A Professional Dog Trainer's Top Secrets for Pet Owners

I recently left military active duty, and one of the part-time jobs that I picked up is a volunteer gig with a couple of local canine rescues. In addition to my other duties, I have attended classes on dog training, and now train dogs that go through our rescue, foster and adoption program. There are a few simple, common sense tips that will help every owner bond with their pet and earn and keep the respect of their pet.

First, consistency is key. No matter what you do, be consistent. Most pet owners have slightly different house rules and do things just a little bit differently. In most cases, there is no wrong way to do things (notice I said most cases), but as with everything else in life, you must be consistent. If you tell your pet to stay off the furniture one day, you can't change your mind and let them lounge on the sofa the next. This confuses your pet and erases all the training you've done prior to that.

Next, and this probably goes without saying, but don't use violence to train your pet. Some common myths about dog training include spanking dogs when they do the wrong thing, or rubbing their nose in the mess when they potty in the house. This is NEVER a good idea - animals associate violence with violence. If you dish out violent training techniques to your pet, they will respond in kind, and any respect you had from them will be lost in a second.

And finally, the most important advice I give to my new dog parents is to love your pet while maintaining your rightful position in the pack as the Alpha. It's similar to parenting human children - you can be their parent and their friend, but never let your role as their friend usurp your authority as their parent. Heap lots of love on your pet, but remind them that you are Alpha. Again, don't use violent means to achieve this, but a stern voice when they act out or make a misstep works wonders.

As you progress farther in your training with your pet, you will learn lots more techniques for being a great pet parent. However, these are the basic and most important tips. Numerous pet parents have called me to thank me for this advice, and I am always happy to pass on any information I can to help new and not-so-new pet owners.