Please, please oh please ditch the poop bags dangling from your pet's leash. Yes, it's convenient and the little hydrant bobbling about is oh so cute. And, your dog hates it.

In the old days a leash was just a leash. We used it to protect, control and train our pets. It was a six foot length of smooth, usually of leather or cotton, material that did one job.

It's the new dog training game! Learn to play cues and consequences and your pup's a winner, each round.

We can dissect training to its most basic form with just these two elements. What's the cue and what's the consequence after the cue? A cue is a command/stimulus/verbal or hand gesture. A consequence is what happens after the dog responds to the cue. Consequences can be happy or unhappy.

To get you warmed up for the first round here's an example of Cues and Consequences.

Imagine you are the head keeper at the We Love Animals Zoo. Wear a nifty uniform and hat if ya wanna be extra imaginative. You are given the job of creating the exhibit for a new animal, a speckled-horned-long eared-hippo. What to do?

How does your dog know it’s a dog toy? Can he read the label? All you need to accomplish this literary feat is a laundry hamper. Contrary to popular opinion all dogs are literate. They read with their noses and insist that all popular dog novels be prepared in an olfactory factory.

Ever wondered about the hidden world of dog trainer sales tatics?

Here's a few tidbits that pet owners rarely are allowed to know.

"You have to socialize your pup"
"Aren't you socializing him yet?'
"He has to go to the dog park so he can socialize with dogs"

Huh? Exactly what does 'socialize' mean and how do we do it?

It's the new dog training game!

Learn to play cues and consequences where your pup's a winner, each and every round.

Want to pep up your dog’s listening skills? Here’s an oh-so-fun way that increases his listening and your laughter.