Basic Canine Behavior

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Dogs are pack animals and as such are only comfortable when their role within the pack has been established. An established role allows the dog to predict the reactions and needs of the rest of his pack. Without a confirmed, consistent role, the dog...

never knows when punishment or rewards will occur and will spend most of his time anxious and worried.
Basic obedience, rules and boundaries help to establish pet parents in role of pack leader and lays down clear behavior guidelines that the pack can follow. If none of the humans take this role, the dog is forced to attempt to assume it, since the pack MUST have a leader. The pack leader controls where the pack goes, when and what the pack eats and how the pack behaves toward one another. having these clear guidelines allows the dog to relax, since she knows what behaviors earn what type of attention.
Most trainers follow the 3 second rule in behavior modification. Dogs will connect praise or correction with whatever they were doing 3 seconds before the praise or punishment occurred. be careful to only give your dog attention when appropriate, when current behavior, not past behavior, deserves it. If your dog is growling at strangers, don't reward the behavior by attempting to calm him. This merely reinforces that there must be something scary happening. Instead, a gentle no and a friendly greeting of the stranger on your part will be more reassuring to the dog and lead her by example.

(Ref: Petco-basic Canine Education Overview)