E. Corson Strand asked:

I’d like to outline basic steps that you can start taking right now to help prevent basic, common puppy behavior problems.

It is important to understand that unusual dog behavior, unaccountable puppy behavior quite often starts in some sort of pathology.  In other words, if you notice your dog or puppy behaving in a disturbingly strange way, your pet may simply be ill and may need to be seen by a vet.  Medical and nutrition problems are found to cause a significant portion of dog and puppy behavior problems.

The common puppy behavior problems that dog owners report–perhaps you, too–include:

digging barking aggression separation anxiety ********** ********* chewing housebreaking

The basic procedure for gradually correcting such behavior problems is not complex:

You must remember that you are leader of the pack.  Your pets see themselves as part of your pack. Be sure to train your dog or puppy every day for 10 or 15 minutes. Always give your dogs praise and occasional treats to reward correct behavior. You must never yell or physically abuse your dog in any way. If possible, enroll into a basic dog training class.

When training, always apply the following behaviors:

Never yell or abuse your dog (mentioned above) Be persistent in training–behavior change occurs over time. Be consistent in training–never vary the training routine. Be gentle but unflinchingly firm.

These are your keys to solving most dog and puppy training and behavior problems.  Now, this does require patience, and persistent application, but your hard work will be rewarded by your pet’s loyalty and affection.