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Here are some thoughts on basic obedience commands.
The timing of the command and the praise or correction following is important. See my first two examples in the section on biting and my section on Are You a Jerk?
Learn how to understand what your dog is saying. Here are two good books:
How to Speak Dog and Dog Watching.
Just because your puppy is sweet right now doesn't mean that he/she will remain so through puberty and adulthood. Don't make excuses for bad behavior.
You must be the leader, the alpha dog. Click here for my thoughts. Here is a good book: Leader of the Pack.
Do you have children? Be sure to read
How to Love Your Dog - A Kid's Guide to Dog Care.
People think of a leash as a way to control a dog. Not so - your goal should be to have your dog under your voice control without depending on the leash.
Basic obedience training includes training your dog to walk calmly beside you ("heel") and to stop when you stop, come when called, sit (command is "sit" not "sit down"), down (lie down calmly), stay, not jump (command is "off" not "down"), "leave alone" (many people use "leave it"), and "drop it."
"Sit" is a good command when you anticipate a control problem such as when a visitor comes to the door. "Leave alone" can be applied to people, other dogs, nasty stuff, food on the table, shrubs, etc.
The come command is particularly difficult because it always interrupts something that your dog would rather be doing. In his book, "Good Owners, Great Dogs," Brian Kilcommons recommends that a dog owner practice the "come" command 10 times per day.
Dogs enjoy obedience training. It is quality time with their owners and it is their work - it makes them feel good to perform well. Training is not an attempt to kill their spirit.
I like to use food to steer the dog and to reward good performance. I do not like to depend on harsh corrections and punishments. I like to use the minimum force necessary. I do use a slip collar. I don't usually recommend prong collars except for persons with weak wrists or for very small persons with very large dogs. The Halti "head collar" is an option. Some people recommend various "no pull" harnesses. In my experience these do stop the dog from pulling forward but not from darting side to side or lagging. A Woodhouse collar makes a nice noise and can be effective. Update
Beyond basic obedience, dogs can be trained find a person for you, call for help, fetch objects by name, etc. I recently heard of a dog that saved his owner's life by dragging the semi-conscious owner to safety.
Socialization is important to a puppy's development. A puppy should be exposed to loud people, quiet people, men with beards, big children, little children, other puppies, boisterous dogs, dogs with beards, and other household animals. A dog should be comfortable in crowds, on a sidewalk beside a busy street, etc.
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