The following is an interview I conducted with a local trainer on simple training questions and techniques.  Debra Harp, owner/trainer of Doggie Du Rite, has an extensive dog training knowledge and experience, and works successfully with dogs that were brought to her for various behavioral problems.    
 

1.  When and what are the most important things to train your puppy?  Developing your relationship with your new family member begins the moment you meet.  That is when the training (teaching) begins.  I recommend that you set very clear and consistent rules so that your puppy will begin to learn right away.  That means teaching that there is no nipping, no jumping, crate training, and house breaking.  You can also start training commands.  You must remember that he/she is a puppy so learning may be somewhat slower and their attention spans often are shorter.  So make it fun for you and them.

2.  Are puppy classes a good way to train your puppy?  Well, that is a loaded question.  You will get different opinions depending upon who you ask.  Puppy classes can be a good way to socialize the pup if it is a well structured class.  If it is not structured can you imagine the chaos of out of control pups with owners that don't know what they are doing yet?  There is research that shows that to learn a new behavior it is best learned with minimal distractions and then to add distraction after.  Think about how you learn.  So, I personally do not recommend classes.  I have found puppies and the owners learn better with private training and to have the distractions add later.  I have been involved with classes and the level of learning and personalized attention is not as high as with private lessons.  This is why I will not teach classes.

3.  Are there any easy ways to train a puppy to be potty trained?  What about training the older small dogs that never seem to learn?  The short answer is yes.  The key to success is using the crate effectively, scheduling food (make sure the food is high quality-makes the stool firmer and timing more predictable.), water and going out to potty, an effective odor neutralizer, such as Nature's Miracle, and proper confinement. The pup needs to be taken out after waking up from a nap, during hard play, after eating and drinking.  The timing changes with the age and the pup's grasp of the process. The pup can not have free run of the house, because you will find a surprise later.  The pup must be with you.  To thoroughly explain house breaking is much longer, but this will give you a general idea. 

4 When adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue, what behaviors do you look for?  First, be honest with yourself.  How much time do you have to dedicate to the dog? What is your energy level?  If you enjoy staying home and relaxing you must pick a dog to match your energy level and life style.  You would not want a high energy sporting, hunting, or working breed.  You would want to adopt more like a Cavalier King Charles, an adult Greyhound (who can be quite content with a couple of walks a day), or an older dog who is past the high energy stage of life.  Also, you want to look at the behaviors-is there fear, dominance, etc.  That is not to say they should not be adopted, just go in to it with the knowledge and commitment needed to help the dog.  If you are not confident in your ability to choose the right dog, go with a qualified trainer to help you.

5.  Are there behaviors that must utilize a professional trainer to alter those behaviors?  I would have to say yes.  I would definitely recommend getting qualified help with fears, anxiety, phobias, obsessive compulsive behavior, and aggression.  I would also recommend seeking help with any other problem that might be occurring that is not being resolved, and is causing frustration in the owner, which will affect the dog's behavior.

 6.  What is the most important thing when training a dog?  I think that there are several important factors.  First, have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish.  Second, be very clear in communication with your dog as to what you want.  That means you understand how dogs think and communicate.  Don't expect the dog to understand how humans think and communicate-we can't even understand ourselves.  Most importantly, have fun with the training.  You are with your best friend. 

7.  When and how do you socialize a dog so the dog is good in public and with people visiting the house?  First, the dog has to understand what is expected of him.  So, having some basic commands helps.  The other important element is exposing the pup and dog to the situation over and over.  That is how they learn.  Yes, they will make mistakes, that is why you are their teacher (leader).  You will show them what is acceptable behavior and what is not.  The more exposure the better, if it is done properly.

8.  What kind of exercises are there that dogs can do to keep them calmer?  I always tell the owner that a tired dog is a happy and calm dog.  When looking at exercise you have to take into account their age, their breed, health issues and weather.  So, I can not give a generic answer.  If you have a high energy, healthy, working breed you might want to consider joining a club that does pulling.  Dogs love it.  Agility is a wonderful activity for the dog and owner.  It is great exercise and builds a strong bond between the dog and owner.  You can also find trainers who teach herding, it is wonderful also.  Dogs need exercise and a job.  Even the senior dogs enjoy going for walks with the owner. 

9. Is nutritution important in a dog's training and welfare?  I have to say yes.  I always look at the well being of the dog in general.  So nutritution is very important.  A quality food is very important for house breaking-you want the pup to have a firm stool and be able to predict when he needs to go.  Gastric upset equals diarrhea-that is no fun for you or the pup.  Foods filled with corn, wheat, etc can cause skin allergies, gastric upset, etc.  I am called by owners who are going crazy because their dogs won't stop licking or scratching.  Yes, sometimes it is a behavior issue, but most of the time when we switch the food the problems go away.  If you have a dog that is working in hunting, herding, or agility, he most definitely needs the proper food for the energy that he will need to work. 

For more information on training, please contact Debra Harp at (360) 748-3985.