Consistency....

Consistency.
Such a small word, really.....So very vital to the success of anything you try to teach, or do with your dog.

You know why most dogs are house-trained so well?
Pooping on the floor is something that gets a predictable result from us.  Peeing on the carpet elicits a reaction the dog can count on, and (most of the time) the dog decides it just isn't worth it.  We can be consistent with that, because it's the most important to us.

So what happens to all that other stuff?
Don't pull on the leash, for instance.  As the dogs' guardian, one must be 100% consistent, in order to net a result that looks like a well-trained dog.
Instead, we sign up for a class, or we hire a 'trainer' to come to our home, and we start out great....But then, we change.

One person in the household decides the harness is too much trouble to put on before a walk, so they go back to "the way my daddy taught me" and shorten up that leash.  They wrap the lead around their hand and wrist, and darn near hang the dog; keeping him close by way of short leash, all the while saying "HEEL! HEEL! HEEL!"

Another person tries to walk the dog, now with the harness, but has made the choice not to use the technique shown to them three weeks ago, because they  just want to go for a walk with their dog.
Understandable, but coupled with the dog who has now been shown that the end of the lead is where they should be, with it tight and full of tension (Heel! Heel!), the dog now forges ahead despite the no-pull harness.  The person trying to walk the dog grows frustrated, and now what should have been a relaxing walk, is now a wrestling session.

Still another member of the household attempts to work with the dog, in the manner the dog was started on.  Technique is good, harness is being applied in proper fashion, but now that the dog has learned three different ways (sort of).  He is unfocused and uninterested and confused.  A confused pup will fall back on his natural instincts, and be all over the place.....


And then there's the Humans who hire a dog-walker.....Great plan.  But please expect your leash manners to fly out the window, if your pup has not learned them, and learned them solid, before you turn them over to a 'walker.'  It is not the dog-walker's job to train your dog (unless you trust them and pay them, and show them exactly how you want it done).

The families who I have seen reach success the fastest, are those who can either get everyone working with the pup in as closely to "Same" as possible, or those who have divided the pup's learning among themselves.

For instance, Mom takes over walking the dog on the leash, as she has the most patience and knows that investing the time 'now' to walk in circles, ask for a million 'Sits' or vary pace to keep the pup focused, will net her a dog who walks like a gentleman in the near future.

Dad is great at teaching 'Drop' and 'Give' or 'Bring,' because he loves tossing the ball to the dog after work.

Little Johnny and Sister Suzy think teaching the pup to 'Shake' or 'Rollover' is most fun, and due to these being what I like to call "non-essential" obedience, it's more ok for the kids to not follow-through with good timing, or proper rewards.

Now there are things that EVERYONE in the family should be teaching, of course, but sometimes, taking away the responsibility of being consistent, can be the greatest blessing you can give someone.
One such goes back to the house-training:  Everyone knows to give dog a treat or play with him right after he poops in the right place, so dog learns this very quickly.

Another fine example of 'group' activity, can be 'Come' or 'Here.'  Playing 'pass the puppy' or 'hide and seek' with your dog, can be something the whole family can participate in very easily.  And it helps your dog learn to return to any one of you, if needed.  But even here, you must be consistent....When you have agreed upon what word you'll use, stick to it.  Changing it up per family member preference becomes, again, confusing for your dog.
"Ralph, Come"
"Come're Ralphy"
"Ralphy, here boy, come on"
"Ralph, Come On Buddy, Good Boy, Come, Here, Ralph..."

Of course, as your dog grows into what you are teaching, he will begin to generalize things a bit more like a mature animal.  In the beginning stages of learning the English Language, keeping it simple will mean he will learn faster.

Not everyone can be a rock-star on the leash, but at least be consistent.  At some point, it will pay off, and your dog will believe that everyone who holds the leash must be treated with respect, and therefore, not pull.

If your dog pulling you on leash is something you want stopped, be predictable for your dog.  Stop confusing him.