I have been reading through a book on how to train your puppy and it goes through each day etc, I can't remember what it's called as I havn't got it with me. Anyway, my friend lent it to me as he said his dog was very naughty and it had some great tips in it that really worked. Which it did. I agree with absolutly everything in the book, but there is one thing that I would like to check with on here to see what your opinion is. Without going to far into it baisically what the book tells me is that when you first get your puppy home after you have shown it around and all that you have to do the 'first seperation' So you walk out the room and come back in. When it is trying to get your attention you have to ignore it and baisically give it the cold shoulder. After a certain amount of time, 5 minutes or more it will calm down and go into a relaxed state as it knows that you are the 'leader of the pack' Then you call it over and if it comes you give it a treat. This shows that it is you who calls the dog over to give it affection and not the dog who decides when affection is to be given out. This apparently is now a good time to start training it as it knows you are the leader.....I understand this and i may give it a go? Also.... it goes on to say you have to do this everytime you leave the room or house. So when you come back in, give it the cold shoulder then wait until it is settled and over time it will be seconds apparently. Then you call it over and so on.... To me I don't know if I could do it for the rest of its life as I am a soft kinda guy with dogs but if it works then maybe I need to toughen up? The other thing is aswell it sais that any one who comes in the house has to do it also, friends, relatives etc.... Surely I can't get them all to do that?

The reason they are suggesting ignoring is that a lot of people have problems with dogs jumping up at people when they come in so you are training the dog not to jump up and get excited when someone comes in - If you don't want to ignore your dog you could train your dog to sit before getting any attention, so when you come in, you ask your dog to sit, or use the hand actions(I am sure the book goes into detail on how to position your hands to get your dog to sit without touching the dog) if you your dog doesn't know sit yet and then reward. My dogs go straight to a sit when I come in waiting.
It depends how fussed you are about this behavour and what method you wish to use, I don't think there is anything wrong in what they suggested.
I do just people take their dogs to group training classes, I take my dogs to training classes from as soon as they are allowed out until they have passed their Gold Kennel Club test - this isn't because I am someone who needs a certificate, this is because I feel the classes are well structured and allows you to 1. socialise your dog 2. practice commands in the presence of other dogs, which is distraction, I don't do any obedience competitions going to these classes isn't about that, i just think the classes are a great foundation, I am more than capable of training my dogs the commands, what I find helpful is the social interaction for the dogs - unlike a lot of dogs it doesn't matter what the breed of dog my dogs will get on with them, they know how to behave when meeting a new dog.