There are three main components to always consider when training your dog. These principles are the core ingredients to behavior modification and are always at work, whether training the family pet or teaching a police dog to find drugs. Understanding how these principles work together is the secret to clear communication between you and your pet.

These three principles are Timing, Consistency, and Motivation.

Timing is the first principle. Timing has to do with the way a dog's brain processes information, basically cause and effect. Timing says that any behavior a dog acts out must have a consequence within 1.3 seconds in order for that dog or puppy to associate that behavior with that consequence. Positive behaviors must have positive consequences within those 1.3 seconds as well as negative consequences.

Too often pet owners reprimand a dog far after the event took place. For instance, a puppy learning how to potty train, you miss the signals telling you he needs to eliminate and he goes on the floor. He starts to walk away. You yell at him, stick his nose in it, and yell some more. So now the dog thinks you're mad at him for walking - because thats what he was doing, walking away, when you got upset with him.

We now know more about canine behavior and psychology and know that this old technique is not only wrong but makes things worse. Now the pup will go hide to do his 'mistakes' so you won't see him to yell at him. It doesn't make for a nice surprise to find when you are cleaning behind the couch later.

 Robert is training this Irish Jack Russell Terrier for a family who has a home in Miami and also in the Turks-Caicos Islands.

 Little Merlin learning how to do stairs, walk on a leash, loose leash, name imprinting, come, sit. All in the first day of training sessions. With a small pup you always under-train in sessions, leaving them wanting to do more. It builds trust, bonding and the desire to please you and do more for you. You train for 15 minutes, then give them a break for 20 minutes. Then train for another 15 minutes and another 20 minute break. These lessons were accomplished on day one.