"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" -- Abraham Lincoln
Be sure that you're the one who's in charge. I had a Lab years ago that trained me to go get him a biscuit. I thought it was cute at first -- he'd come and bark at me, I'd get up and follow him, he'd point to the dog biscuit box and bark 
again, and I'd deliver. Then I asked myself, "Who's training whom here?" Aha! I change the rules of the game. If he came and barked at me, I told him "Sit" or "Down" and maybe a few other commands. Then sometimes I'd have a brilliant idea -- "How 'bout a goodie?" Then I'd have him respond to another command -- sometimes the ever popular "balance-the-biscuit-on-your-nose trick" -- before giving him a biscuit. Other times I'd just praise and give him a belly rub. He still enjoyed the game, but I was back in charge.
From "Correcting Some Common Dog Problems," excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting and Owning a Dog by Sheila Webster Boneham, Ph.D.
Repetitions and Rewards
From "Caring For Your Puppy," by Amy Howells
Repetitions are a crucial aspect of any dog's training. You should
always reward them for doing something right while training. The more
often he is rewarded, the better and quicker he will learn. Create
situations where your dog can get plenty of practice at doing the right
things.
Be sure to praise and love on him when he does a
good job. This is simple but not always easy to do. Bad behaviors like
biting, constant yelping and barking and tearing the house apart get
our immediate notice. What we easily forget to acknowledge are the good
parts - when the dog is lying down quietly, chewing on his own toys,
leaving the carpet unsoiled.
Praise and reward are the most important part of
maintaining your dog's good behavior and preventing him from getting
into trouble.
Puppy Proofing Your Home
From puppy-basics.com
Puppies Love To Chew - Be Prepared!
Just like a
baby, puppies love to chew, especially when teething! Be prepared! It is
natural for dogs to chew. They discover with their nose and mouth.
Provide your puppy with alternatives such as a few of their toys and
you will find yourself saying "NO, LEAVE IT!" less often! Remember to
praise when the toys get chewed! Puppies also do not know any better.
They are not purposely being naughty --- only doing what comes
naturally, especially while teething. For most young dogs, that can
mean up to six months of age. Take care to supervise puppies when
allowed to freely roam your home. Knowing how puppies love to chew, how
can you get your home ready?
Puppy Proofing Your Home is Very Important!
Not all plants are pet-friendly: It is just better to keep all plants out of reach when in doubt. Click to view a list
of
poisonous plants.
Household garbage:
A common source for which puppy can get sick or harm himself. Spoiled
food, sharp lids and discarded toxic materials are just a few of the
risks that can lurk inside. And a word from the wise... they'll learn
quickly how to open those under the sink cabinets where your garbage is!
Cleaning substances: Keep out of reach, or in locked cabinets.
Swallowable objects:
Pick up and put away any objects your puppy can reach that are small
enough to swallow or chew. It obviously could be bad for your puppy to
get a hold of and swallow any sharp objects, such as a pin or razor
blade. Such things could cause very serious injury to their digestive
tract. Even an object that is smooth, soft or made of non-toxic
material -- such as a ping-pong ball -- can be harmful if swallowed,
because it can get stuck in the intestines and cause blockage.
Check all the corners of your rooms, basement and garage:
Is there anything standing up that might look enticing? If you imagine
what "could'' happen it might just be a clue for one more preventative
so your little one does not accidentally harm themself. Check to be
sure any automotive containers are out of reach.
Check outdoors: Remove hoses, outdoor tools, and any lawn chemicals in the area they might be roaming.
Be sure all your electrical cords and computer wires are not accessible: If needed, tape them to your walls, and floors. Tuck away out of site. If they are
accessible, there's a good chance they will be chewed!
Keep your laundry basket and your shoes out of reach: These are some favorite chewing items. Some serious operations have consisted of removing
underwear that has been eaten!
Ask children to pick up their cherished items: A great way to get the kids to 'clean' their bedrooms! Plastic toys, crayons, and the like should be put
away.
Curtain and drapery cords: Should be tied up high enough to be out of reach so they can't get tangled in them.
Keep doors closed to any 'off-limit' rooms: Remind family members so there are no surprises when you find puppy chewing or soiling in an area they
shouldn't be in.
Medicines:
Make sure that all medicines are stored high above your puppy's reach,
and never leave individual pills or containers on low, accessible
surfaces, even for a moment. They can be swallowed in an instant. Even
gobbling down too many vitamins can make a puppy sick.
Poisons and household chemicals:
Keep containers of cleansers, polishes, poisons or other dangerous
chemicals have been left in puppy-level, easy-to-open cabinets.
(Child-safety latches can help.) Some to look for are oven cleaners,
floor products and waxes, bathroom cleansers, makeup items, paint
removers, plant fertilizers or sprays, laundry products, insect traps
or sprays and rodent poisons. Cigarettes and felt-tip pens can be
toxic, too.
Keep all your toilet lids down: Toilet cleansers can be harmful if swallowed. Puppies and dogs are noted for playing in the water or drinking from it. It
might be wise to remove any automatic bowl cleansers in case you forget to close the lid.
Garage Floor and Driveways: Be certain anti-freeze is out of reach and ANY drippings are cleaned up completely. All dogs are attracted to its scent.
Anti-freeze is HIGHLY TOXIC.
Never leave your puppy unsupervised inside or outside the home: Keep him off the balconies, upper porches and high decks where he can slip
through openings and fall.
