Get your dog "Sit Happy." Sit is a simple behavior that can relieve you of many  problem behaviors. A sitting dog is not jumping on people. A sitting dog is not running across the road. Most dogs bark less if at all when they sit, so the stronger your dogs sit is, the more well behaved your dog.

Start by practicing sits everywhere and before you allow the dog to do something pleasurable. Walking through the park, sit. Before being let out of the crate, sit. Before being allowed into the dog park, sit. Most importantly, make your dog sit if he wants to greet people. If he gets up, the people walk away. His rear end must be on the ground to say hello! Reward him when he sits with a tasty food reward in the beginning to get the process going. Before you know it your dog will be calmly sitting frequently as his new way of saying "please".

Tricks are fun to train and cute to see dogs perform.

Hi 5. With your dog sitting facing you hold a treat or small toy in front of your dogs nose an move it one inch to the left or right. When your dog lifts his his paw off the ground say "yes" or "good" and give the dog the treat. Repeat. After a few repetitions wait for the dog to touch your hand with his paw. Say "Yes" and reward. Once he is reliably doing it ask for the Hi 5 with an open hand. Good boy!

BOING. (Only practice this with healthy adult dogs without back problems.) Hold a treat or toy over your dogs head and entice him to jump for it. When he does say "YES!" and give him the reward. Repeat. When your dog is  jumping reliably add the cue BOING!

Weave. Step forward and entice your dog through your legs with a treat or toy. Say "yes" when they go through and repeat on the other side. Reward invariably until few rewards are needed.

Whether working on fun tricks or doggy manners be compassionate, have fun, and encourage your dog to do his best. After all they give us, they deserve some quality time!

Lisa Hartman is a local dog trainer, writer and pet rescue volunteer. You can reach her at www.pawsitivelypetsonline.com

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