When starting to train a dog, there are certain things you will want to take in consideration.
For example, learning more about your dog and his natural behaviors will help you to help him learn, and give you more patience with him during the process.
Don't set goals that are too high in the beginning, or you'll both just get stressed out.
Go slowly, take pleasure from small milestones, and give lots of praise.
That way, training will be a lot more fun for you both.
The first thing you will want to do, of course, is to train your dog to not relieve himself indoors, or at least to only relieve himself in a certain spot indoors.
This is easy enough to accomplish, simply by placing him in the appropriate spot whenever he seems like he needs to go, and then praising him heavily when he does.
If he soils the floor before you get him where you want him to be, don't worry.
Just put him in the right spot immediately afterward, without yelling, and hold him there for a few minutes, so he'll get the idea that he's supposed to go there.
If you want to teach your dog to do tricks, such as sitting, laying down, rolling over, or barking on command, you need to have plenty of treats and praise available, because that is what will re-enforce the training.
You'll start out by physically putting your dog in the positions you wish him to be in, and then speaking his command words.
Do this over and over again, until he gets into the proper position on his own when you speak the command.
When he does this, give him a treat.
Then do this a few more times to make sure he's learned the trick, giving him a treat and praise each time.
Practice the tricks with him a few times each day, with treats and praise, and he'll learn the commands by heart, so he will be able to perform on demand for your friends if you want him to.
Dogs are very fast learners, especially when you use these dog training tips.