Every dog-owner will experience the highs and lows of training their dog. This requires a great deal of patience but the process should be positive for both the owner and the animal. This article looks at the most important factors to take into consideration when training a dog.

When you start training your dog/puppy you should be consistent in both your actions and your commands. There should be no exception if you want the training to go smoothly. You need to assess what you are trying to teach or behaviour you would like to change and how you plan to do it. Every time you use a command with a certain reward you must make sure you repeat this from now on in this order, in order not to confuse the dog. Your tone of voice must remain the same each time you repeat this command. If you are part of a multi-person household you must also ensure that everyone acts in the same way towards the dog and uses the same vocabulary.

Do not lose control or shout. If you get annoyed or over-excited, the dog may become alarmed or lose focus. You cannot afford to lose control of the situation or it may have a negative impact on both you and the dog. Training should be an enjoyable time for both you and dog.

Do not punish your dog for failing to complete a task or demonstrate certain behaviours. Like humans, it is more productive to leave the dog unrewarded instead of opting for a punishment. The dog will generally try to please his owner and as a result the need for punishment is unproductive. It is also not acceptable to cause the dog any sort of harm and as a dog owner, the thought of punishment should never cross your mind.

Do not give your dog too much praise. You must ensure that you praise your dog sufficiently so that he understands he has done a good job and should repeat this action. If your dog has accomplished something he deserves to receive a reward for it such as a pat on the head or a "Good dog" or even a treat. It all depends on the dog and how you as the owner wish to reinforce good behaviour.

Do not exhaust the dog. Ideally each training session should last for a quarter of an hour, in order for the dog to remain focused, as well as making sure they are having fun. If a dog is bored of a certain activity, make sure that you move on to another activity. He will not learn new skills if he is bored and unfocused.

Finish off each training session when the dog has accomplished something and is happy. This will ensure that the next session will be something the dog and yourself can look forward to. It will help the training become a bonding exercise, and will also help make your dog feel safe and happy around you.

This article has been put together by the distance learning organisation Start Learning who are experts in home study.