If your dog doesn't respond to simple commands, don't let frustration overwhelm you. What you need to do is give your dog basic obedience training - teaching it to respond to YOU.

Of course, it's easier when the dog receives this training earlier in his puppy life, but even older CAN learn new tricks. Dogs are intelligent so don't sell them short when it comes to their obedience capabilities.

First, it's good to know about the genetic makeup of your dog. Like wolves, dogs are hierarchy conscious and instinctively crave living in a pack under a leader (or alpha) dog. Your family is your dog's pack and it needs to understand who is the alpha dog in this arrangement.

In a wolf pack, the leader likes to choose the warmest and highest spot to sleep. It also eats before others. So if your dog is allowed to sleep on your bed or get on the furniture, it may interpret that to mean he is the leader. The same could happen if it is fed snacks from the table at mealtime.

Even as a puppy, your dog can grasp the fact that it must be subordinate to you. How? Try holding your dog's gaze with your eyes until it looks away. Also, rubbing the dog's belly while it is on its back is a good idea, as this puts it in a submissive position. If your dog is being mischievious and doesn't respond to your "No,", try ignoring it or leaving him alone in the room.

How to Teach Simple Commands

To teach your dog basic commands, you need a collar, leash, and lots of patience. One training manual recommends:

1. Give simple, one-word commands
2. Demonstrate the desired action, and
3. Immediately give praise when the action is performed properly.

Your tone of voice can be more important than exact wording and commands and praise should be given in affirmative, happy, affectionate tones.

Five Tips for Dog Training

1. Be consistent in your choice of word commands

2. Dogs like to hear their name and it gets their attention so use it when giving commands. But do not use your dog's name in tandem with a reprimand as your dog must learn that responding to its name brings positive results.

3. As many dogs will do more for affection than for food, be free with praise as a reward.

4. Keep training sessions short and pleasurable.

5. Do not accidentally reinforce negative behavior by giving your dog lots of attention when it misbehaves. This will only result in more misbehavior.

While there are other tricks of the dog training trade, these should get you started in pursuit of a warm, friendly and faithful canine friendship.

Reggie Andersen is a small business office advocate and pet owner. Check out his dog resource sites: Dog Training Site and Dog Treats