A month later, I met Virgil and Morgan for the first time. These two lovelies -- named after Wyatt Earp’s brothers -- are liver, red, and white Australian Shepherd-Border Collie crosses.

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Meet Morgan and Virgil, who are afraid of leashes -- and for very good reason.

They took turns lunging and barking at me as I walked over to greet their owner, Gymala. We could barely hear one another over the hysteria. I knew they wouldn’t bite me because they were exhibiting an enormous amount of fear, not aggression, and I would give them no reason to bite. (As an aside, I’ve never been bitten by a dog, even the reactive or aggressive dogs I work with each week.)

The dogs were unleashed. Gymala had told me on the phone that Virgil and Morgan were petrified of leashes, collars, or any type of restraint. 

As Gymala and I sat on her front porch, I tossed yummy treats to the boys, over and over again, without looking at them. I went through two bags. They eventually stopped barking. I knew I'd gotten somewhere when they put their heads down to search for more treats. I asked Gymala to tell me more about Virgil and Morgan while tossing the dogs more food.

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Morgan is checking me out for treats.

Last winter, her husband had found a litter of nine puppies living in an outside pen on a nearby sheep ranch and brought two of them home. They found out later that they were just five weeks old. That is much, much too young. Crucial learning happens with the mother dog and their siblings, and I prefer that puppies stay with mom until they're 10 weeks old. Virgil and Morgan missed out on five weeks of education, which is hard to reinvent.

The next thing Gymala said explained to me why these young dogs were so fearful: A rancher had tied up the puppies, one by one, to cut off their tails. Nine young dogs were taught that a human hand will hurt them, and hurt them badly. Imagine having your toes cut off with no anesthetic.

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Virgil happily takes a treat from my hand. We're taking it really slow.

Virgil and Morgan had every rational canine reason to fear hands, people, and leashes. A hand carrying a leash coming toward them equaled the loss of a body part. A leash equaled pain.

When Gymala first clipped a leash on Morgan’s collar, he jerked against it, then started to wail like he was being beaten. She panicked and let go. Morgan ran down the hall, peeing and crying, and then he sank down in a corner in the mudroom and shook uncontrollably. Horrified, she and her husband did some research. They watched some YouTube videos that said puppies often react poorly at first, but that you should keep trying until the puppy adjusts. 

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Me with Virgil and Morgan, just getting them used to the presence of a leash.

Much later, they tried to leash Virgil. He took three steps and then started to buck, wail, and flail about. Gymala's husband persisted in walking him, and Virgil continued in panic mode, finally pulling so hard that he broke the clasp on his collar and darted under the motor home. "My husband was trying his best to do exactly what that stupid YouTube video -- made by a famous dog trainer -- told him to do," she told me. "It broke my husband’s heart.”

I can get enraged in a hurry for what the cruel, ignorant rancher did to so many dogs. We need to call it what it really is: torture. There is no valid reason for him to inflict this pain on his dogs. He has ruined dog after dog, instilling them with a reason to fear humans. He has an ugly talent for setting his dogs up for lifelong conflict and failure. I wonder how many of his dogs end up being put down for an issue he created.

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Showing Morgan that treats are wonderful things.

One thing was certain: Virgil and Morgan would never be euthanized because they had tenacious Gymala and her family’s loving support. These dogs got lucky, but they would also need to be brave to cope with a human world outside of Gymala’s home. For example, they had to be carried into the vet’s office for routine shots.

I didn’t touch either dog during our first meeting. They tentatively sniffed me, which was marvelous. They barked for a few minutes at me at the start of our second session and I still didn’t pet them. They started to anticipate that I would be a treat-tossing machine. By the third session, I became Virgil and Morgan’s new best friend. Their willingness to trust me speaks to dogs’ resilience and loving natures, in spite of what some humans do to damage that bond.

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By the third session, I was Virgil and Morgan's best friend and they were willing to trust me.

How I got inside their doggie heads and hearts that quickly is complex. It’s best to work with a professional trainer to help dogs exhibiting this level of fear, because the protocol goes way beyond just treat tossing. You can do even more damage to dogs like these if you are not well versed in behavioral science and canine body language.

I shudder to think what a trainer who still believes that dogs are trying to dominate humans would have done to Virgil and Morgan’s ability to trust anyone. It hurts to imagine what would have happened thad a trainer approached them with the false belief that they were lunging and barking as a way to show their dominance.  

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Morgan gets some happy skritches from me.

Now that the boys had faith in me, we needed to change their minds about what a leash represents. We put the leash on the floor and put the dog treats in the middle of the leash, so the boys would have to step on it to eat the yummo cookie. They were willing to do that, but if that had proved too much, we would have shown them a leash from a distance and given them treats over and over again.

Gymala works from home but her office is separate from the house, so she started walking twice a day, holding a leash. She got both dogs to come to her and take food with the leash and the meat treat in the same hand. Little by little by little, Virgil and Morgan are starting to trust that the presence of the leash brings them hot dogs -- and only when the leash is present do the hot dogs magically appear. No leash, no hot dogs. 

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Virgil and Morgan are learning that the presence of the leash means DELICIOUS HOT DOGS.

These brothers will be healed because their owner is committed to helping them. It’s a special joy to be a part of their rehabilitation. I have no doubt that we will have them happily walking on-leash soon enough. We’ll take whatever time it takes to make them comfortable.

In the meantime, it’s an honor to spend time with these brothers, who prove that dogs are quicker to forgive than any human I’ve met. We have so much to learn about love and trust from our canine friends. We think we are the ones teaching them, but often the opposite is true. 

• 8 Things I've Learned from My Dog-Training Clients
• What Loving My Dogs Taught Me About Empathy
• You'd Think a Trainer Would Have Perfect Dogs, Right? Hah!
• 5 Days with a German Shepherd Puppy Nearly Beat This Trainer
• Train Your Dog for Perfect Loose Leash Walking

I could have responded to this behavior in several ways. I could have been annoyed but totally ignored her. I could have slowed down, perhaps remaining at 28 mph, quietly resenting the passenger. I could have gotten angry and sped up quickly, driving much faster than the posted limit. What I did, eventually, was to pull over and request that the passenger drive instead. She declined, and was quiet for the rest of the drive.

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Boisterous dog play can make some owners nervous. Photo by Kelly Brodigan.

I imagine that this is similar to what it must be like for dogs who are constantly interrupted and warned by their owners while trying to play with other dogs. Of course the owners are only trying to avoid trouble, like my passenger was, and perhaps they are even a bit nervous about dog play in general. It could be that your dog has had scuffles in the past and you don’t trust your dog to make good decisions, as I also suspect my passenger didn’t trust me. Whatever the reason, what you are actually doing is simultaneously circumventing social interaction and play as well as any potential problems.

When I say my passenger was quiet for the rest of the drive, what I mean is that we were both quiet. There was no small talk, no real social interaction. We were both feeling awkward and stifled. We did succeed in avoiding a speeding ticket or car accident, but there was also an interruption of normal conversation due to my passenger's anxiety and my response to it.

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With Walker, my beloved Rottweiler.

Now, I fully admit that I could have used better communication skills to handle my situation and avoid the social awkwardness. But what chance do our dogs have at explaining to us that what they are doing is part of normal dog social interaction? They can’t turn around and say, “Listen, I know you’re nervous, but you have to trust me that this is how dogs do things. I’m not going to hurt the other dog, I’m just playing.”

Not only are they barred from giving us an explanation we can understand, they also have difficulty communicating effectively with the other dog because they are being interrupted and being forced to conduct two conversations with two species at once! This can actually cause the very incident that the owner is trying to avoid.

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Sometimes dogs do play inappropriately. Photo by Kelly Brodigan.

So what is an anxious owner to do? First, we should acknowledge that sometimes dogs are socially inappropriate. It’s quite possible that you're correct about your dog’s inability to successfully -- that is, safely -- play with another dog. It is also possible that the other dog is not a good candidate for play, or that the two are simply not a good match. The secret is to become well versed in dog body language and appropriate social behavior.

What I often see at the dog park is a whole lot of hoping, breath-holding, guessing, misinformation, and really bad timing. Some dog owners mistake serious red flags for normal dog play, while others mistake normal dog play with inappropriate behavior. This could all be remedied with a bit of education about how dogs communicate. It’s really that simple!

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Butt sniffing is just that -- butt sniffing. Let them do it! Photo by Kelly Brodigan.

Even the simplest of dog interactions, butt sniffing, is often met with reprimands and embarrassment. I mean, c’mon! Butt sniffing is equivalent to shaking hands or exchanging business cards between humans. It is how dogs get to know one another. As a prerequisite to further interaction, being denied this behavior can make it impossible for dogs to move forward in their relationship.

During play, jumping on one another, mouthing or gently biting, and mounting and growling are all behaviors that make some dog owners very nervous. Each one of these things can be a problem depending on many factors, but each one of them can also be a normal, appropriate part of dog play. The trick is to learn enough about dog play behavior in general and enough about your individual dog to know the difference.

I believe no dog owners should be attending the dog park with their pets unless they’ve educated themselves on how dogs play. Otherwise, how will you know how to keep your dog and the other dogs safe?  

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If you don't know how dogs play, you don't know what safe play looks like. Photo by Kelly Brodigan.

The other trick is to be very careful about where you get your information on dog body language and play behavior. Social interaction between dogs has far less to do with dominance and rank than some would have you believe.

