Does the thought of training your pet make you anxious? It doesn't have

to be that way, says behaviour trainer Kim Nicolle of Pawly Understood in Adelaide, SA.

"Think of training as playing

'training games' with your pet," says Kim. "If it's done in a positive way, it will be fun for both of you."

When to start

According to experts, it's never too early to start. "When pups and kittens are young, they're fantastic learners," says behaviour veterinarian Dr Elle Parker of Adelaide Vet.

It's possible to train an adult pet, too. "Any pet, at any age, can benefit from training and behaviour modification," says Dr Parker.

How to 'treat train'

If you're using rewards to train your pet, think of them as a currency

- you're 'paying' your pet for a job well done. This can mean offering 

a tasty treat, but for other animals, a quick play with a favourite toy will get better results.

"Use a high rate of reinforcement with training - each time your pet does something you'd like them to repeat, keep the rewards coming,"

Kim advises.

Teach them the basics 

Start with these top training cues.

Come: "Teaching recall is a helpful foundation as it's hard to ask your pet to follow instructions if they're not with you," says Dr Parker. "Use plenty of reward-based techniques

- they'll learn that good things happen when they come to you."

Sit: "Teaching 'sit' is a way to structure interactions with your pet," says Dr Parker. This cue trains them to have good impulse control and calm themselves down.

Look: Get your pet to make eye contact with you. "Use this cue to get their attention, or to 'circuit break' if they're doing something undesirable," says Dr Parker.