Nothing is more exasperating than owning a dog who will not listen. When a disobedient dog escapes through the front gate and you call his name, his reaction to you is no greater than that of the nearest rock. When the dog roams over to the dinner table to beg, and you command him to, "Lay down," he remains where he is and wags his tail expectantly. He seems to think you just said, "I'll give you food if you keeping standing there wagging your tail."

Obedience Training Can Work on Dogs of All Ages
If the above examples remind you of your older dog, you have your work cut out for you to reverse his bad habits, but it can be done. Through positive reinforcement and consistent obedience training, you really can teach an old dog new tricks. After a while, he will forget how spoiled he used to be, and all he will remember is how great it is to listen to his master.

The key to retraining an older dog is consistency. If you cave in to his begging at the dinner table just once, he will forget all about the importance of obedience. After all, you just rewarded him for being bad!

Puppies need similar consistency in their training. Canines begin learning at a very young age. In fact, their mothers begin teaching them acceptable behavior as soon as they are born. While intensive obedience training will not be effective until your puppy is five or six months old, you can begin socializing him when he is eight weeks old. Starting at the age of 12 weeks, your puppy can learn to SIT, LAY, COME, and other basic commands.

Always keep in mind that, above all, puppies need confidence. Be gentle and loving with your puppy. This will teach him that there is no reason to fear you or other people. By spending ample time with your puppy and being a loving and consistent leader for him, you are saving both you and the dog a lot of aggravation down the road. Your relationship will be filled with joy and mutual affection. Best of all, your dog will enjoy obeying your commands.