If you've been watching the Dog Whisperer, you're going to have a hard time allowing play to happen because you'll see everything the dog does as an attempt to dominate. Facilitating and allowing play requires a more up-to-date, scientific understanding of dog behavior, as opposed to the outdated and incorrect view of wolf pack theory. Pack theory applies to wolves in the wild who are working towards survival, not to domestic dogs at a dog park who are simply negotiating safe social interaction.

We've come a long way since the days of dominance and punishment based training, and the information on true domesticated dog communication is readily available. Check out the Dogster article "Understanding Dog Body Language and Verbal Clues." Also, the ASPCA has webinars on dog body language and dog introductions. They are short, informative, and easy to apply. Yes, they are geared toward shelter workers, but they are also very useful for the average dog owner.

Once you’ve reviewed these resources, I suggest visiting the dog park without your dog. This is a great way to observe dog play without being distracted by anxiety or emotion. Watch for the body language you’ve learned about. Pay attention to differences in play styles due to breed, age and size. Perhaps you’ll even spot a moment that might have been great, but was interrupted by an overcautious owner.

Read more on training and dog body language:

• 3 Reasons It's a Must to Read Your Dog's Body Language
• It's Playtime! 6 Signs of Healthy Play in Dogs 
• On Dogs and Body Language: How I Learned to "Speak" Dog
• Is Your Dog Really Ready to Go Off Leash?

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My Collie rescues had a bad experience at a big box store training class.

Two of my Border Collie rescues, for example, were nearly feral as puppies. I took them to a big box-store puppy class, because I knew socializing and training them around other dogs was crucial. My shy dogs were overwhelmed and not ready for a public class, but the trainer didn’t tell me that, and back then I couldn't recognize it. One of the dogs drooled the entire miserable hour and another tried to sink through the concrete floor. Neither accepted training treats. We flooded them -- overwhelmed their senses and shut them down -- and succeeded in teaching them that it is scary to be in public places. 

My dogs can handle a pet store much better now, but I rarely ask them to endure it because it left emotional scars on them. I asked for my money back, but the big box store trainer said there were no refunds.

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If your dog is rowdy or shy, train him apart from other dogs at first. Bull terrier chases dog by Shutterstock

When I teach dog training classes now, I keep in mind what it feels like to be a student, handling what might be a very rowdy dog or a very shy dog or even your first dog. I always schedule a pre-interview with clients to make sure both owner and dog are ready for a class. If they aren’t, we do private lessons until the dog is ready to attend a class.

I also do something I learned from an earlier business career, which I have never seen another dog trainer do: I ask attendees to fill out an anonymous form and share with me what they loved and didn't love about my class. Most of the time, I get good reviews, but when I don’t, I take the feedback seriously and address the concerns head-on. 

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My dogs Echo and Monster doing a good outdoors sit-stay.

Here are the top eight ideas and practices my clients have asked me to incorporate into my training classes:

1. Make the training room more realistic

Set it up with a couch, a kitchen table, and a real door with a real doorbell. People live in real homes, after all, and you need to know what to do if your dog is annoying people when you sit on the couch or greeting people at the door with jumping and licking.

2. Tell the class it's okay to take a time-out

During class, if your dog's behavior is over the top -- or he is triggered "over threshold" and is unable to learn while stressed -- the trainer should tell you that it's perfectly fine to step out of the classroom for as long as it takes the dog (and sometimes you) to recover. 

3. Allow dogs to have their distance

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Teaching a sit-stay and a down-stay to my dogs plus a foster. Everything is harder outside and with more than one dog!

The hard stare from one dog to another is the beginning point of an unwanted canine reaction. Teach owners that dogs of any age won't enjoy sitting too close to other dogs and just staring at one another. Ask owners to bring high-quality chew toys. Use partitions to block the stare when needed. 

4. Limit class sizes

It isn’t productive to have more dogs and handlers in a class than one instructor can give individual attention to when it is needed. One trainer can most likely handle five teams, which allows for ample instruction to all class members. 

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Too many dogs in a class make it hard for the trainers to give individual attention when needed. Woman with too many Chihuahuas by Shutterstock

5. Ask what the attendees want to learn

This is a biggie: Devote the last 15 to 30 minutes of each class to class suggestions. You might not be interested in teaching your dog a five-minute down stay, but you do want to know how to bring the groceries in from the car without your dog jumping up to investigate what is in each bag.

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I live in the country, so I wanted to train my dogs to climb hay bales -- and they can!

6. Teach real-world skills

Dog-to-dog greetings are difficult for many pet owners. You might have a shy dog you want to protect or an easily excited dog who is too exuberant when meeting new dogs or people. We instructors need to teach everything we know about the subtleties of canine language and what warning or stress signs look like.

7. Remember that owners often take their dogs' behavior personally 

People come to classes genuinely hoping to help their dogs. If you take your dog to a professional trainer, you deserve kudos, because you are in the minority, by far. I've heard estimates that as few as 7 percent of dogs receive professional training. 

People are often disappointed when their dogs don't make friends. Many owners feel that all dogs will love all dogs. This is not true, just as we humans do not love every human we meet. The best teachers have empathy, compassion, and preparedness for their students, be they canine or human. 

8. Make learning FUN

Play games! Be silly and relaxed, and your classes will be, too. I hope the days where we stand in front of our pooches and scream "SIT!" over and over are long gone. 

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We're training dogs how to play, too -- so we can be relaxed. Woman and dog in meadow by Shutterstock

Now, for dog owners: You have your homework, too! 

Once you have decided to attend a class, do the research and make sure your trainer actually is a positive-reinforcement trainer. Learning should not physically hurt your dog.

You also need to practice what you learn in class. It is not reasonable to expect your dog to learn everything in a one-hour class once a week. (And yes, your dogs do tell us which of you have been practicing and which have not!) If you spend just ten minutes three times a day working with your dog, you will be amazed at your pet’s retention and abilities.

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I encourage my clients to practice every day. Humans have homework, too!

Don’t just train at home. Reach out to your trainer if something doesn’t make sense to you or is not working. Bottom line: be proactive.

After listening for years to what dog owners tell me they want from behavior classes, I know we trainers can all do a better job meeting their needs. We must teach effectively and fairly, which means asking ourselves how we can improve classes and taking some of the responsibility for the dismal lack of owners attending classes with their dogs. Are you listening to your students? Or are you only telling them? Try listening. The owners –- and their dogs -– will thank you. 

As for you students out there: Tell your trainers what you want to get out of the class. It's made a world of difference in my practice. 

Read more from Annie Phenix:

• What Loving My Dogs Taught Me About Empathy
• You'd Think a Trainer Would Have Perfect Dogs, Right? Hah!
• 5 Days with a German Shepherd Puppy Nearly Beat This Trainer

Alas, we have all seen the results when teens are given too much freedom too soon. It’s not that they’re stupid, in most cases, but that they simply don’t have the adult-level ability to make good judgment calls in difficult situations. I give my daughters a little more freedom and a little more responsibility at a time. Parenting is, after all, continual preparation and coaching with the goal of teaching a child to make good decisions all on their own. Eventually, we trust them to run their own lives.

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Me and one of my teenagers -- er, dogs. (Same diff.)

Like teenagers and the parents of teens, dogs and dog owners long for freedom, too. Dogs want to run, and we want to let them. They usually come back to us, and they’re friendly with other dogs, so why shouldn’t we allow them to leave behind the cumbersome control of the leash?

Let me tell you why. It's a matter of training and behavior. Because unless they have developed the ability to make good judgment calls in all situation that might occur off leash, letting them go is no different than going on vacation while letting a 16-year-old watch the house. Of course there are parents who believe that their little angel with straight A’s would act responsibly in their absence, but most of us know better. The temptations are too big, and the ability to resist is too small.

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Dogs who have not been thoroughly trained for off-leash life will eventually make bad judgment calls. They will approach people and dogs who don’t want to be approached. They will ignore their owner when asked to return. They will jump up on small children, chase bike riders, or chase something straight into traffic. The consequences can be a minor annoyance for others -- or death for your dog.

If you’re not convinced of the seriousness of this issue, let me tell you what happened to my colleague just this week. She was out walking her two dogs when an off-leash dog approached, and a fight ensued. The owner had no idea what to do, so it was up to my colleague, an experienced professional dog trainer, to stop a full-on dog fight between three large dogs. I’m not sure that the average dog owner would have fared as well in this effort.

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Nonetheless, my colleague, one of her dogs, and the attacking dog sustained considerable injuries. It could have been worse, but it was bad enough. The most frustrating part of all this is that it was preventable. Had the other dog been on leash, none of it would have happened.

Obviously, the off-leash dog was dog-aggressive, so maybe you’re thinking your dog would never do this to another dog, therefore it doesn’t apply to you. But what if the owner of the aggressive dog was responsibly walking him on leash? I have been that person with the reactive dog, making sure we're walking in an on-leash area, and I am always upset to find people who are not following the rules and allow their friendly, untrained dog to roam free. If your dog approaches the wrong dog, you could be in this same situation as my colleague was. And you know what? It wouldn’t be the reactive dog owner’s fault.

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So, how do you know if your dog is ready to be off-leash? Before you allow the ultimate freedom, be sure that your dog can do all of the following, in many different environments with lots of distractions.

1. Respond to name

Any time you say your dog’s name, regardless of the location or what your dog is doing, she should immediately turn her head and make eye contact with you. You should not have to repeat your dog’s name to get her attention. This should really be the first step in any training. It will improve your ability to train everything else. Does your dog know her name? If not, please read What’s in a Name? Teaching Your Dog a Reliable Name Response.

