Something else I forgot... If you think the dog is doing something it knows it shouldn't to get your attention, ignore it. They don't act with the intention of making you mad, they just want your attention and don't care if its good or bad. So unless they are chewing on Grandma's hope chest, make like they aren't even there.
I try to make eye contact often with Charley, I smile at him often as well. He's not eager to please but does listen and is more inclined to listen if I'm already in a good mood and using a pleasant voice. That's not to say that you can't say NO if you catch them being idiots but once you've corrected, forget about it and move on.
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