Anyone else having a hard time training your little dog

Go to your local library or bookstore and read from a selection of books there. Try several of the methods that you read about (only one method at a time, tho) and see which one works best for you - not the dog. The dog will respond to whatever method you choose. That's exactly the way that I learned to train over 20 years ago and I now have taken over 150 dogs thru AKC obedience trials and have NEVER lost a "leg" (that's what they call a competition meet). As long as your dog performs the tasks that are required at the appropriate time, he gets the score. :D

Tip #1 - get used to the idea of having a properly fitted slip (chain) choker on the dog at all times. If a method tells you to use anything other than a slip choker, it is not a method approved for use by the AKC and may cause serious injury to the dog. Harnesses, belt (aka flat) collars, and pinch collars (aka German chokers) are infinitely more dangerous than a slip choker. Also, if you only put the collar on for training, the dog will figure out in about 3.5 seconds that he doesn't have to listen to you when the collar isn't on b/c you have no way of reinforcing your commands.

Tip #2 - Don't use treats. Treats are great for every now and again but they are NOT a training aide. The dog will learn that if he does X then he gets a treat. What do you do if you don't have a treat and you give the dog a command? If he does X and you suddenly don't give him a treat, then you have broken the deal. Unless you plan on walking around for the rest of your life with "Milkbones" crumbs in your pockets, stay away from treat training.