2. Come when called

Once you say your dog’s name, and he is looking at you, you should be able to say, “Come!” one time and immediately see your dog running to you. It is imperative that you are able to call your dog to you quickly and reliably in any circumstance before you ever think of letting him off leash. If you need help with teaching your dog to come when called, check out Recall Training: Getting Started.

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3. Heel off leash

It’s one thing for a dog to know how to heel, which is to walk right by your side while on leash, yet it is entirely another for a dog to be able to resist temptation and stay close to you when she has the choice to leave. On or off leash, there are times when walking a few feet away and sniffing around is fine, and there are other times when a dog needs to remain close in order to pass small children, dogs, or bike riders. Heeling, like most trained behaviors, should start at home in a low-distraction area. Once your dog understands the concept, you can move to more distracting environments such as the back yard. Until your dog has mastered the art of heeling, along with the above behaviors, he’ll need to practice on leash in public areas.

4. Be safe and friendly with other animals and humans

If your dogs are nervous about young kids, as one of mine is, they must not be off leash in public parks where children might be present. If your dogs are reactive to men in hats, for example, or people wearing sunglasses, or fast-moving things like bikes and skateboards, they are not good candidates for being off leash in a busy public area. Certainly, if your dogs are not completely safe with other dogs, they should never be off leash where other dogs are present.

Can all of these things be worked on? Absolutely! Just remember that the work has to be done before your dog is allowed to be off leash.

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Puppy in a crate by Shutterstock.

I have to say the crates were a big hit for our family. No longer did we need to worry whether the dogs would get into mischief while we were gone. If we were a little late getting home, we didn’t have to clean the floors where they had an accident. We didn’t have to worry about a door frame being scratched or the crown molding being chewed to shreds because an unexpected thunderstorm erupted during our absence. Our dogs felt very comfortable and secure in their crates. Like most dogs, they never would go potty in the place where they slept. They both had their own crate, positioned side by side, and they had plenty of room to stretch out.

When leaving the house we would simply tell them to go lay down. They would enter their crates and wait for their treat for doing a good job. We would then pet each dog and tell them where we were going, when we would be back, and what they should do while we were gone. This kept their minds at ease and they slept until we returned home. We never left them in their crates longer than four hours at a time during the day.

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Dog in a crate by Shutterstock.

Because we have a multilevel home, we purchased a set of identical crates for the bedroom where they slept with us. Each night at bedtime, the same routine would occur. I would simply alter what I told them, as we were all staying home for the night. This worked well for everyone. The two snorers of the family, Buzz and I, had our own dedicated area to saw some wood, so to speak.

I do believe, with proper training, a crate for your dog is the way to go. It provides them with a dedicated sanctuary that they can go to when you aren’t at home, or at times when everyone is sleeping, or even to get away when the household gets too crazy or noisy. Some people I know believe that it’s cruel to lock your dogs in a crate while you’re gone. They want their dogs to have free reign of the house. After all, it is their house, too. Of course, others I know can’t be bothered with properly crate training their dogs or don’t like a crate to be left out full time. In my opinion, they’re missing something. A crate provides a safe environment for your dog whether you’re at home or traveling.

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Little Papillon near his crate carrier by Shutterstock

Do you crate your dog when you aren’t at home? What experiences have you had when using a crate for your dog? If you haven't used a crate, why? Tell us in the comments.

More stories by Tim Link:

• What Are the Weirdest Things Your Dog Has Buried?
• Are Your Dogs as Obsessed With Stinky Things as Mine Are?
• Does Your Dog Sing? Is It a Blessing or a Curse?

I'd wondered what the correct etiquette is for meeting dogs, especially because my husband and I walk our dog on a public trail that can get pretty busy on the weekends. Some pet parents rush by with their dogs saying, "Leave it, leave it, leave it!" Other walkers are more open to dog greets, and sometimes I'm embarrassed when my dog shows indifference to the other dog and is more interested in squirrels. Will the other owners think my dog is stuck up? At the other end of the spectrum, I've had a dog that would bark and rear up whenever a strange dog approached. I contacted an expert for some guidelines.

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Places my husband and I walk our dog Sasha, an Australian Shepherd and Border Collie mix, are often crowded with others walking dogs.

Marthina McClay is a certified dog trainer with Dog Training for People who specializes in dogs that are reactive to other dogs while on leash. McClay says leash reactivity is one of the biggest dog behavioral issues caused by humans.

"Leash reactivity has nothing to do with aggression," said McClay. "It comes from distancing behaviors. It's like saying, 'Get out of my face.'"

McClay uses a human example to illustrate her point, comparing dogs meeting on a walk to humans meeting for the first time at a party.

"You wouldn't go and sit on a stranger's lap, would you?" she said. "Dogs have personal space just like we do, and they may become offended when a stranger invades that space."

When a dog feels that his or her personal space has been invaded, the natural response is to bark and possibly snap back at the intruder. McClay said dogs get blamed for being aggressive in these situations, but it's a normal reaction for a dog to "get cranky" about a strange dog rushing up to him or her.

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This meeting went okay, but dogs often don’t like encountering other dogs on someone else’s terms. Photo by _tar0_

"Dogs are constantly placed into situations in which they are forced to endure invasion of their space and are set up to fail at greetings," she said.

In a natural setting, when two dogs notice each other, they would show the side of their body and the side of their face to another dog. The reason dogs display their sides first is because staring at another dog head-on is considered a challenge in dog language. McClay said they might even turn to sniff at something in order to appear less threatening to the other dog.

"Unfortunately, owners often miss or misread these cues and instead we yank them along, forcing them to confront the other dog," McClay said.

Based on McClay's advice, here are some guidelines for meeting and greeting other dogs:

1. When you see an unknown dog, avoid greets on a walk.

2. If the dogs have met before, then it's fine to have them greet each other.

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If dogs know each other, they know what to expect. Meeting point by Shutterstock.

3. If you want to keep your dog focused on you instead of other dogs, be sure to bring high-value treats on walks.

4. Watch for the nose-to-butt greeting -- a good one is completely normal in the canine kingdom.

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Butt sniff! Photo by Ethan Woods

5. Don't let other dogs invade your dog's space, and respect other dogs' space.

6. Avoid the people who say, "Oh, he wants to say hi," as they force their dog on your dog.

7. Remember that some dogs may have not had leash greets when they were younger and are therefore more apprehensive about meeting strange dogs.

I'm going to keep these tips in mind when we venture out. How about you? Is your dog leash reactive?

Other stories on dog walking and behavior:

• 5 Myths About Dog Behavior That Often Lead to Tragedy
• Why I'm No Longer a High-End Dog-Walker
• Does Your Dog Have a Strong Prey Drive? Mine Does -- And Here's How I Curbed It

I am a professional dog trainer, so I was extra prepared to handle the addition to our family. Trinket is our fifth dog. She’s the only one of the pack who was not a rescue. My husband always helps me with a new dog, but this time he was out of town for the first two weeks (maybe he planned it?) so I was a single dog mom.

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Me with the hyper, intense, adorable, brilliant Trinket.

It is crucial to spend whatever amount of time each dog needs in the those first months of her new life to establish a training foundation, which remains for the dog’s entire life. I pared my work schedule back for months to give this little sprite all the attention and training she deserved. No time in her life would be as important for learning than now. She could either learn to trust me and the greater world outside or she could learn fear. Fear is not a viable option.

I drove to pick her up because I refuse to fly a dog, especially a puppy. I asked her excellent breeder to keep Trinket until she was 10 weeks old. I protectively select everything and everyone she meets to ensure that every encounter is as positive for her as possible. Learning can be stressful, so I monitor the stress level and keep it to a minimum. 

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Trinket playing with one of her toys.

Here's what I've done with Trinket in the first five days:

• Drove 2,000 miles through two time zones with potty breaks in new places
• Spent the night in a hotel room with me and one of my adult dogs
• Had one-by-one introductions to my four dogs spread out over four days
• Met my horses and donkeys 
• Met my clients and their dogs; also met children
• Met a scary cement donkey on the front porch, Trinket barked at it, and was coached to go touch it and see it was harmless
• Began clicker training on her third day with me
• Had highly supervised play date with a client’s young Golden Retriever

Trinket was naturally a bit tired from all of this, so I provided ample nap times as well. She is a bold, resilient puppy. A different dog might not handle this level of intensity.

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Having a good gnaw on my lap.

On her fourth day with me, she was no longer tired. She was the opposite of tired. Her true, feisty nature showed up. She got busy; I got busier. Here is what day four looked like:

5 a.m.: Wake up call from Trinket. She sleeps next to me on the bed. She’s only had two potty mistakes in the house, because we go outside at any sign of her needing to go to the bathroom. Once she held her pee until just an inch outside the door and peed on the doormat! 

5:15 a.m.: Back on the bed with lots of chew and squeaky toys. She is UP and ready to play. She tries to eat the book I am reading, so I redirect and redirect some more to the appropriate toys. I also feed her an early breakfast, and only after eating and an hour of playtime does she decide to sleep again.

6:15 a.m.: Trinket is wide awake and ready to play. As I make my bleary-eyed walk to the coffee pot, she decides this is the time to pounce on my slippers (they are quite fluffy). Her puppy teeth hurt! I stop in my sleepy tracks and say one “No!," which interrupts her gnawing for a second, and at the moment she takes her teeth off of my shoe, I throw her a squeaky toy, which she chases, forgetting about my shoe for about one more second.

