If you want to train your puppy in the most efficient way from the start, there are two methods for training your puppy which you need to pay close attention to. They are being the pack leader and the method of positive reinforcement. These two methods will be covered in this article and you will understand how they can be used to effectively train your puppy.

When you bring a puppy into your home, it’s wise to have some understanding of the natural instincts of the dog and of the fact that the dog is a pack animal. The pack has its own dynamics and the principle of dominance is crucial within it. At the top of the hierarchy within a pack of dogs is the alpha pair - a male and a female. They are the only one permitted to breed.

The alpha dogs eat first and take a higher vantage point when sleeping. Dogs like to sleep on beds or sofas for this reason.

If you want to set off on the right foot and avoid behavior problems in your puppy, you absolutely must position yourself and your family as the pack leaders or alpha dogs in your home. In order to do this, you should avoid letting your puppy onto your bed or sofa.

Your whole family should let your puppy see you eating something (such as a biscuit) just before you give him his food. When taking the biscuits, make it look as if you are taking them from the dog's dish.

You should always behave in a calm and assertive manner. Being the pack leader leads naturally into the concept of positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement means that you reward a desired behavior in your puppy or dog and ignore an undesired behavior. Negative reinforcement and punishment are not recognised as effective methods any longer by virtually all dog trainers.

Small treats, praise and affection can all be used for positive reinforcement. It is crucial that you don't reinforce unwanted behaviors in your puppy. One of the main reasons that unwanted dog behaviors occur is that owners reinforce these behaviors without realising it. You need to be aware that training is an activity that happens whenever you are with your puppy or dog, not just when you have a specific training session.

For example, if your puppy jumps up at you when you come into the house, and you immediately give him affection, you are training him to jump up. Whenever he does an unwanted behavior, you must ignore him. This means you should look away or turn away and not give any attention. You may find this method difficult to accept and this is one of the reasons why so many people encourage undesirable behaviors in their dogs.

You will find that positioning yourself as the pack leader in your home forms a bedrock for all your puppy training and positive reinforcement gives you a method to encourage the correct behaviors in your puppy and to avoid potential dog behaviour problems.

For more information on training your puppy, visit the Training Puppy Tips website.