You can avoid many canine behavior problems by starting out with this set of five basic principles and then adhering to them strictly.

Principle No. 1: Be the boss and be consistent

Decide as a family what the rules will be, then everyone stick to the rules. Bendable rules confuse dogs. Inconsistency can lead to dominance challenges and lack of respect. In the dog world, the alpha dog in the pack is the boss. The alpha makes the rules and the rules don't change. Dogs prefer structure. So if you don't want the dog up on the sofa, never let him up on the sofa. That's that. If he never gets to lie on the sofa, and he has a nice dog bed of his own, he probably won't miss it.

Principle No. 2: Reward the behavior you want

Dogs are basically hedonists. If it feels good, they will do it again. Make the most of this by rewarding your dog with praise, treats or play for behaviors you wish to reinforce. This principle is the basis of motivational training approaches.

Principle No. 3: Never reward behavior you don't want

Before you give in to what the dog wants, think of how the situation looks to him. Don't accidentally train your dog to do the things you don't want him to do. Here's an example:

There was once a little white dog whose owners trained him to bark constantly. Here's how they did it. The first time the dog came over to them and barked, they picked him up and petted him. The dog thought, "Ah, barking means I will get some nice petting." Then, the next time the dog barked, the owners yelled at him to stop once or twice. He kept barking, so after a few minutes they gave in and picked him up and petted him to quiet him down. The owners thought they had figured out a way to get their little pet to stop barking. But the dog was thinking, " If I just keep barking long enough, they will pick me up and pet me." Soon this little white dog was driving his family crazy. Once the dog barked for two hours straight. They put him in the car, in the garage, with all the windows rolled up, just to get a little peace and quiet. When they came back an hour later, he was still barking. And guess what they did? They picked him up and petted him. By the time this pup was brought to a professional trainer, the dog was barking constantly, without stopping. Poor little doggy. It took time, patience, and retraining with a professional trainer to cure him of his annoying habit.

You may find this story amusing, but many people make similar mistakes with their dogs. What about the owner who lets the dog inside whenever he barks? The owner who pets his dog when the dog jumps up on him? The owner who feeds the dog scraps from the table whenever he begs or worse yet, only occasionally? This dog will learn quickly that he should never give up the effort. Think about it.

Principle No. 4: Don't be afraid to discourage behaviors you don't want

Just as a mother dog nips or growls at a puppy who crosses the line into unacceptable behavior, you too can express displeasure to your dog. A well-timed, low pitched "Uhn-uhn!", "No!", or growl is often enough to do the trick. If the verbal correction doesn't work, and the dog has made a big mistake, like biting hard, you might need to use a collar correction along with a scolding. (Physical correction does not work with every dog. Sometimes it only increases the dog's aggression. When in doubt, consult a professional trainer.) It's best to catch the dog just as he is about to do the awful deed, whatever it may be. Next best is to catch him in the act. Punishment after the fact is pretty much useless.

Principle No. 5: Treat your dog with love and kindness

Your dog gives you unconditional devotion - don't abuse this privilege. Include him in your family life. Give him daily exercise and attention. Never hit him, or allow children to hit him.

If you follow these five principles consistently, you will probably avoid many pitfalls and problems in your relationship with your dog.