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Trinket prefers gnawing on my shoes to the squeaky toy.

We play the redirect game for at least half an hour, because she wants me to know she prefers my shoes. 

7:00 a.m.: Second day of clicker training begins. I work on sit, which she has down pat, so I move on to eye contact, and she nails it over and over again. Then we go to the crate and I shape her going in and out of the crate numerous times with the crate door open.

7:15 a.m.: Back in the house playing the redirect game again. She has chew toys all around the living room, and she spends 45 minutes picking one up, carrying it over to a new toy, dropping it, picking up the next new toy, carrying it over to the next one, etc. 

8:00 a.m.: I let my mellow Irish Wolfhound mix in to play with Trinket. I hug him and thank him for giving me a few minutes alone! 

8:30 a.m.: Trinket is adamant that my slippers are chew toys. Redirecting has lost its appeal. I get dressed and decide it is time for a walk. For the first time, Trinket goes down to the barn with all four dogs out at the same time, all off leash. They help me teach her a recall. She gets slightly tired after 40 minutes outside with the big dogs.

9:30 a.m.: Back in the house and back to her attacking my pants leg. More redirect. More and better chew toys. Finally I get my favorite stand-by ready: cream cheese smeared inside of an old real cow bone.

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Trinket meets one of my horses.

10:00 a.m.: Trinket is back to being hypnotized by my pants and shoes. I interrupt her this time by picking her up, carrying her outside, and we resume clicker training the crate. 

10:15 a.m.: Finally, for the love of God, Trinket takes a nap. I head straight for the Keurig to tank up and see that it is only 10:15 am ... it’s going to be a long day for both of us, but I wouldn’t miss these training opportunities for any amount of anything. 

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Trinket is finally worn out enough to take a nap.

P.S. Trinket took a two-hour nap! I am winning!

Annie Phenix supports her four dogs, six donkeys, and two horses with her writing. Sometimes that means no one eats a very good dinner. Luckily for the animals she shares her life with, she is also a professional dog trainer. 

Read more about dog training:

• You'd Think a Trainer Would Have Perfect Dogs, Right? Hah!
• Does Your Dog Have a Strong Prey Drive? Mine Does -- Here's How I Curbed It
• 5 Myths About Dog Behavior That Often Lead to Tragedy
• Puppy Adoption: 6 Steps for Doing It Right

First, some back-story. We live in the mountains, and wildlife abounds outside as well as outside our house. To Sasha, our backyard must seem like a smorgasbord. In addition to rats there are lizards, birds, squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, possums, and skunks -- not including the neighbor's free range chickens. In fact, one time Sasha smelled a skunk outside our bedroom and ran right into the French doors -- shattering the window pane. Fortunately she wasn't hurt, and the impact startled her so much she stopped pursuing the skunk. But still, that's some strong prey drive.

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Whoa! It seems that some dogs want to chase down anything that moves quickly. Dog training by Shutterstock.

Dogs with strong prey drive are more likely to follow a moving object, and this can be useful when training a dog for agility work. The prey drive has a five-step sequence: the search, the eye stalk, the chase, the grab bite, and the kill bite. Not all of the five behaviors are the same intensity for every dog, and some of the behaviors have been amplified through training and breeding. Beagles, for example, have a strong search tendency, while a Border Collie has a more pronounced eye stalk, and a Greyhound has a innate desire to chase.

Other breeds with a strong prey drive include Afghan Hounds, Alaskan Malamutes, Australian Cattle Dogs, Basenjis, Beagles, Bullmastiffs, Doberman Pinschers, Jack Russell Terriers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Samoyeds, Shiba Inus, Siberian Huskies, Weimaraners, Whippets, and Yorkshire Terriers.

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Border Collies’ prey drive is part of what makes them good at herding livestock and agility training. Border Collie on agility course by Shutterstock.

I asked Gloria Post, a certified dog trainer with Hands On Dog Training, how I could best work with my dog, given her predisposition for pursuing prey. Post mentioned training methods I could use to help distract Sasha and help her to ignore the stimulus. She said pet parents shouldn't reprimand their dogs for exhibiting this behavior, but rather, redirect their attention.

A pet parent needs to learn to scan the environment and watch for possible prey that the dog might want to chase. My husband and I have a usual route that we walk with Sasha, and I'm aware of the areas where ground squirrels (Sasha's favorite) are most likely to appear. Post said that when you see a prey animal, engage your dog so that she'll give you eye contact and keep looking at you while walking by the prey animal. She recommends establishing this behavior by using highly rewarding treats so your dog equates eye contact with you as more appealing than the running squirrel.

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Developing recall training can pay off for dogs with strong prey instinct. Dog owner and her obedient German Shepherd by Shutterstock.

She also recommended training your dog to have a strong recall -- coming quickly when called. You can start out in more controlled environments, using tasty treats, and then work up to practicing recall in places where prey are more likely to be found. Post cautioned that your tone of voice has a big impact on how your dog responds. "Yelling and screaming at your dog can actually cause them to get more excited about the chase, which would be more rewarding for them," she said. Try happy or playful instead.

Some good activities for dogs with a strong prey drive are those that are mentally challenging and also physically tire out the dog. Post suggests swimming or splashing in the water, searching for hidden treats, climbing, or directed digging in a sandbox. Nose work and tracking would also be a great activity to help dogs focus their attention away chasing prey.

Does your dog have a strong prey drive? Let me know in the comments!

Related stories on dog behavior and training:

• 5 Myths About Dog Behavior That Can Lead to Tragedy
• 4 Things You Should Know About Your Dog's Growl
• The 10 Types of Dog Aggression

Top photo: Barking dog by Shutterstock.

Attempt to drink coffee, but another dog needs in. (They sarcastically refuse to use the dog door on the side of the house if they can see me from a window -- what on Earth are our thumbs for if not to open and close doors for dogs?)

Drink coffee while playing the "open and close the back door" game with four large dogs who do not have the need of caffeine in the morning.

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I get a hug from Radar.

Take a shower. More door games. Now I yell at the dogs to quit barking at a deer 1,009 feet away in the back pasture. Now I yell louder and I add some cuss words. I use a little known dog training command at the top of my voice: "DON’T BE AN A-HOLE!" You can use that on your dogs if you like. They will probably ignore it, just as mine do. Dogs apparently do not understand what an a-hole is, or, if they do, they like it.

Call either the horse vet or the dog vet because it seems that I can't go a week without seeing one or the other. I wouldn't want to hurt a vet's feelings and make him or her feel unloved. Vets are crucial to our operation here. Sometimes when I have a doctor's appointment, I say I am taking myself to the vet by mistake.

The two Border Collies -- the BCs, as I call them -- have to go back to the vet, so I open the back door to try to get them to do their business before the trip into town. They go out but turn around as soon as I shut the door. They stare at me through the glass.

As I call one dog to load up in the Tahoe, he decides NOW he has to go, and does so in the backyard -- but he is sure to go through the deepest muck created by melting snow, tracking mud through the house and into the car. I think about crying because of the mess, but I realize that my tears will just wet the mud down more, making it easier to spread by the 16 paws that roam through our house.

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First he wants the window open. Then he wants it closed. His sister just looks on in disgust.

On the way to the vet, the muddy one insists that the back window be rolled down so that he can stick his head out. He stares at the driver’s seat until I agree to do as I’m told (I can feel his eyes boring a hole through the back of my head). I put down his window, even though it is way below freezing outside. Next we play the "open the window so I can stick my head out" and "now close that window because I am cold” game all the way to the vet.

The female BC is just sitting in the far back of the vehicle with a look of disgust on her face towards her brother, who now has a BC Mohawk from sticking his head out the window. He goes and sits behind her at the very, very back of the Tahoe, so she can block the cold wind. I put the window up.

Back from the vet -- or what I call the "emptying of the wallet" -- the two BCs are now sulky, but not so sulky that they can't play the "open and close the backyard door" and the "get out of here, deer!" game a few times.

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The dogs are allowed to lay down quietly when I'm eating, but it doesn't always work out that way.

I sit down to eat my lunch at the kitchen table. The dogs are permitted to stay if they lie down quietly while the humans eat. Monster, the 125-pound Irish Wolfhound mix, agrees to lie down but he tries to cheat and goes halfway down with his legs sticking out in every direction. This makes me laugh. I nearly choke to death on my lunch. Next he agrees to the "lie down" cue but he wants me to know he is there so he starts licking my right leg. Lacy, the older dog, starts up with some odd moaning sounds so I will know she is further under the table in case I feel like dropping her some chicken.

As I have a Wolfhound licking my right leg and an old, farting dog moaning under the table, I look around for my BCs. They are not currently licking or farting, so I am not sure where they are. I find them lying next to each other in a perfect down stay by the back door, glaring hard at the Wolfhound and the old stinky dog, worrying that these two inferior, rebellious dogs will ruin their chance for some of my chicken.

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Monster the Irish Wolfhound is always optimistic that I'll drop some food for him.

After lunch is shared with all the dogs who did manage a down stay, the "open the door and close the door" game resumes. As does the "Is that a deer? I think that is a deer!" barking game. Sometimes they mix it up and bark at birds who have the nerve to fly overhead. Once I had to rescue the male BC from ravens, who were tired of him and actually swooped down on him. Ravens are really, really big in Colorado. And loud, but not as loud as BCs who hate ravens. 

