Dogs are, undoubtedly, man's best friend. They stay with you when you are sick, they guard you when you are defenseless, and they listen to you without passing judgment. How much better a pet can there be? A big misconception about dogs, though, is that they can not be trained. Most people tend to think that when they have a snappy dog, it is just in their nature. This is how breeds like Rottweilers and Boxers have gotten their bad reputation. Let it be known here and now that the only reason a dog should ever have cause to bite (barring injury or disease) is when they are trying to defend themselves or their owners.

Dogs are not solitary creatures. Originally, all dogs traveled in packs. It is only after they were domesticated that you would find a lone dog on its own. Because of this, they tend to respond best to the pack mentality. In order for them to listen to you and take you seriously, you need to show the dog that you are the leader of the pack and that they are a step below you. If you allow the dog to think that they are in charge, you will have a very difficult time training him.

Make sure your puppy realizes that you are the leader. Before you feed him, eat yourself. In a pack, the leader always gets the choice cuts of meat. If any other dog tries to get the meat away from the leader, he will likely receive a sharp nip as a punishment. After you have eaten, feed your dog. Don't let your dog sleep on your bed. Your bed should be your area. If the dog keeps jumping up, make them move off. The same thing goes for your dog being in your way. If you are walking into a room and the dog is literally blocking your path, push him out of the way. Any truly trained dog should move quickly out of their masters way.

A good tip is to treat dogs as their mothers would. If your dog is acting up, especially violently, grab him by the scruff of the neck. This does not hurt your dog. Then gently, but firmly, pull the dog down to the ground on its side. This lets the dog know that you are serious and that you are the boss.