Training is not the same for all; some may find it exciting while others may not. Some can sit for longer training sessions than others. However, the general rule is a good training session is quick, brief, simple and to the point. One needs to ensure that the person receiving training is interested and understands what you are trying to say. The same goes when training dogs, whose attention span is much shorter than humans maybe a few minutes (say two to five).

Hence, you need to make sure that your dog is attentive and interested in learning like when you both have been away from each other for sometime or at any time in the day where you can give undivided attention. However, avoid training after meals as the dog might be tired and food rewards will not motivate it. You also need to be patient, not to push hard or too much at a time, or else the dog shall lose interest. The training session need to be a quickie, a lesson at a time, like sit or fetch or heel. End the session whenever the dog has done or learned something, reward it well regardless of how did the session go. The main aim is that the dog should like the training sessions as then only will it co-operate better.

Dogs need to be motivated to learn and pleasing the owner is on the top of the list, next is dog treats. Cheese and meat/hamburger pieces or frankfurter slices are better than biscuits which take longer to eat.

Just as everyone likes to be praised, dogs too are no different. You can praise it verbally or with pats and treats. You can motivate the dog to do better by rewarding it differently as based on its performance like; treats for excellent, pats for very god and verbal praise for good performance. Be careful with praises and rewards, be balanced and realistic or else the dog will stop trying to improve and the same goes for criticism.

Even when the dog grows up the rewards should not be stopped especially the treats as verbal praise tend to lose their effect more rapidly than the treats. A puppy would be overjoyed or excited with praise while a grown up one shall be respond calmly.

Another important point is how and what you tell a dog can make all the difference. Our language is nonsense to them and makes no sense. They need to be taught specifically and respond better to short commands. Hence, a simple Pluto, Sit! is better than Pluto, sit, sit down! Why do you not listen? Sit down at once! The latter is confusing and mixed up with other words which the dog does not understand; so the dog is unable to understand and thus appears disobedient. The rule is simple: speak clearly, emphatically call your dog by its name and then command it in one or two words like these basic commands: Down, Come, Stand, Sit, Stay and. Heel.