After I pretend to get some work done -- hard to do with the door games of the canines -- I take all of my four-legged canine companions on an off-leash walk around our property. They stay close to me and generally come when called, unless a bastard raven flies overhead. (Or a hawk. Or an eagle. Or a blue heron. Smaller birds get a pass.) They eat lots of deer poop and chase prairie dogs into their holes, and because of that, I hear prairie dogs screaming during our entire hour-long walk: "Here comes that lady with the dogs!! The dogs!!! Warning! The dogs are coming!"

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When we go for a hike, the dogs stay close to me, unless they decide to chase prairie dogs.

After the walk, I have to go down to the barn to meet the horse vet because, as I said, I don't want to leave a vet out and get on his bad side. When I arrive at the barn, I realize that the three big dogs have run out through their doggie door. They are all barking, barking, barking at the back fence to alert me to the fact that there is someone at the barn in a strange truck. I am aware of this fact, as I am standing in front of the barn with the vet trying to talk with her about the horses -- only we can't hear over the barking alert system at the house.

The fourth dog, the male BC, refuses to ever use the doggie door because his sister growled at him once when he came through it and got too close to her as a puppy. He is eight now. I feel he is directly responsible for teaching the others about the "open the door, close the door" game. 

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My dog wants to tell me the vet is here.

Since that dog won't go out the doggie door, he feels left out and sad about not being able to alert me to the strange truck down at the barn, so naturally he starts to howl. The others join him in an act of solidarity. That makes the six donkeys start to bray. Now I can't hear anything the vet is saying, but it sounds suspiciously like: "You're that dog trainer, right?"

I walk back to the house after the horses get some shots, my ears ringing from the donkey braying and the chorus of the dogs howling. I make my dinner. I sit down to eat at the kitchen table and tell the dogs to lie down. The Wolfie does his half down stance and looks at me with his huge brown eyes, asking if that is close enough to a down stay. I laugh and nearly choke on my dinner. He lays down and starts to lick my right leg. Lacy, the old stinky dog, starts moaning deep under the table. The BCs are next to each other in a perfect down stay by the back door, glaring at the other two dogs ...

... and so it goes. 

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Let's hope my dogs barking don't alert a flock of angry ravens.

Annie Phenix supports her four dogs, six donkeys, and two horses with her writing. Sometimes that means no one eats a very good dinner. Luckily for the animals she shares her life with, she is also a professional dog trainer. 

I looked at her, then the dog, then back to her, thinking, Are you kidding me? As a dog trainer and behavior specialist for more than 25 years, I have been faced with this situation many times: This was a classic fearful dog who had been sadly misunderstood by whatever professional had tried to help in the past.  

I assured the lady that Lullabelle was not aggressive and I wanted to prove that to her. With much reluctance, she finally agreed to set up an appointment. I learned that she had adopted Lullabelle to save her life, because she was set to be killed at the recommendation of her veterinarian and traditional dog trainers who had deemed her dangerous. I find it unfathomable that this beautiful, friendly dog was labeled as aggressive and beyond help. Sadly, this happens somewhere every day. 

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Beasley is a Peke who loves people.

We made a plan to teach basic obedience and good manners to the dog. At my initial consultation, Lullabelle's owner described how after one trainer deemed the three-year-old dog aggressive, a team of two traditional dog trainers (recommended by her ignorant veterinarian) came to her home equipped for battle, toting tennis rackets, choke chains, a shock collar, long pants, thick long-sleeve shirts, and gloves.

Need I mention this battle was with a scared, 10-pound fluffball? 

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This is Lullabelle. Does she look like a vicious, man-hating dog?

These trainers rushed into it without ever vetting the client, analyzing her dog's behavior, or doing any due diligence or behavioral analysis whatsoever. They told the owner not to speak as they tried to "rehabilitate" the dog, using methods they'd seen on The Dog Whisperer. 

Lullabelle could barely walk because of some health issues. The trainers backed this poor little dog into a corner, brandishing their tennis racquets, and threw a choke chain on her (note that she's a brachycephalic breed who could barely breathe on her own), scaring the poop out of her. They dragged her around, trying to make her submit to them by holding her down. 

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Here's me at an animal charity event with Hobbes.

They advocated dominance theory, telling the owner to make Lullabelle submit to her in order to gain respect, leadership, and dignity. She must be the pack leader and always walk in front of Lullabelle in and out of each doorway, and never ever let her get in front when walking on the leash. Lullabelle was not to achieve dominance by getting on the couch and the bed. They also instructed the owner to pop the leash (what they euphemistically called a “correction”) or poke two fingers into the soft part of her neck or ribcage to remind her who was boss. 

This type of abusive hogwash was how people trained dogs before they had a clue about canine cognition and effective and humane treatment of animals. I describe it as akin to getting a lobotomy for a common headache. I actually wanted to throw up when I heard Lullabelle's story. It is the height of negligence, irresponsibility, and shame to do more harm than good, especially when there is an animal's life on the line.    

Let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment and placate the Machiavellian ignoramuses like Cesar Millan and pretend that traditional dog training worked the same or even better than positive reinforcement dog training. Of course, it has been repudiated by decades of scientific and behavioral research, but for argument sake let’s entertain this notion.

The real question becomes: At what expense are you willing to achieve results from your dog? The price is stress, poor health, lack of trust, and a diminished relationship between you and your dog. Whether you agree or not, the two things that you should take away from this article are: Expediency should never trump the humane treatment and welfare of your dog, and it is never OK to abuse an individual in the name of training! 

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Positive training means you don't have to use outdated punishment methods to train a happy dog. Dog chases toy by Shutterstock

Traditional dog training is practiced by trainers who do not believe in education -- or science, for that matter, given that there is a plethora of scientific studies showing how positive reinforcement is more effective and builds a stronger bond with your pet.

“Modern-based training” should be referred to as "science-based dog training." The Dog Whisperer should be referred to as a reality show star or a dog handler, for he does little in the way of dog training -- unless you consider flooding, learned helplessness, alpha rolls, dominance theory, and scaring the daylights out of dogs to be training. Traditional trainers -- punitive trainers -- were very cutting edge in the 1940s. 

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Dominance theory is inefficient and inhumane. Bad dog by Shutterstock

Modern-based trainers employ the most effective and efficient ways of modifying a behavior while increasing the bond between a guardian and pet. Aversive trainers do not do this. They are confrontational and stressful, and their practices are inefficient and inhumane. Positive-reinforcement dog trainers should take a stance to try and rid the industry of traditional trainers, for the benefit of pets and their guardians. 

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Lullabelle is leading a happy life in Miami now.

I find it very sad that many of the veterinarians in Miami, where I work, are not only clueless about the benefits of positive reinforcement, but are actively promoting force-based trainers in their practices. As I write this post, Lullabelle is snoring away in my lap, as happy as can be. Unfortunately, many more dogs are not so lucky. It pains me to think of the countless dogs and families who are traumatized by traditional dog trainers.

Russell Hartstein, CPDT, is the CEO (canine executive officer) and founder of Fun Paw Care, which specializes in dog training and behavior, dog boarding, pet sitting, and dog walking. He likes to blog about dog training and behavior issues.

Read more on dog training:

• Dog Training
• Modern vs. Traditional Dog Training: What's the Difference?
• 5 Time-Saving Tips for Training Your Dog
• Dog Training Techniques
• What to Expect from Your Dog's Training  

It’s from a story on a Pointer-Hound mix named Milo, a dog who had never caused any problems. Milo was napping on the couch in his home in January when a 6-year-old neighbor arrived. The boy sat down on the couch and started petting the sleeping dog. The child was bitten in the face after being left alone with the dog. No one witnessed the incident.

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Dogs read certain friendly human behaviors as hostile. What big teeth you have by Shutterstock.

The dog was put on trial for an accident that's preventable when people understand what our behavior means to dogs. I not only have spent years studying dog bites but I also teach classes on safety and liability protection for dog owners. I also provide community safety solutions and promote the right way to behave around dogs through the Dog Owner Education and Community Safety Council. I’m the author of People Training for Good Dogs: What Breeders Don’t Tell You and Trainers Don’t Teach.

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The legal system can be harsh to dog owners. Unhappy laywer by Shutterstock.

Dog owners are set up for failure because our default is to blame the dog. Owners get fined or sued for repeated human mistakes. Dogs often pay with their lives for mistakes made by people. That's the case for Milo. At his Feb. 27 hearing in Mansfield, MA, authorities voted to euthanize him.

To avoid this, prevention has to be the priority. Sure, it's cute to us when the baby hugs the dog. But dogs do not say 'I love you' with a hug. When one dog 'hugs' another, it's an act of domination. People should understand that humans shouldn't hug dogs. Yet the message for children to hug dogs is prevalent in our culture, and the facial bites continue.

Here are some other common misperceptions people have about dog and human behaviors -- and how you can change to prevent catastrophes.

1. When greeting a new dog, extend your hand for it to sniff

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Know how to approach a dog you’re meeting for the first time. A young man and his dog by Shutterstock.

Dogs don't sniff each other's paws when greeting and like us prefer to be asked before being touched by a stranger. Instead, ask the owner and then also ask the dog by tapping your hand on your thigh simulating a wagging tail and act friendly. The dog will relax and nuzzle you, need to sniff more to get to know you, or will stay away.

2. Breed dictates temperament

Dogs, first and foremost, are predatory canines that live in groups. Breeds are generalizations that enable breeders to better market the product they sell. What dictates temperament is their pack position -- the role that you, the human, play in the group and the rank of group members.

