Hello, and welcome to the Modern Manners Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Polite Life.

Today's topic: doggie do's and don'ts.

Your dog Fifi, the 120 pound rottweiler, is really a member of the family, you say.  And Butch, your teacup poodle, is so nearly human he all but speaks. Not that canine companions aren't wonderful parts of many people's lives, but sometimes people loose their manners when it comes to their pooches.  So a few tips on how to be polite with your pup.

When out in public, make sure that your dog is properly trained and socialized, and if your dog has behavioral problems like biting or excessive aggression, you should not take him or her out in public until you get the problems under control. 

It goes without saying that you should always pick up after your dog, whether in the street, in a park, on the beach or on someone's lawn, so always have a supply of bags and a few tissues or paper towels in case you need them.  When you throw away your dog’s refuse, try to use public trash cans.  Trash bins from private homes are usually put out the day of collection, and often sit empty until their owners return home from work to bring them inside.  If you use these bins for your dog's waste, this may mean that the residents will have to live with the smell inside of their homes for the whole week, so please try to use the public waste containers.

Be mindful of where your dog urinates as well, especially if you have a large dog.  If you think someone might not appreciate urine on their flower beds, entry stairs or the like, be proactive and guide your dog away from these targets – there are plenty of other nice landmarks to use.

If you are going to an outdoor café where dogs are permitted, be sure your dog is trained to sit quietly, and will not beg or bark excessively while other customers are trying to eat.  If you are going to a public park, you should generally keep your dog on leash, except where off-leash running is permitted.  If you let your dog run around where people are sitting on blankets or having picnics, you should have your dog within sight and under voice command.  If you cannot control your dog from running over people's blankets or stealing food, then you should not let her or him loose.

If you are visiting someone's home, you should not take your dog in, unless you know the people well and you have asked in advance if you may bring your dog.  If someone asks you if they may bring their dog to your house, it is perfectly polite to say no.  If you have a dog and you have friends over to your house, it is of course your right to live in your home the way you choose.  Even so, a dog should not bite, bark viciously, or jump on people you have identified as friendly and accepted in your home. 

If you do have behavioral problems with your dog, the ASPCA website has information and links to guides on training your dog, and your local animal care centers will have information on classes and trainers in your area.

So remember to sit, roll over and stay polite, and thank you for listening to quick and dirty tips for a more polite life.