A summary from this years UKRCB dog behaviour seminar.

Life Skills Puppies Need to Learn:

1. I have confidence

2. I like surprises

3. I like to be touched

4. I can't do everything & I can't have everything

5. I can be calm

6. I know (and can obey) the rules

7. I can listen

8. I have good manners

9. I need help to make the right choice

10. I have the right to be a dog

A good puppy class will help you teach these skills but even then a 6 week course does not create the perfect dog. Training must carry on for life!

The lead is there to protect, it is not there to control the dog.

It doesn't help to concentrate on what you DON'T want a dog to do. You have to focus on what you DO want.

Does "down" mean get off the sofa, lie down or don't jump up? Are you confused? Imagine how the dog must feel if the one word means so many different things.....

Every puppy is an individual even within the same litter of the same breed.

Hope that's given you some food for thought!