Dangerous dogs are news worthy. Stories about dogs biting, maiming and killing people make headlines. The actuality is less then 18 human deaths per year are the result of dog attacks. Humans are far more dangerous to dogs. It is estimated more than one million dogs are euthanized in animal shelters annually!

Many dogs that meet this end are not vicious. They do not bite or attack humans. They pee in the house, chew up shoes and bark too much. Their only crime is that no one took the time to teach them behavior that is acceptable to humans.

Every week I get calls and emails that begin with "I am at my wit's end", "This is the last straw" or "I desperately need help". My question is why do humans wait until they are at the breaking point? Honestly, if you are at your wit's end, you have probably all ready decided to get rid of your pet. At that point, no trainer can give you a fix quick enough that will solve your problem and undo the resentment you are feeling.

As much as humans love dogs, we sometimes over look that fact that dogs...well, they behave like animals. They cannot help it. They are genetically wired to bark, dig, jump and chew.

I have a dog that likes, no, loves to bark. I accept this as a training challenge. He does not bark to make me angry. He barks because to him, it is fun. It is my responsibility to find a way to change his behavior, not return him to rescue because I am at my wit's end.

When I get calls about adolescent dogs chewing up a new pair of shoes, I do not blame the dog. I blame to owner. Why are the shoes where the dog could chew them? Everything is a chew toy to an eight-month-old puppy. Chewing is a normal canine behavior. Train the pup to chew appropriate items and put your shoes in the closet Again, this is no reason to turn the dog in to the Humane Society, he is being a dog!

The biggest offense is lack of housetraining. Please, crate and supervise your untrained dog. Management is the key to housetraining, not euthanasia.

Humane societies and rescues do a wonderful job placing dogs in new homes. They cannot save every animal that comes through their doors. Some dogs truly do not belong in homes as pets. However, over a million canine euthanasia deaths per year are horrifying. As the more intelligent species, we need to accept the responsibility of teaching our canine friends how to behave in a human world.

Cissy Sumner of Best Behavior Dog Training is Vero's first Certified Professional Dog Trainer. If you have a training or behavior question, email Cissy at bbdogtraining@bellsouth.net. Visit www.pawprintsofverobeach.com for group training information. Private training is available by appointment.