when called.

If your dog is running away from you, don’t attempt to chase him. Instead, call him by name and give a command, such as “come.” Your pet views chasing as a game and thinks you wish to play along. The exception to this tip would be if your dog is about to enter a dangerous circumstance and has not responded to your commands.

If your dog has a problem with play biting or excitement nipping, try giving him the cold shoulder. Mouthing dogs are only reacting to  their excitement, so denying attention will give him the message that this is an inappropriate way to show that he is glad. With consistency across members of the household, excitement mouthing can be a thing of the past.

Applying the advice given here will help your dog to be the very best behaved pet that he can be. Remember, one of the most critical parts of dog training is patience. Pair your patience with some creativity and most often than not, you really can teach an old dog new tricks.