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“Where do we rank?” is what dogs ask humans. Group of Welsh Springer Spaniels by Shutterstock.

Dogs have superior/inferior interrelationships and command and defer accordingly. And just as siblings in a family have the same parents yet are very different, one cannot purchase behavior by buying a dog of a certain breed.

3. When a dog charges, there is nothing you can do

When a dog charges you, it's trying to decide if you are friend, foe or prey. Their eyesight is poor so hats, sunglasses and other objects you may push or carry can scare them. Act like a friend and pretend you are not afraid. Stand facing the dog with relaxed body language, tap your thigh with your hand and use a high-pitched voice for a friendly greeting like "good girl." Fake it if you are afraid.

4. Posting "Beware of Dog" protects you from liability if your dog injures someone on your property

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This won’t do much for you after the fact. Beware of the dog by Shutterstock.

Dogs can only read body language. These signs make people react to your dog in a fearful manner, which is more likely to cause a dog to consider visitors prey and bite them. Use No Trespassing and Dog At Play signs instead.

5. Only bad dogs owned by bad people bite

Even responsible dog owners operate under the same false beliefs about human and canine behavior. They are also encouraged to take a passive role concerning their dog. Any dog can bite especially when it feels personally threatened, is exposed to prey behavior or thinks that someone lower in rank threatens its resources, such as food, toys, bedding and the attention of its owner.

About the Author: Melissa Berryman is a former Massachusetts animal control officer and national dog bite consultant who founded the Dog Owner Education and Community Safety Council. She designed and teaches a safety and liability class for dog owners, from which People Training for Good Dogs is derived. She has worked with more than 10,000 dogs.

I'm a fearless girl who's not afraid to take her place in the world and demand what I deserve. It's just who I am!

Here's the thing: I've just started a new job and some of the other dogs I work with are a bit more, well, demure. I admit I've gotten a bit testy when they get too close to my human, but as I see it, I'm just defining my territory. I don't need the whole office, just the area around my dog bed and food bowl. 

What do you think? Should I tone it down and lower my head, or wag that tail of mine and take all the ear scratches and liver snaps that come my way?

-- Townsend Terrier

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Dear Townsen ...

Wait a minute, I know EXACTLY who this is!! You can't fool me Rrrrramona! You belong to Owen Thomas, the new editor of ReadWrite.com, which shares an office with Dogster! And if by "fearless girl" you mean brazen ball thief, and a "bit testy" equals the wrath of Ramona then yes, you're spot-on, my friend!

So here's the deal, I like you. I like your style, and you're fun to chase around the office. So let's just pretend I'll respect your food bowl and you'll respect mine ... ahahahaaa, ROFL!

We both know that I know that you know that I know, that's not how it will go down. In the meantime, keep up the good work and if you can score me some of those liver snaps I'd be forever grateful. I'm not allowed to have them, because my demure digestion processes them in a way that would make a biker blush.

Love your new pal,
GiGi

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Need more GiGi? Of course you do. Browse the GiGi archives for some doggone good advice.

I got the job because I had worked as a dog walker before, but I was told I was also hired for my "neat appearance."

Why should my appearance matter so much? I would be spending all day on my feet, picking up dog poop, and collecting dog hair.

"We have high-end clients," my boss informed me. I was required to wear a collared shirt.

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This is an appropriate dog-walking outfit. Photo: Autumn trekking with dog by Shutterstock

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NOT an appropriate dog-walking outfit. Photo: Young fashion woman, walking her dog in the park by Shutterstock

One particularly high-end client was a woman who lived alone in a big house on the top of a hill overseeing the rest of the city. Her home was immaculately decorated, so much so that I often wondered if she actually lived there. I once had to use the bathroom and felt a little bit like I was soiling a museum piece. Even the bathroom reading material seemed expertly curated.

Although she wasn't employed, she made a job of fussing over the house's imperfections. A scuff on the wall hailed a team of painters to retouch it, a spot on the rug welcomed professional carpet cleaners to steam and scrub the offending mark out, and I never saw food prepared in the kitchen (though the maids were always carting in paper bags from boutique grocery stores). She also had a dog -- a small purebred Poodle -- that she hired a walker to take out. That walker was me.

The Poodle, named Charles, was well cared for, if perhaps a little under socialized and not very well housebroken. This meant I often had to step over and around the hoses of high-powered carpet cleaners when I went to fetch Charles, who was always sitting up on the arm of an expensive-looking couch -- exactly where he was not supposed to sit. The upholstery showed signs of damage, as dogs have no taste for interior design. Nor can they appreciate Italian craftsmanship.

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"Have you SEEN my haircut?" Photo: Happy Toy poodle puppy close-up portrait (outdoor) by Shutterstock

Many rules governed Charles' walks: He was not to walk on the grass, his paws had to be wiped (with a towel monogrammed with his initials) before he entered the house, and I was to carry (in addition to his poop bags) baby wipes. I don't need to tell you what the wipes were for.

The dog would defecate in the park and I would stand there, wipes in hand, with Charles peering imploringly at me as if to say, "Please don't. The other dogs already think I'm weird. Have you seen my haircut?"

I would respond to my imaginary conversation with Charles, saying, "But your human said to. I mean, are you -- you know -- dirty back there?"

In my imagination Charles would say, "Well, I can do an extra scoot on the grass if you think that would help."

I would say, "OK, but do it quickly so no one can see."

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"No, seriously. Have you SEEN my haircut?" Photo: Groomed Toy poodle with a red flower on dark red background by Shutterstock

So I didn't really use the wipes. I wasn't embarrassed to wipe a dog's butt -- dignity is not something I've cultivated -- but I imagined it was sort of the same thing as someone wearing a really loud perfume on a crowded bus, irritating the refined sense of all the dogs at the dog park. Miraculously, I was allowed to take Charles to the dog park.

Charles often experienced digestive issues. I assumed it was a symptom of stress, of being subjected to his owner's wailing voice whenever a stray mark on a wall appeared, then her ushering a team of strangers to the house, who threw plastic all over the furniture and carpeting.

When these digestive issues flared up, Charles would be rushed to the vet, and the vet would perform blood work and tests and keep the dog overnight for observation, but never deliver a diagnosis.

In my imaginary conversations with Charles, he would tell me, "Dude, I just ate some grass and barfed it up. Dogs eat grass and barf it up -- it's just a thing we do."

But one day Charles' digestive issues expressed themselves through the other end, and it happened right in front of the house before I was supposed to return him. Prior to this incident, Charles had always pooped in the park, and I'd disposed of the poop bags in the public trash cans there. So there I was, doing my best to pluck up every piece of goopy poop off the sidewalk, my dexterity lacking. I finally scooped it all up, pulled the bag inside out, and at the same time, the garage door yawned open. Charles' owner appeared, her maids in tow, heading out to the grocery store. I stood up, bag dangling in one hand and Charles' leash in the other.

The woman shrieked, "What are you doing!"

I fumbled. "My job?"

She became flustered. "No no no, don't bring that in here."

"Bring what?"

"That-that-that bag!"

"I was gonna throw it away in the outside garbage."

"No, you can't throw it in any garbage on the premises."

"Not even the outside garbage?"

"No!"

I was speechless. My mind reeled. What does she do with the poop when I'm not here? What does she think happens to the food the dog eats? Does she poop? I looked to Charles. I imagined him shrugging.

"What am I supposed to do with it?"

"Take it to the park and throw it away," she said, reaching awkwardly for Charles' leash, as if being in the mere presence of the poop bag might cause poop particles to leap out and attach themselves to her face.

"You want me to take this poop bag in my car with me to throw it away in the park?" I wanted to make sure I understood her.

"Yes!"

I think I was stunned by the sheer absurdity of the suggestion, so I did exactly that -- I took the bag full of poop with me, in my car. I drove to the park and tossed it in a trash can there.

And then I sat in my car contemplating other career options.

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The end. Photo: View of advisory signs in public place with complimentary bags and receptacle by Shutterstock

Photo: Dog Day Afternoon - Dog walking and training by Shutterstock

I’m a native English speaker from Canada living in France with my French husband and our six-year-old Dachshund mix, Pinch. Pinch was born and raised in France, and I don’t know how many times friends and family (and perfect strangers) on both sides of the Atlantic have asked me, “So, is he bilingual?” They are being tongue-in-cheek, of course, but nevertheless it got me to thinking. Can a dog actually be bilingual?

I came across this story on bilingual dogs a couple of years ago, and have thought about it on numerous occasions in relation to my own experience with Pinch in France.

I’m not claiming to be an expert on dog psychology, but here are a few things I’ve come to realize about “raising” a bilingual dog:

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"Yes. Uh, I mean, oui. Or maybe, sí. Whatever."

1. Hand gestures and tone of voice speak louder than words

I’ve always found it most effective to associate a verbal command with a hand gesture when training my dog. At a very young age, Pinch learned to park his butt on the floor when I told him “sit” and simultaneously pointed at the ground. Enter my French-speaking husband, Max. I’d watch him try in vain to get Pinch to sit, much to my own amusement.

“Assis!” he’d order. “Ah-ssis!” Pinch would look up at him with soft dewy eyes and blink slowly, tail wagging. I told my husband to repeat the French word for “sit,” but to use his pointer finger as well. Pinch sat.

I’ve realized that I could be telling Pinch to “watermelon,” but as long as I make the pointer-finger gesture at the same time, he’ll sit. Likewise, if I announce the word “walkies” with an excited tone, he’ll start jumping around and run for the door. If I say “walkies” (or its French equivalent, “balade") with a monotone, he won’t move from the couch.

