I was going to concentrate on providing tips for people with problem dogs (mainly adults, because people love puppies). The feedback I have from friends is that I should target Puppy training issues ?

So what do I concentrate on – Puppies or Adult Dogs ?
Sorry, here’s what I’ve got so far, I think it’s coming on : http://www.advicedogtraining.com.

It all starts with training your dog from the start,so focus on pups.A well trained puppy is a well behaved adult dog.
Include advice for adult dogs as well.Many people instead of buying pups,get older dogs from the humane society or from rescue groups.The old saying you cant teach an old dog new tricks,is not true,it’s just a saying.Providing some good advice for people with older dogs,it could save many of them from a return trip to the shelter.

All bites happened when children were sitting on coach watching tv. I was in the room for 2 of the 3 bites, but didn’t see what happened. Once I was talking on the phone and the other I was folding laundry.

Take it to another vet and insist that its put down or let the idiot Dr take it off your hands, AFTER he signs a waiver acknowledging that the dog has nerve issues and has bitten a few times. In case there is anyone else in here that will tell you to keep and train it, offer them the same thing. The dog needs to be put down, its a liability for you. Hope I helped.

By the way, their both males and sorry for my grammar i didn’t know how to start out
Lola- by growling he does it to ME sometimes (i’m the owner) as well as some strangers.

First you need to set some rules as how the dogs are expected to behave. You cannot have one person with this rule and another with another rule etc. Everyone must be on the same page or any training that is done will not be very successful.

You need to train each dog separately at first. This way the dog will start bonding to you. If the dog growls at you, do not ignore it, correct it. Growling should not be allowed. Although this are small dogs treat them like large dogs. You’d never allow a german shepherd to growl at you or another person. Same goes with the jumping up, barking and general obnoxious behavior. This is not cute behavior in any dog of any size.

Find a good trainer in your area to help you. This person should use a positive but balanced approach. Talk to your parents about joining 4H if you are a youth. Many areas have a dog project. You can also go to your local library and check out some really good books on training. Some libraries also have DVDs available.

Any ideas?

Please don’t smack him. This is old school and not the best way to train a dog.
Wipe up some pee from inside the house and stake the paper towel outside with a nail so it can’t blow away. Put some of his poop there too.
When he wakes up from a nap or after eating, take him to the spot so he can sniff it and tell him to "go pee". Praise lavishly in an excited voice "good pee!" when he does. Tell him to "go poop" and wait for a reasonable time.
Whenever he does the right thing outside, give him a treat when you come in. Obviously no treat for going in the house. Between the praise and the treat he’ll get the idea that going outside is party time. If he makes a mistake, sternly tell him "no peeing in the house" and take him outside to his spot (even though he probably doesn’t have to go after the mistake).
You should be crate training him too. When you get up in the morning, take him out of the crate and carry him outside so he doesn’t get the chance to make a mistake. You should not let him have the run of the house. Dogs generally will not soil their sleeping area — the crate. He should be limited to the crate and one room, then two rooms, then three, etc.on a gradual basis so that the area he considers to be kept clean expands slowly. If the area isn’t understood to be his "den", then you get situations where you’ll find accidents behind the dining room table or a distant bedroom.
Clean up any messes thoroughly and spray with a vinegar/water solution or Simple Solution/Oxy Solution to remove any residue that "reminds" them that this was a good place to go. You have to completely neutralize the odour (their noses are about 700 times more sensitive than ours).
You can also do yourself a favour by not "free feeding". Give him 3 meals a day and if he doesn’t finish in 15 minutes, take it away. This creates a pattern so you can have some idea of when his bathroom urges might be taking place.
I have no idea what you’re feeding, hopefully raw food. Do yourself and him a favour by reading the files section at Yahoo Groups Raw Meaty Bones. There is amazing information from this group that will save you a lot of money in medical costs in the long run. One immediate benefit is 60% less to pickup in the yard. With dog food, the volume that goes in one end comes out the other because there’s actually very little nutrition in it, contrary to the ads.

Really I think pushing the issue makes it harder to accomplish the goal. I never said one word about potty to my 2 1/2 yr old then one day he came up to me and said potty I took his diaper off and he went! My oldest on the other hand I potty trained for like a year and finally when the new baby was born he decided he was gonna be done with diapers!

I am willing to work with her because I hear she is such a sweetheart and she just needs time and patience, which I have plenty of. I’ve successfully trained my family’s dog (just basic obedience such as sit, come, stay, out, down and some cool tricks like wave, high fave, roll over and speak) so I have experience with training but never with a scared dog. So I was wondering how different it might be. Also, I was thinking of trying crate training with her because I hear it gives the dog a sense of security. Would you recommend it?

The dog is a 2 year old dalmatian female.
@Marie Anne: I’m glad to hear that your dog quickly warmed up to you and your home. Like you, I could never say no to my dog on a couch or bed. My dog with my family (I miss her so much but I moved out for college a couple of years ago so she stays with my family now) always used to sleep next to me, cuddle next to me on the sofa. I never used a crate on her. If I do decide to crate train the dalmatian, it will only be for short periods and only for the purpose of training. Once she has overcome her fears and feels comfortable, there will be no need for the crate at all because I enjoy having a dog with me on the couch or bed. I heard it’s not good either but I have trained my other dog not to get on unless invited on to the couch so that way she knows she isn’t boss.

Crate training is a good idea and it can be her den, open all the time so she has a place to go and closed if you need to leave her and at night.

Treat her no different from any other dog, google NILIF and use this from day one, it will start to build her confidence and reduce her anxiety and promotes you in her eyes as her pack leader who she can trust and rely on, treat her like a puppy so lots of experiences, sounds, sights, smells etc as you would a pup.

This training encourages a dog to think and not react and a fearful/anxious dog can be just as dangerous as an aggressive dog……not too much loving, cuddling, fussing and petting only when she deserves it as this praises the dog and encourages it to continue to be fearful as she is getting praised for feeling like this, also stop feeling sorry for her, it gives off weak energy and a good pack leader can’t be weak, her previous experiences can’t be changed by you feeling sorry for her only strong leadership and training can do that.

Good luck you should end up with a lovely dog…..I have a 15 year old BC who was much the same when I got her and she is soooooooooo willing to please a perfectly behaved, happy, healthy dog