So, it's time to think about dog training! When you first get your dog, you have a couple of options to decide from. The most important questions you should ask yourself are:

• Do you have the time to train your dog?
• Do you have the patience to train your dog
• Do you have the resources to take your dog to a professional trainer?

After you've considered these questions and it's time to think about some specifics.

Training Your Own Dog

Particularly when there is a new dog in the household, everybody may want to join in. While this is great for bonding with your dog, and maintaining consistencey, which is essential for successful training, your household should select one primary trainer. The primary trainer should be able to:

• Train on a routine, consistent basis. Dogs love routine and it is important for them to know what to expect. Ideally, a consistent training time would be most preferential for your dog.
• Train in the same location. Back to the old routine. Dogs love consistency, so especially in the beginning, it would be ideal to train in the same location.
• Can stick to a training plan, without distractions. Training periods don't have to be long. In fact, more frequent. shorter training sessions would be better, as dogs take to repetition and have a short attention span. The idea is, when you start the training, stick with it until the sesion is over.
• Be patient and caring. Dogs don't learn things right away, so it's important that the primary trainer be patient and understanding. Sometimes it may seem as if you're not getting places, but persistence and a good attitude will likely pay off.
• To supplement home-training, you can also attend classes, which are less expensive than using a professional trainer, but can provide you with additional instruction and support.

Seeking a Professional Trainer

If you find that you aren't able to meet the demands of training your dog yourself, or would just rather use a professional, it's ok to hire a professional trainer. It's great to ask friends, vets, or breeders for recommendations. Or, you can find listings for trainers in your area in the wikiFido City Guide.

Professional trainers work on an individual basis. They can come to your house or you can meet outdoors. The frequency of lessons may vary and this is something you can discuss with your trainer to establish the proper schedule for your dog.