Making your dog mind its manners

All of the dogs my family has owned went to school--obedience training, actually. It may sound like an added expense, especially considering professional obedience training can cost $40 to $125 for four to six weekly classes. But it's an expense worth taking.

We've all been around those crazy dogs that jump, constantly bark, or are all together wound up without any sort of control from the owners.

I found some tips about obedience training that I'll share with you.

Dogs need structure and commands to follow. Although tasks like sit, stay and lie down seem arbitrary, they build trust between dogs and and their owners. Dogs like to be rewarded for their good behavior, but without proper training, they won't know which behaviors are appropriate and which are not.

Just like people, dogs don't like confusion. They need to know their place, which means they respect their owner(s) as the boss.

Also, for owners with kids, having an obedient dog will help them feel more confident with having the dog around kids. This extends to other dogs or pets in the family too.

Additionally, there is a sense of satisfaction when you give your dog a command and he or she actually obeys. How impressed will your friends be when you tell your dog to "shake" and he just does it!

Training can seem overwhelming, but it's important to make it fun for both you and your dog. Be sure to reward your dog with treats and praise for good behavior. Also, never, ever hit a dog. A simple scold or nudge will do when your dog needs his or her behavior corrected.

For information on local obedience classes, try your local humane society or pet store. There are also hundreds of "Do-it-yourself" books out there if you don't want to spend the money on an instructor. Or, if you're more of a TV person, check out "The Dog Whisperer." The host of the show, Cesar Millan, can do some amazing things with out of control dogs.

Just because dogs are animals, doesn't mean they can't learn to mind their manners.

Note: The photo was taken from the Associated Press wire service. The caption reads: Chenwei Hsieh and his dog "Juicy" go for a bike ride along Richmond St. in London, Ontario, Canada on Saturday, May 2, 2009. Instead going for a walk, Hsieh takes a leisurely bike ride while "Juicy" runs behind him. When she's tuckered out she hops on his back and enjoys the ride home. (AP Photo/The Canadian Prss,London Free Press-Derek Ruttan)