I’m aware there are many dogs out there who can and will respond to individual commands without a particular hand gesture or tone of voice, but for Pinch, he could really care less about what language I’m using if he recognizes what I’m doing with my finger or how happy my voice is.

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"This makes me look Scots. They speak English there, right?"

2. It's best to be aware of your company

For the most part, the people I interact with on a daily basis are French. As a result, I’ve decided that it’s only fair that I speak French to my dog when we're in their company. If anything, being able to reprimand Pinch in French allows me to show my dinner guests that I know it’s not OK for Pinch to be barking out the window or humping his stuffed raccoon. I wouldn’t want to scold him in English and have my French friends think I’m actually encouraging Pinch to lick the cat’s behind rather than dissuading him.

A quick poll of my expat dog-owning friends showed a similar opinion. If you are in the company of French people, and you can speak French yourself, it’s just more polite to yell out “Viens là!” than “Come here!” at the dog park. At least when Pinch ignores me completely, the French people will know I tried.

Interestingly enough, my husband uses these occasions to smugly show off his English vocabulary to other French people. “Stop barkeeeng!” he’ll scold if Pinch gets mouthy, turning to his friends and sighing, “Ugh, you must speak English to this dog if you want him to understand!”

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"I'm tired of thinking about words."

3. My dog helped me learn the language

Owning a dog in France has also shown me how I could improve my French. I consider myself fluent now, but back when I got Pinch, I was nowhere near as comfortable with the language. As a new dog owner, I knew all the necessary questions to ask my rural vet in English, but in French, it was a whole other story.

As I comforted Pinch on the examining table during his first visit (patting his head and whispering, “It’s OK, it’s OK," much to the vet’s bemusement), I struggled to ask her for a flea collar. I finally turned to an elaborate mime routine that involved me pretending to choke myself (a collar, darn it, a collar!) followed by me running my fingers up and down my arm and scratching myself like a scabies patient.

A few embarrassing minutes later, the vet caught on, I got my flea collar, and I resolved to always carry around a pocket French-English dictionary with me to any future vet visits.

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"I'm out. See you tomorrow."

4. The language of love tops them all

Raising a bilingual dog has nothing to do with raising a bilingual child. I don’t plan on telling Pinch all about Niagara Falls and maple syrup, or teaching him the words to the French national anthem. I’d be happy if I could just send my dog off to my French mother-in-law’s for the weekend and have him respond to her “Tais toi!” as well as he listens to my shouting “Be quiet!” (which is to say, not at all). If anything, owning my first dog in a French-speaking country has provided me and Max with a lot of funny stories and fond memories, which we’ll keep long after Pinch is gone.

I do not think my dog is actually bilingual (and he has selective hearing in both languages), but I don’t care. Despite all the difficulties and confusion we’ve faced, at the end of the day, all we really need is the language of love.

Does your dog “speak” more than one language? Tell us about it in the comments!

Their pet parents could easily correct or prevent such behavior, but they don't. My comments about the benefits of training do not hit home. After all, their dogs can do no wrong. Why would they need a trainer?

I dare not be more direct. Friendships end over criticism of parenting styles, whether for human kids or four-legged ones. So, please allow me to vent here. Here are four dogs who drive me batty.

Note: I left out names and breeds, though I need not have bothered. These friends do not regularly read Dogster -- despite needing the wisdom of Ask a Trainer and our other experts -- nor would they see their precious pups in the following descriptions if they did.

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A game of fetch turns into a fight every time. Illustration by Nigel Sussman

1. The bully

The dog of a neighbor, who turns every game of fetch into a fight. Before I throw the ball, he bumps Spot and yaps in his face. When Spot goes after the ball, this little bully runs after him, nipping at his heels. This happens with every throw, until eventually Spot fights back and the game of fetch ends.

I actually enjoy spending time with this neighbor, and I would plan playdates (as opposed to running into her at the park) if she did more than yell out, "Mind your manners!" and "Leave Spot alone!" when this happens.

2. The nonstop barker

This mouthy dog grew up with my pups, Spot and Dolly, and has always loved to hear the sound of her own voice. Happiness, excitement, fear, aggression, and just about every other emotion elicit a high-pitched BARK! And another, and another, and another. She likes to deliver these barks while sitting in my lap, her doggie breath punctuating whatever point she has to make.

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This dog's owner tunes out the annoying barking, but I can't. Illustration by Nigel Sussman

My friend does nothing when this happens. She believes acknowledging the nuisance barking encourages it, so she simply tunes her out. I cannot, and I avoid being in earshot of this dog as much as politely possible.

3. The humper

Several dogs in my circle of friends display this behavior, which I know can happen during normal play and interaction even among neutered and spayed pups. A few get aggressive in their actions, but they do back down once Spot or Dolly have had enough. One in particular, though, just won't stop. He humps dogs. He humps humans. He even has a tree in the backyard with which he likes to spend a little alone time.

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This dog will not stop humping. Illustration by Nigel Sussman

The pet parent of the humper finds all of this quite funny. Me, not so much. Having to constantly peel him off my dogs and me makes spending time with them exhausting.

4. The crapper

More than once, this dog has walked into my house and crapped on the floor. Not in the backyard through which she came, but in the middle of my living room, the hallway to my bedroom (that was a fun surprise to find in bare feet) and even once in Spot and Dolly's bed.

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I really don't appreciate stepping in poop in my home, especially if it did not come from my own dogs. Illustration by Nigel Sussman

I said above that I dare not be more direct in these situations, but this one proves the exception. My friend now knows to empty her pup before coming over or leave her at home. For the most part, I have an open-door policy when it comes to dogs, but stepping in cold crap slams it shut every time.

Despite their annoying behavior, I care for each of these dogs and their pet parents. No dog or human has perfect manners. While I do my best to keep Spot and Dolly from bothering others, they do from time to time. Just ask anyone who has gotten a surprise kiss from Spot (the Gene Simmons of the dog world) or who has been downwind of Dolly on one of her stinkier days.

Let's hear from you, readers. Do the dogs of any of your friends get on your last nerve? Vent in the comments below!

Looking for more stories about pet parenting? Check these out:

• "What Do You Call Yourself?"
• "The Four Parts of My Dogs' Bodies That I'm Obsessed With"
• "5 Nice Things I Can't Have Because I Have Dogs"

Dogs also know how to find the joy in nearly every situation. I'm sure dogs would laugh at my shelves of self-help books. I want some of that poochy panache! Here are six ways I'd like to be more like a dog.

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"Yahooooo!!" Dog Jumping With Stick by Shutterstock

1. I want to smile at strangers

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"Hi!" Smiling Terrier by Shutterstock

The other day in the grocery store, I noticed most people I passed didn't even make eye contact, much less smile or look even moderately friendly. What's up with that? You know what else? I realized I don't regularly make an effort to connect with strangers -- even with a simple smile. And I consider myself a friendly person!

Dogs usually have no trouble in this area. They smile at most everyone, generally don't try to avoid contact, and don't pass judgement. What's the worst thing that could happen if I smile or even extend a greeting? They don't smile back? They don't return my cordial "hi"? Oh, well. We can all take a lesson from our canine friends and show a little friendliness to strangers. We probably want to avoid any crotch-sniffing, but a smile and greeting would be swell.

2. I want to eat everything with gusto

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"I'm so happy right now." Dachshund Eating Food by Shutterstock

Saying a dog eats with gusto might be a bit of an understatement. They absolutely adore their food and embrace mealtime with zeal, times infinity. Sometimes I look at the way I eat. I stand in front of the refrigerator and stare at the contents. Then I walk to the pantry and gaze blankly at its nonperishable innards. Then back to the fridge. Then back to the pantry. This goes on until my hunger quickly morphs into crankiness and I just blindly grab something that looks easy to prepare. Usually it's a bowl of cereal. There is nothing about that whole process that screams "zeal."

You know how you go out to eat and order something that sounds completely heavenly? Like a golden aura surrounds the description in the menu and you hear angelic harps with each bite? That's how a dog feels every time he eats. I want to hear harps when I eat my Cheerios. Or at least a little keytar.

3. I want to stop and smell the flowers

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"There's awesome everywhere I look!" Dog in Grass by Shutterstock

Dogs are the most grateful beings on this planet. They appreciate every belly scratch, treat, sniff, squirrel sighting, and kind word. And each wag of the tail and doggy kiss is a emphatic "thank you!" Sometimes my "thank you" is an automatic reply, and I don't stop and allow the feeling of gratitude to really sink in. With dogs, every "thank you" not only sinks in, it oozes out! I want to ooze -- not in a creepy way. In a thankful way. 

4. I want to always ask for what I want

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"And make it snappy!" Chihuahua Talking on Phone by Shutterstock

Do I always ask for what I want? No. Why? Because as humans, we sometimes feel like we're being rude or greedy if we make a request. Sometimes you have to ask in order to get. I'm working on this one. Dogs have it down pat. Even if they don't open their cute little mouths, their eyes speak volumes. Have you ever eaten a piece of cheese in front of a dog? You know the look I'm talking about. And we usually give in, right? At least some of the time.

As humans, we need to do more than stare when we want something -- we need to ask. Although there's something to be said for the puppy dog eyes. They work wonders on my husband. 

5. I want to use things 'til they're spent

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"It's still plenty good!" Dog and Tennis Ball by Flickr Creative Commons

Dogs love their toys and will play with a tennis ball until it's completely busted open and caked with layers of drool and mud. And they're no more excited about a new ball than they are the nasty old one. They love their stuff 'til there's no more lovin' to be had.

