Being able to train your dog on your own is one of the most rewarding experiences any dog owner can have. Not only will you get your dog to be the "good boy" (or girl) you want, but you will also strengthen the bond between you and your pooch.

Training your dog is the first step in strengthening the bond between you and your dog and getting full enjoyment out of your relationship with your pup. Obedience training is important regardless of what type of dog you own. Without proper training you run the risk of having your dog display bad behaviors and not act like the "good boy" you are hoping for!

It's important that you remember that with any dog training program you want to approach it as though you are a teacher to your dog. You don't want to be a ruthless enforcer just as much as you don't want to let your dog think that he or she is in charge! Remember - you are teaching your pooch how to behave and become a well-behaved dog that will make any dog owner jealous.

If you have ever debated between training your pooch on your own or hiring a professional dog trainer, it's an easy answer. There's no better person than you to train your dog and grow the relationship between the two of you.

Effective dog training requires a battleplan. I included a link at the bottom of this article so you can get a full dog-training program you can use at home, but for now here are a few tips to keep in mind when starting to work with your pooch.