How do you feel? You’re mad, but at the same time you feel guilty because he is cooped up all day. What can you do? You can’t leave him outdoors all day because he may dig our, or jump out and get stolen. He’s a part of the family so placing him in another home is out of the question. But you can’t go on like this any longer.

The answer? Dog obedience training. Obedience training is a mutually pleasurable experience for the whole dog and the whole family. Obedience training can stop some of his behavior problems and relieve your anger. The quality time and individual attention you sped while training him will foster mutual love and respect.

Basic obedience training gives you a chance to make your dog a good pet as well as a good companion. Mainly, you learn how to have fun with your dog while establishing control. No dog is too old to learn. You will learn to teach your dog how to "Come," "Sit," "Down," "Stay," walk at your side ("Heel"), pay attention and most of all, respond you your commands. Heeling is emphasized so you can take walks with your dog without being dragged down the street.

For the proud parents of a new puppy (10 weeks to 5 months old), puppy classes provide socialization opportunities, housebreaking (potty training), and instructions in grooming, crating and puppy obedience. An obedient dog is a happy and content dog that looks forward to your return, He is recognized as a "good citizen" and can accompany the family on outings instead of being left at home.

Once you have learned to teach basic obedience to your dog, you will be able to teach him anything. There are many fun dog sports out there for you to try. A variety of dog events are held almost every weekend. The Astrohall World Series of Dog Shows is one of the nation’s largest dog shows held each July in Houston. At this show you can see dogs competing in the Breed ring (conformation), Agility Trials, Flyball Races and Obedience Trials.

At Breed shows, pure-bred dogs compete against each other for points toward their American Kennel Club championships. Each dog is judges against the ideal breed standard. The dogs are judges on looks, structure, movement, temperament and other ideal qualities.

Agility is a physical sport where you guide your dog through a course of obstacles. The dog has to navigate through tunnels, jumps, and suspended tires. He also has to climb a six foot tall A-frame and dog-walk, as well as weave in and out through a series of 10-12 poles. Each level is more difficult, has more obstacles and allows less time to complete.

Flyball is a fun sport where the dog teams compete against each other in relay races to obtain Flyball titles and win tournaments. Each team consists of four dogs. Every dog on a team must jump over four hurdles and hit a box that will eject a tennis ball. The dog must bring the ball back over the hurdles. Once that dog is back, then the next dog goes until every dog on the team has completed the course. Each team is racing not only against the clock but each other. Dogs win titles based on the speed of their team.

Obedience Trials test the dog’s ability to willingly perform obedience commands. There are three levels of competition – Novice, Open and Utility. In Novice, the dog heel on and off leash, stand still for exam by the judge, come when called and sit and down stay for a few minutes with the handler in sight. In Open, the dog must heel off leash, drop on recall, retrieve a dumbbell on the flat as well as over a high jump, jump over a broad jump and perform a sit and down stay for a few minutes with the handler our of the room. The Utility exercises are the most complex. Almost all commands are by hand signal and all are off leash. It includes scent discrimination, directional retrieving, and directional jumping. Once a dog completes all three levels, it can continue competition for points towards its Obedience Trial Championship.

These are only some of the dog sports that are available for you and your family to try. Obedience classes will get you and your dog off to the right start. Obedience clubs, like the Houston Obedience Training Dog Club in Houston, Texas, offer training classes that teach you how to train your dog. No dog is too old to learn. Family members are invited to observe the class to pick up training tips. Check the yellow pages, or talk to your veterinarian or local shelter to help you find an obedience school. With obedience training, you can turn your "Latch Key Dog" into an enjoyable competitor that will provide the whole family with an outlet of fun!