Short sessions work better than long ones. Five minutes, four to six times a day, will teach more than one drill the dog quits on.

Most of what you want is boring to a dog. Pay for it. A treat, a game of fetch, or anything the dog actually likes will make a dull cue worth doing. Praise the moment it gets something right. You are showing the dog how to succeed, and that is what builds confidence.

Be consistent. If socks are sometimes a toy and sometimes a crime, the dog cannot learn the rule. Use the same words and the same routine.

Start inside, in a quiet room. Most people move too fast to the yard or the walk. Get the cue solid where nothing else is competing, then add the distraction.

Use “ah-ah” instead of “no” for ordinary mistakes. It is the sharp sound a mother dog uses on a pup. Save “no” for something serious. If you use it for everything, the dog stops hearing it.

Stay patient, and stay calm. A dog reads your voice, your face, and your body, and it is better at that than you are at hiding it. Do not fake how you feel.

Never lose your temper with a dog. Never strike one. Not with a hand, and not with a newspaper.