In training, lack of consistency will come back to bite you in several ways. Inconsistency in commands causes confusion, like if you try to make one command have several meanings. For example, don't try to have the word “Down” mean lie down, get off the couch, and get off you. How is your dog supposed to know what you mean if you're not clear? In contrast, one meaning shouldn't have several commands, like “sit” one time and “siddown” another. Make things as easy for your dog to figure out by saying what you mean. You may have seen some dogs appear almost hyperactive in their response to commands, throwing several behaviors out in a row, hoping to find the right one. These dogs are usually loaded with stress and confusion about what their owners actually want.

Clear Expectations

Consistent expectations, both in your general idea of how your dog should behave and in how he responds to commands, are also important. If you're not sure how he's supposed to behave, how is he going to figure it out? If you just react to what he does, rather than letting him know right from the beginning what's okay and what's not, you are always a little behind. Know what you expect from him when you give a command, and be consistent in making sure it happens until it's his habit to respond reliably. For example, if you expect him to respond to a single, quiet “sit” command, then that's what you enforce from the beginning. Mean what you say.

Predictable Consequences

On the matter of enforcement, be consistent in the consequences he receives for behaviors you like and the ones you don't. Your dog should always know when he's right even if it's just a smile and a hearty “Good boy!” When he does make a mistake — and he will — something has to happen to correct the error and reduce the chance that it will happen again in the future. It might be simply turning and walking away from the dog if he's not paying attention on leash, or a blast from a squirt gun as he's moving in on the plate of nachos on the coffee table. When he consistently gets predictable consequences for his behavior, deciding between right and wrong is easy.