During my run with Sophie today I was thinking about how good she was in staying right next to me without pulling or trying to veer off here and there. I remember times when it was impossible to run with her. So I reflected on all the things I have learned at various boards and forums and I thought wouldn't it be nice if a person looking for tips could just go to one forum to get some quick answers? This does by no means replace thorough research on many training topics because nothing is a quick fix but I think it would get people started into the right direction.

We each can contribute and share in one or two sentences key training tips on this thread. I start

1. Yelling at your dog to get him to comply will not achieve anything. Stay calm, step back and re-evaluate the situation with a clear mind so you can take level-headed action.

2. When returning from errands do not greet your dogs with over excitement but stay calm, put down the purse and keys, grocery bags, etc and then greet them calmly as if you had been there all along. This helps preventing Separation Anxiety.

Your turn...

Love and discipline go hand in hand. Dogs, like children, need boundaries, and that is an exacting job. Do it with confidence and firmness and patience – nothing is learned overnight. Praise often; love unconditionally; and discipline fairly – tomorrow will be your reward.

If you have multiple dogs, be sure to use a separate food dish for each one of them to avoid resource guarding.

When your dog pants it may not be because he is hot. It may be that he is stressing. Evaluate if there is something that could cause stress to the dog and then eliminate that source.

Your dog constantly licking his lips, may be a sign of stress. He is using this mechanism to calm himself down.

Yawning is also a stress reducer.

I just watched Turid Rugaas DVD on calming signals and a dog was chasing his tail, while his person sat in a chair and continually yawned. Eventually the dog calmed, started yawning as well. It is contagious!

Choose a vet that is willing to work with you on your ideas of feeding, vaccinations, and medications.

If you plan to crate train, start immediately. The horrendous noises you hear will subside within 3-4 weeks, and your pupper will know this is a safe, relaxing and private place to be.

Ask as many questions as you can think of. Buy books and DVDs on training and all the different kinds of tools that are available – rewards, clicker, prong, e-collar, etc.. As your pupper develops, you will be knowledgeable about what you want to use and how. Ask more questions.

Listen to your dog. Learn to read his body language and notice signs of stress and/or discomfort early. If your dog is telling you he doesn't like something, listen and either stop or remove him from the situation. Address his concerns with training when you can.

It is not a good idea to encourage your dog to fence run with another dog on the other side, especially if that dog is aggressive. This can potentially encourage dog aggression in your dog.

Your new puppy doesn't know by default how to behave but just like a human child, needs to be taught.