Zeal. Gusto. Passion. 

Remember to find joy while you're working with your dog. Isn't that part of why you wanted a companion?

If you and your pup are enjoying your time together, you'll both be more motivated  to learn and to bond. How could you not be successful?

Do not fixate on what your dog is not learning. Or on a stumbling block that you’re trying to hurdle.

You can't teach every cue all at once, and your dog certainly can't learn everything you want him to learn in one eight-week puppy obedience class.

Focus on the progress you're making from one year to the next. When you take the time to reflect on your dog's behavior from last year and compare it to present behavior, you're going to see improvements.

Weather, especially inclement weather can work in your favor for training opportunities! Whether you’re taking advantage of the wind, light rain, or thunderstorms, you and your dog can have a blast training during distracting weather conditions.

Training while you're in your veterinarian’s office for regular check-ups creates a winning scenario.

Understanding your dog's body language will make you a more efficient trainer. Be sure to take some time to learn what your dog's trying to communicate through his or her behaviors.

Training our dogs to walk politely through any threshold has been one of the best decisions we've made, but it's also the training choice that has required the most amount of patience.

Practicing a skill or two at meal time is so easy to integrate into your daily routine that I decided to stress that point.

If you're giving your dog supplements or medications hidden in yummy treats, then ask your dog to do something to earn the "reward."

Keeping training interesting is crucial for your dog and for you. Nobody wants to train if it turns into drudge work.

Rotating skills and rewards helps maintain your dog's focus on the task at hand.