We have all been there: You get a new puppy or dog and realize that he has some serious behavioral issues. You try everything you can think of to train him, but nothing seems to work. There are several dog training mistakes that you do not want to make.

The first mistake is simply ignoring your dog's bad behavior. Sweeping the problem under the rug will not fix it. You must take actions to train your dog so that he knows right from wrong.

Another huge mistake is hitting a dog. This does nothing to make the dog trust you and only serves to break the bond of trust your dog has in you. Plus, it teaches the dog nothing.

The question of how to stop a barking dog has probably been around since time began. Dogs bark. It is just a fact of life. The reason they bark depends on the situation. Once you figure out why your dog is barking, you may be able to take steps to remedy the problem.

Here are some common reasons dogs bark:

• Excess energy: Your dog may not be getting enough exercise and needs to burn off nervous energy
• Your dog wants your attention: Dogs have feelings and emotions just like people do, so it is not uncommon for a dog to bark to get your attention.
• Hunger
• Cold
• Sickness
• Injury or pain
• Curiosity: Your dog may see something that peaks his interest and he just wants to bark at it.
• Some dogs even bark out of boredom
  

When training a puppy, it is important to have some basic puppy training tips that you can use.

The first thing to remember is you have to be patient. Dogs sense your emotions, so they will follow your lead. If you are anxious, they will be too. If you are calm and assume a leadership role, they will follow suit.

Next, remember to keep your training sessions short. Puppies are like toddlers- they have a very short attention span. Do not expect perfection on the first try.

Finally, use positive reinforcement. Never spank a puppy or use physical force. It will only scare the puppy and cause him not to trust you.

There are tons of dog training courses available online and in bookstores. How in the world do you know which one to choose?

First, you want to make sure the course is very thorough. Do not pay money for some short little packet of info that really will not help you train your dog.

Second, take a look at price. You want to find an economical dog training course, yet you do not want to scrimp on quality. If you get a bad course, you have wasted both your money and your time.

Finally, make sure the course centers around positive reinforcement. You want to make your dog feel good about the experience and make it easy on yourself as well.