Getting your dog to behave himself doesn't have to be hard. You can train your dog to a high level of obedience simply by following three golden rules:
#1 – Don't hit your dog
Please. We don't like being hit and neither does he. Hitting can lead to fearful or aggressive behavior. A much better way is to create an “unpleasant experience” that he'll remember and will make him think twice about doing it again. A quick squirt of a water pistol or the sudden popping of a balloon should get your message across clearly enough.
#2 – Catch your dog “in the act”
There's no use disciplining him unless he knows what you're disciplining him for. If you haven't got the time to wait around for him to transgress – set him up. Create a situation where your dog will do what you don't want him to do – then follow through with the discipline.
#3 - Be consistent
If you don't want him to eat off the table, don't feed him from the table. That goes for everyone else your dog has dealings with too. There's no room for confusion if he's getting the same messages from everybody.
