When our pups misbehave—which is about as frequently as your average pre-talking infant if it had the ability to run fast and bark—we don’t know what to do. We get frustrated. We holler, smack, freak out or let it happen.

There’s an alternative. Rent The Dog Whisperer. Learn to be a calmly assertive packleader—don’t let the dog walk in front of you, or go through doorways first. Learn that 90% of problems are related to not enough exercise or discipline. Learn when to give affection. Get that master and buddy relationship you wanted in the first place.

From the Holiday 08 issue.