For many dog owners, dog training is something they do during a dog training class, or during a dog training session at home. If dog training isn't a scheduled activity for them, then in their minds, they aren't training their dog. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that every minute you are with your dog, he is learning something, whether you intend him to or not. Just realizing this, can give you an amazing boost to your dog training by giving you something you thought you didn't have: time to train your dog.
It's easy to take advantage of this "extra" dog training time. All you have to do is think about what behaviors you want from your dog in your daily interactions with him, and be very consistent with those small actions, because what your dog learns by interacting with you every day is the basis for how he will interact with the rest of the world. Here are three simple behaviors you can use every day to train your dog without spending time in a training session.
First, clean up your language. I'm not talking about avoiding the use of 4-letter words. I'm talking about using a very limited set of words with your dog. He'll pick up vocabulary much faster if you don't confuse him with a lot of words that all mean the same thing. If you want him to wait for you to go through the door first, say "wait", or you might choose "stay", but pick one. Don't sometimes say "wait", and sometimes say "stay" or "dammit, quit barging through the door!". Don't get hung up on which word, just make sure it's always the same word. If you want your dog to take his front feet off of the counter and put them on the floor, say, "off", not "down", which means "put your belly on the floor". Don't use two words when one will do. For example, use "down" not "lie down". Second, tell your dog what you want him to do even if he doesn't really understand the command--you can show him what you want. For instance, when you go through a door, and he is being pushy, you can squeeze you knee between him and the door so that you will go through first. Say "wait", then you go through first. To help him get the point, use doors that he isn't all that excited about--such as the door to your bedroom, or bathroom, and or course the door when you are coming into the house (much less exciting than going out). We often forget to use a word when the dog is already doing what we want. Say "wait" when you go through a door, even if he is already waiting, and don't forget the reward. Third, let your dog be with you. It's easy to ignore a dog who is self entertaining. Expect your dog to participate in your household chores. If you take a load of laundry to your wash room, he should go. If you go outside to water the garden, he should go. The fact that he doesn't provide any useful service in these chores is not the point. If he is with you while you are doing things, he will feel involved, and you will have many many chances to show him how to act. While you are doing chores "with" your dog, don't get hung up on getting him to obey a command. Just tell him what you want, then guide him to do it, and go on with your work. So, what kind of things can your dog learn by just being with you? Since, he's just along for the ride, your expectations will be pretty simple: sit, wait, down, off, leave it, come. All these are pretty basic, but your dog will get to practice these many times a day, and of course he'll hear "good boy" and get treats a lot too, which will do wonders for your relationship!