All dogs are good, in the sense that all dogs have innate goodness to them, but not all dogs are good in the sense of earning the words "good boy/girl" on a regular basis. Some dogs are, in fact, extremely bad. They chew up the furniture, they bark all the time, they don't come when they're called, they terrorize the neighborhood, they get into fights with other dogs and they leave messes all over the place. Do we still love them? Sure. Do we wish they would behave differently? Well, yes.

Dogs are family members, but just as humans live together most comfortably when they have good boundaries and clear expectations, dogs love it when they know what's expected of them. As nearly all dog owners eventually figure out - if they didn't know before they brought their pooch home for the first time - clear rules that are firmly and kindly enforced are necessary for dogs. It's not just a question of safety, though of course you need to know your dog won't run into the road or eat something you know is dangerous. It's also a matter of happiness. Our dogs want to please and protect us, and showing them how is one of the great gifts we can give them. Still, it's an easier gift to give some dogs than others!

Has your dog mastered the art of doing good, instead of just being good? Let's find out!