Dog, man's best friend, is, without doubt, the most adorable pet. However, without basic training and commands, they can be a bit frustrating and possibly embarrassing when they lack basic social behaviour with people and other animals.
 
At first, dog training can seem overwhelming, but if followed through, it may just be the best gift you can give yourself and your pet. Proper obedience training is among the basic things your dog needs and results in a happy, well-behaved, well-socialized companion, not to mention it  strengthens your bond.
 
So where do you start?  Well, you may choose to hire a professional for one-on-one lessons or send them to board with a trainer. However, you can train your dog on your own, and as mentioned it will strengthen your bond.

Get Started!
The earlier you get started with training, the better! Train your puppy the moment you bring him or her home, even at 4 weeks they can learn simple commands. Start with simple commands can build on them gradually till the he or she has mastered the command .
 
Best way to start your training is in an environment with few distractions. You will need a place where you can get your dog to focus on you alone. With time, you can introduce more distractions as necessary.
 
Give your dog frequent breaks,  keep training time as short as possible, like five to fifteen minutes, and  don't push yourself and the dog.  Ensure you are keeping it fun, and successful to avoid frustrations.
 
Regardless of the method or technique, you choose to use, reward behaviours you like. Dogs learn through the immediate consequences of their behaviour, just like humans do. The reward can be in the form of food, a good belly rub, or whatever you have studied that gets your dog excited. Note that the rewards must be immediate and consistent with achieving a desirable result.
 
Basic Commands
Some basic commands that are best to start with are:
Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Heel, Off, and No.  Each one of these will set a boundary for your dog, and instill basic obedience and behaviours that will make you proud

If you do decide you would like to enlist a professional below are a few local professionals that I know personally.

Just Doggin it Adventure & Training - Serving Shawnigan Lake and surrounding
Moto-vated dog training - Serving Cowichan Valley and surrounding
Source K9 - Specializing in Aggressive Dog behaviours