If you have never trained an animal before you will find it really helpful to take your dog along to training classes. These classes are more about teaching you how to train than training your dog for you. The classes should only use kind, effective, reward based methods of training. You will learn many useful skills that you can apply at home.

Puppies learn very quickly so it is important to begin showing them the house rules as soon as you get them home. Decide what the house rules are (dogs allowed/not allowed on the sofa, upstairs etc) and stick to them - it is not fair to a dog to allow them to do things as a puppy (such as sit on the sofa) that you will expect them not to do when they are an adult. Never punish your puppy - they are just doing whatever comes naturally, they do not know right from wrong, you must teach them what you want. Reward your puppy for the behaviour you do want and either ignore or redirect any behaviour you don't want. The key to successful dog training is consistency - say what you mean and mean what you say!