Many of my clients call their dog their soul mate of their baby, but the dog tears up the furniture and drags them all over the neighborhood on a walk. The client pleads with the dog to behave, cajoles the dog, and offers her treats with no change in the dog’s behavior.

Why? Dogs are animals, and they respond to calm-assertive leadership—not emotional arguments of negotiations. If u have a dog in your life, it is important to understand how to allow her to live in a balanced way and achieve a healthy state of mind.

Dogs have found themselves in an odd predicament door living with humans....