So you have gone and picked up that new puppy that you and the family have wanted for so long. After a lot of thought and consideration about the benefits and consequences, the decision has been made, you found the puppy your family already is in love with, and you are set to bring the little dog home. But with the return to home, comes a series of questions, of course. And what should be the first question to answer is, when is the time to start training your puppy.

There, as with all other things, are a lot of different opinions about when to start the teaching regimen. But really, it begins the moment you get the puppy into the house, when he or she starts running around like, well, a dog with his or her tail cut off. For a while, it is going to seem like a losing process. But there can be progress if you stick with it, and if you pass along strict yet gentle demands. There are a number of reasons to begin the learning process training as soon as you can.

The overriding top priority should be house training, making sure your dog knows to go outside, to go to the bathroom. Along with that, is there going to be a special doggie-door so the puppy can make it outside on its own, or will you have to open the door every time. This is absolutely a big question which should probably be answered early on.

But beyond that, there are other things that you need to train the dog about. Puppy education is essentially just teaching the formation of good habits, and the earlier you start that process, the easier it will for everyone. Much as it is with your kids, you have probably discovered it is much easier to form those habits early on, rather than wait until the later years. Starting the process as early as possible is a good idea, since if you wait longer that just gives the puppy more time to form other, not so preferable habits that become more and more ingrained in their brains, and more and more difficult for you to break.

This education of your pet will take loads of patience on your end. It is certainly not easy. And you really might want to think about going with a professional dog trainer, whether it is through a class with a number of other puppies, or through one-on-one training.

Finding a good school really should not be that hard. Take a look in the local phone directory, or pick up some local newspapers and glance through the classifieds. Or, of course, ask at the local pet stores. They should all be able to give you some recommendations of locations to visit and ask questions.

There are dog trainers everywhere, of course, but you should try to find a professional network that can guide you to those individuals who have had some education and training themselves. When you find someone who does this work, make sure you ask the proper questions, about their education, their experience, and their methodologies.

You also might want to think about going with a school since it will give the animal a chance to interact with other young dogs, and they can all learn together. The association with the other dogs in the class will help your pet become used to seeing and being around other animals, which also should help ingrain the proper habits for the years ahead.

It is important to start training your new puppy as soon as you bring them home. Training can be done yourself or a professional can be hired. Local dog training classes are often available. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a trainer or look in your local newspaper for a trainer in your area.

There are two types of training: behavioral, and obedience.

Behavioral training prevents and or corrects bad habits that your puppy or dog may develop or already has developed. Jumping, car chasing, begging, climbing on furniture, and chewing are just a few. It is very important to be consistent during the training process. For example, do not let your puppy on the couch unless you are planning to allow them when they are full grown. This will confuse them, causing problems. Taking the time to learn dog psychology and satisfying the dog's natural instincts along with proper exercise will help you communicate to your dog and can mean the difference between success and failure.

Obedience training is training the dog to obey certain commands such as sit, stay, come and teaching them to heel. Training sessions should be frequent but short to prevent your dog from becoming bored: ten to fifteen minute sessions, two or three times a day will be sufficient.

Tip: training your dog right before meals will help them associate their meal with a reward for the training and also make them more interested in the food treat you use in your training session.

Before giving a word command to your dog, speak its name to get its attention; then speak a one-word command such as "stay," "sit," "come" or "heel." Do not get impatient. You will probably have to repeat the command many times. Never use negative reinforcement. Do not call your dog to come to you for punishment because this will teach your dog not to come on command. Be sure to keep any frustration out of the tone of your voice. If you feel yourself becoming frustrated, take a break. Your dog can sense this and will start to associate training with your unhappiness. You can not hide your frustration from a dog. You cannot pretend. Dogs can feel human emotion, so stay relaxed, firm, and confident.

Some of the specific commands are "sit," "stay," "come," "down" and "heel." When speaking the commands, say them loudly and clearly, repeating them often. The dog may have to hear the commands over and over, but will soon begin to associate the word with its meaning. Always remember to praise your dog when they respond correctly. This will encourage your dog to perform correctly the next time. You may either use food, or affection such as a belly rub, a pet or verbal praise as the reward or both.

A lot of puppy and dog training classes teach the heel command only in the advanced classes. The heel command should actually be one of the first things you teach your puppy or dog. They need to learn how to follow. Once you establish this all other aspects of training will be easier and their behavior in general will be better as the dog will learn to respect you as the leader.