I found Cesar Millan to be the key to teaching dogs what the rules of the house are. And there are just a few big ones: I'm the pack leader, so when we walk they are beside me, they're not out front pulling (and trying to assert their leadership). And I'm in charge of the food. So at meal time I put their bowls of food on the floor and they wait till I tell them to "eat!" before diving it. They do the related parlor trick when I show them a treat, they sit or get down on the floor (I say "down" and hold the hand held flat flush with my ear, a hand sign they recognize) and I put the treat on the floor - and tell them when they can have it. These two food things are win/win - they love to do the trick because they get food and when they do it right they get the food.

My first dog since childhood was my pitbull Cinnamon who arrived as an injured big pup. We didn't find the owners so I kept her because she was so sweet and smart, but not accustomed to a leash or walking. I wondered about keeping an American Staffordshire Terrier (one of the several "bully" breeds) but once I saw Cesar work with them that convinced me I could do it. Any new dog that comes to the house (I'm on my fifth now, having lost the first two elderly ones in the last five years) they learn "the walk," and then we reinforce my pack leader status with food.

I'm having a struggle with the youngest one now, she has decided she doesn't like the head collar, but I think it is a combination of as she grew and it became too tight, then I didn't adjust it out correctly. I think we've got the right combination now (because she forgets to protest about it and just walks.)

It was very hard to lose that first one, she had to be euthanized as cancer progressed to the point where there was no joy for her, and it isn't something you get used to with new dogs and as time passes. The one I lost most recently managed to go on her own terms; she was failing only in the last week or so and one night overnight she lay down in her favorite place and died in her sleep.

There are lots of things they know about me that they respond to. One of those things I noticed recently is that when I'm in the kitchen and drop something I tend to say "oops!" and they dash in to see what's on the floor for the first comer.