Good don'ts and 5 P's for dog training

I heard some simple words for dog owners to live by on the radio recently, and they are paraphrased here:

Don't ask: "What did you do?" He'll never answer you.

Don't say his name with the word "no." He'll never come to you.

Don't point your finger at him. He'll never trust your hands.

Don't say "no" over and over and over again. It's only a word.

Don't tell him he's a bad dog. Why is he a bad dog? Maybe it's you!

"Don'ts" are often thought of as negative speak, especially on the West Coast. But these are the good don'ts, the important ones, the ones that will keep your relationship with your dog strong and healthy as the two of you navigate the challenges of interspecies communication.

With the right approach to training, canine behavior can be modified from as early on as 8 weeks to as late in life as 12 to 14 years. The "right" approach is determined by the dog — or, rather, his personality or temperament. For example, a hardheaded dog will require a firm voice and technique, whereas, a timid dog would only be made more fearful by the same treatment.

Bottom line: In order to train your dog, you have to know your dog. And part of knowing your dog is knowing dogs in general and what to expect.

Dogs bark. They chew. They jump, dig, nip, teethe, whine, wiggle and bark some more. None of this is bad — it's just dogs being dogs. But some of these behaviors may not align with your expectations.

Consider yourself warned: Expect these behaviors. When your expectations are realistic, you can prepare.

Ever heard of the Five P's? Purpose, Preparation, Planning, Practice and Performance. They serve as good guidance in the business world, and they apply to dog training, too.

Let's apply the five P's to the No. 1 headache for dog owners: housebreaking. Ironically, housebreaking is also one of the easiest problems to prevent or solve. It's all in the approach and those five P's.

Purpose: You want to housebreak your dog.

Prepare: Determine your dog's personality (via temperament testing), and educate yourself on housebreaking techniques or solicit the services of a reputable dog trainer, one whose philosophy on the care and treatment of dogs aligns with yours.