I think about that when I consider my patterns. I sometimes buy new when the old will do just as well. I've sort of become the consumer I've always complained about. Not that there's anything wrong with nice new things, but accumulating unecessary stuff is not how I want to be. In fact, I try to shop at thrift shops and recycle my own things when I can. I could be much better about it, though. I need to apply the tennis-ball principle to my shoe-buying habit. 

6. I want to get excited about everything

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"YES!" Dog Running on Beach by Shutterstock

Who's more excited that a dog? Nobody. I love feeling excited and, truly, there are so many things in my life to feel excited about. You know that feeling when you receive a really cool gift or find that perfect pair of shoes? I'd like to feel that excited about other things, like spending an afternoon with a friend or hearing a song I really love on the radio. Not that I don't feel happy about those things, I just love that excited feeling so much and would like to experience it more often.

Dogs feel absolutely exuberant about most everything. Going to a walk? Yay! Grandma's over? Yay! Chipmunks on the front porch? Yay! I would love to feel more excited about the small things. But I definitely don't want to pee on the floor. 

In what ways do you wish you were more like a dog? Tell us about it in the comments!

Read more posts by Angie Bailey:

• Living With Cats and Dogs: Is It a War Zone? Try a WEIRD Zone!
• 5 Reality Shows That Would Be WAY Better With Dogs
• 6 College Degrees for Dogs 

Like us, dogs can't wait for the season to turn in earnest, bringing with it sunny days, a renewed sense of vitality, and the promise of summer. In particular, dogs can't wait to do these 10 things in spring:

1. Shed that winter coat

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Photo by _tar0_

This applies to dogs of the double coat variety, but man, it's been a bummer carrying all that extra fur around, are we right? Not to mention it adds, like, five extra pounds to your frame, and if it's not groomed properly can just appear unseemly.

2. Enjoy more daylight

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Photo by johnqs

Which means more time in the day to nap in sun puddles, fetch sticks, go on long walks, play with the human friends, and harass the cat.

3. Nap in the sunshine

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Photo by lhiltpix

Longer daylight hours and warmer weather have dogs everywhere clearing their agendas and writing in, "Take a six-hour nap." 

4. Play in the mud

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Photo by Aggarwal_Gopal

As the snow melts and the rain falls, all that exposed dirt is just ripe for epic mud puddles. Free of the burden of her winter coat, the dog now relishes any chance to roll around in dirt soup.

5. Roll in the grass

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Photo by helena.40proof

An extension of rolling in the mud, as grass casts off its icy prison, new, fresh, soft lawns reveal themselves … we believe it is dog law that compels canines to roll around in grass as well as mud.

6. Eat the grass after rolling in it

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Photo by ajball90

Mmm, fresh, sweet grass to eat and then hack up violently on the rug! Perfect, right? Who doesn't love a good belly-clutching yack on the rug?

7. Go to the beach

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Photo by uberphot

Well, all right, it's not quite warm enough for the beach yet, but at least the dream is a little closer to reality.

8. Go swimming

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Photo by pmarkham

Because swimming is fun!

9. Smell new smells

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Photo by Anna Majkowska

Flowers are blooming! Which bring with them a whole new bouquet of delicious smells to investigate. What's the story, Morning Glory?

10. Puppies!

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Photo by Kiwi NZ

Okay, this one is for us more than the dogs. Spring is typically when animals have babies, and everyone loves puppies!

Can't get enough spring puppies? Here are more puppies! While springtime is great and exciting, it can also pose a host of hazards to your dog, so make sure you read up on them. Even though it's April Fool's Day today, do not prank these serious dogs -- you will be sorry.

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From the great country of New Zealand.

We have our first setback. Last week, a dog and his owner were tooling around York, PA. The man needed to stop at Hokes Mill, so he hopped out and gave control of the car to the dog, telling him to "keep 'er purring and meet me out front."

Nah, just kidding. He didn't do that. He did something just as silly: He got out and left the car running, with his dog inside, according to the AP. Obviously, the dog saw his opportunity, barked "I'm outta here!" and slammed it into drive. 

Actually, police think he just sort of nudged the car into drive, accidentally. But, really, who's to say?

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Dog with paws on wheel by Shutterstock.

In any case, what the dog did next doesn't fly in the highways and byways and parking lots of this great country. He ran smack dab into a pedestrian, one of the employees of Hokes Mill. You might think, "What, the pedestrian didn't see the dog driving the car?"

This was a good guy, however. A citizen. He was trying to stop the dog from driving the car, but cars driven by dogs don't stop so easily. The dog hit the man, causing him to fall to the ground, where he hit his head and was knocked unconscious. 

He was still out of it when the police arrived, and was taken to the hospital. Fortunately, he's fine, and he was released a short time later. 

No word on what happened to the dog. He's probably headed to New Zealand. 

Ben and Jade were two strays, mixed German Shepherds, who lived a rough life fending for themselves on the streets of Terre Haute, IN -- though they were looked after somewhat by people in the area and fed by the staff at Benjamin’s Family Dining, according to TribStar.com.

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This is Ben.

But when Jade got pregnant by Ben, the Humane Society stepped in, trapping them both so Jade could have her puppies in a safe place. They knew they had a serious relationship on their hands.

“They were a bonded pair,” said Charles Brown, shelter manager.

Jade had her puppies -- six, all now adopted out -- and Jade and Ben spent several months in the shelter, even sharing the same pen. 

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This is Jade.

Then one day a couple came in, Courtney and Jason Lawler, and adopted Ben. They did not adopt Jade. They had a 3-year-old and thought they could handle only one dog. 

It took Ben just three weeks of plotting before he made his escape. Jason was taking out the trash. The door was open. Ben bolted, not looking back. He went out into the night to find Jade. He went out in the cold to somehow find the shelter.

According to TribStar.com, Ben crossed 10 miles of busy streets, railroad tracks, and fields. It was freezing out. Somehow, in about 24 hours, he did it. He found Jade.

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"He came out of nowhere and started licking her through the fence, like they were kissing," Courtney Lawler told NBC2 News.

But Ben also didn't want to be caught, and because he was so street savvy, he knew how to do that, conducting a huge, hours-long game of cat-and-mouse with the shelter staff. Ultimately, they used a dart gun to capture him. 

Ben's amazing journey, however, paid off. The Lawlers decided that Jade would be coming home with them as well. Today, the two dogs are back to being inseparable.

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"They go on walks together, and stay together at all times," said Courtney Lawler.

"They want to be together," said Debbie Floyd, president of the Humane Society board.
"There hasn’t been a lot of human love in their lives. They found love with each other and that what’s make them happy. ... Hopefully, they will live their lives happily ever after.”

Via TribStar.com

Of course, this dog behavior isn’t limited to shoes, though they are a favorite of most dogs. Everything is up for grabs with our pups, including shirts, socks, undies, hand towels, and rolls of toilet paper.

According to Peteducation.com, our domestic dogs bury bones and other items much like how their wild ancestors often buried their food. In the wild, wolves or foxes sometimes kill an animal that’s too big to eat all at once, or they bury food to protect it from being found by another animal. This is called caching or hoarding. While domestic dogs don’t typically need to bury food like their wild counterparts, the instinct to bury treats and other items is still very strong in man’s best friend.

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Farm dog investigating by Shutterstock.

My Schnauzer girl Dusty is a big fan of taking something that doesn’t belong to her and carrying it around the house in search of the perfect spot to hide it. Since she’s still a puppy, I’ll eventually find the items with some teeth marks and wet slobber, where she has mouthed the item into submission.

She doesn’t feel the need to hide her toys and chew treats around the house. She usually just chews on them or plays with them until she loses interest. Then she leaves them on the floor in the exact spot where she had been playing. Unfortunately, this is usually right in the middle of the floor, where I’ll step on them if I’m not watching where I’m going. At least once per day, we make a game out of picking them all up and placing them back in her two baskets, which are strategically located in her designated play areas. If she drags them out again right before bedtime and I happen not to notice, it inevitably results in my stepping on the toys or chew treats with my bare feet in the middle of the night, if I happen to get up. Of course, that’s one sure way to be sure everyone is awakened in the middle of the night!

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Dusty prepares to bury a chew toy.

For some reason, there is one treat, an edible bone, that she does prefer to hide before eating. She will dig a spot in her doggie bed and hide it under the pillow. If I spot it in the bed and bring it to her attention, she'll move it behind a cabinet or desk. This game will go on for hours before she decides that it’s been hidden long enough, and she'll finally eat it.

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Dog digging by Shutterstock.

I would say this is just a Schnauzer characteristic and blame it on the breed. However, none of my other Schnauzers demonstrated this trait. Also, none of my Pomeranians ever felt the need to hide or bury anything. Even my Collie/Shepherd mix, which spent all of his time outdoors, never chose to bury his bones or treats. I guess it really just comes down to a dog’s inherent nature to hide items from anyone who she thinks may want them. Or it might be just my little Schnauzer girl who likes to hide everything from sight -- or at least the items that belong to me!

Does your dog like to hide or bury things? What’s the strangest thing your dog has hidden or buried?

Dogs do lots of other weird things. Check out these other posts on Dogster:

• Does Your Dog Sing? Is It a Blessing or a Curse?
• Does Your Dog’s Personality Match Yours?
• Does Your Dog Stick His Tongue Out in Photos on Purpose?