Obedience training is about much more than 'sit' and 'down.' It's about learning how to communicate your wishes to your dog in a way he can understand. And despite the adage about old dogs and new tricks, dogs of any age are perfectly capable of learning.

Be clear and responsive

To help your dog decipher our strange language, always give clear instructions and feedback--we liken useful signals to those given in the 'hot and cold' games kids play.

It also helps to keep training sessions short and pleasant. We recommend three to five, five-minute training sessions daily. And ideal time to train is before you give your dog something he wants, like games, cuddles, and meals; he's most likely to be responsive then.

Learn the lingo

To avoid confusing your dog, decide ahead of time on the words you want to use to communicate. Here are the basics, but of course you may come up with your own:

• Yes, tells your dog he has just performed a task right
• Good dog tells him he's on the right track and to keep going
• Oops tells your dog he didn't quite get it and to try again
• No tells your dog he's just ventured into the forbidden zone (peeing indoors, for instance), and it means stop now! Don't use it for run-of-the mill learning mistakes; save it for the important ones
• Free dog releases your dog from the command

We recommend teaching these commands in the following order, then mixing them up during training sessions:
Name recognition
Watch
Sit
Down
Stand

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Veterinarian and animal behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar and his wife, dog trainer Kelly Dunbar, collaborate on DogStarDaily.com, OpenPaw.org, and DogTime, where they serve as contributing editors. They're dedicated to strengthening the bond between people and their dogs through training in order to keep dogs in their original homes and out of shelters.

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