The majority of information contained in training books is very similar in its method. The trainers who write the books are giving you the knowledge of their experiences. In doing so, they forget that the majority of folks owning dogs do not intend to exhibit them. The owner only wants to have a dog that will come when called and have some manners that would make it acceptable to their friends, family, and the general public. Inside you will find that I have tried to create a guide for the general dog owner. It is not intended to create a show dog or an award-winning dog, but to give you the groundwork, if that is your desire. This book is intended to help in choosing your dog, understanding your dog, training your dog in basic obedience, and accomplishing some of the general skills that are needed to be a successful dog owner. Dogs are living, loving creatures that make every effort to understand humans and try to please us by fitting into our pack. If you want the bond often seen with some other dog owners, you have to make an effort to understand the dog. Choosing the right breed of dog for your lifestyle is more important as choosing the type of car you are going to drive. Most people will spend weeks studying vehicles before making a decision as to which one will suit their lifestyle, taste, and pocketbook. Choosing a dog should be done in the same manner. Unfortunately, some dogs are chosen as a spontaneous thought, a spur-of-the-moment decision, without any real thought going into it. I am a breeder of Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dogs, and I have never seen an ugly puppy in any of my litters. Puppies are cute, and this is what causes most people to take a dog from someone wanting to get rid of an unwanted pup or litter. It is also the way those looking for a dog are swayed to purchase a dog that is not really what they desire. For example, have you ever seen a pet shop that displays grown dogs? All of the display cages are placed in a position so the public may see the cute puppies that are available. People giving away puppies will show up in parking lots with a boxful of cute, unwanted puppies. Shoppers passing these puppies will stop and look at the puppies and admire how cute they are. Then the thoughts of what may happen to those puppies cause them to take one home, even though they were not looking for a puppy. I am not saying that people who take free puppies are irresponsible dog owners, but most do not think beyond the puppy stage before they take the puppy. Those who are giving them away are not bad people either. You must consider, though, if these puppies are being given away, this was not a planned litter, and the adult dogs should have been spayed or neutered. It is this type of irresponsible breeding that is overpopulating the world with unwanted dogs. If you do not want puppies, do not allow the chance for a breeding. Owning a dog takes time away from other things that you could be doing. There will be times that are inconvenient for you when you may have to go to the veterinarian's office. You may have to change some plans because of your dog. You may have to spend a little extra money to board your dog while you are away on vacation, or contact someone to take care of your dog while you are away. Owning a dog is a responsibility that must be considered and accepted before bringing one into your life. Many dog lovers do not own dogs. Why? Their lifestyles do not permit them to own a dog. They have accepted the fact that a dog would be a responsibility that could interfere with their lives, and they have eliminated the possibility of dog ownership. Not everyone needs to own a dog, and in some cases, there are those who should not own a dog. If you have decided that you want to own a dog, this book will help you in making some of the decisions that you may have overlooked in your quest for dog ownership.