Over the past several years, I found there were five articles from my blog that became more and more popular. These five got more views, comments and results than any of my other articles. In fact, my first session with clients often focused on these five topics as a way to jump-start training and leadership not to mention helping with owner frustration. I even started carrying copies of these articles in my car to give clients after our sessions. Then, one day, a client made two observations that have stuck with me, and been repeated by a few others as well:

You know, everything you just taught me is really nothing more than common sense and I really should have been able to figure this out on my own . . .

AND

Why on earth have you not put these ideas into a book?

Well, that was about three years ago, during that time, we finished up our book on potty training - The Dog Owner’s Book of Poop and Pee - and also released a book for shelter volunteers called Forever Home . . . Dog Training 101 & How to be a Better Shelter Volunteer . Instead of taking a break and enjoying the fact that both were done, I instead sit here with the final draft of Five Steps to the Perfect Pet in my hand ...I hope it helps you as much as it did the clients that inspired me to write it!

Mike Deathe CPDT-KA