Training is often the most tedious part of owning a pet—especially with full-time jobs, social events, and unexpected happenings that crop up in life. But nothing makes a household more hectic than a poorly trained dog. Avoid the chaos with these training hacks for any type of pup!

A puppy

The best and most effective way to train a puppy is through positive reinforcement. This is when you reward your dog when they do something good, which will then increase the likelihood that they repeat the same behavior down the line. Puppies need constant attention and praise for them to learn housetraining needs and fun tricks.

An older dog

Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? If you feel like your adult dog is becoming lethargic, try teaching them something new to get them up and moving again. Tricks are a great way to keep their minds agile and to keep their activeness up to par. Consider teaching them to walk backwards, roll over, or to pick up (or put away) their own toys.

A disobedient dog

Unfortunately, some breeds are more challenging than others. To start, don’t make exceptions—like feeding your dog food off the table or encouraging bad behavior, like barking, biting, or pulling. Although it’s difficult, ignore them when they exhibit any of these behaviors. Try to also incorporate different training techniques a little bit at a time, sticking with the necessary ones first, like heeling, staying, and sitting.

A high-energy dog

Does your canine naturally have a lot of pent-up energy? Do you find it difficult to get them to do something? Be sure to exercise them frequently—dog parks are your best friend! This will help them release their energy, as well as get them socializing with other dogs. Clicker training is also a common method for high-energy dogs. Click each time the dog is calm, and reward with a treat. Slowly increase the amount of time between clicks and treats, which will elongate their patience.