Is your dog well-behaved? Does he come when you call? Does he stay when you tell him to? Does he look at you when you talk to him?

Recently, I called to make a reservation at a hotel which advertises "pets welcome." After the agent was reading me the pet policy, I assured him that my golden retriever was an "older dog and very well-behaved." But then I added, "But you probably hear that from everyone."

We all think our dogs are well-behaved. And, many of them are. But you've seen the ones that could use a little more training.

Here are 7 basic techniques to consider when you are training your dog.

Bonding. Spending quality time with your dog creates a bond between the two of you. You must build a relationship with him by talking to him, talking walks, and playing.

Consistency. You must deliver specific, consistent messages to your dog. The commands you use to train, praise, and discipline him must be the same every time. When you first start training him, he should have only one trainer. Different people have different voice tone and body language, and this could confuse him and take longer for him to learn. After he learns the commands, then other family members should be taught how to deliver the commands to be consistent with your teachings.

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