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Speak Up

I know far too many spouses who find themselves ousted from marital harmony by the pooch. The grumblings of the contemporary dog owner sound like descriptions of a disgruntled ex:

"The dog growls at my husband whenever he hugs me."

"Our dog lunges and snarls at me if I try to snuggle with my husband on the sofa."

Or, just last weekend at an event in Northern California, "The dog won't let my wife sleep on our bed."

The problems here are two-fold. First, in these families, the pooch wears the pants. No boundaries, no rules, no training. Second, their dogs are aggressive.

Here are a few tips to keep the pooch in his place - and your marriage off the rocks:

- The dog should not have the run of the house for the first two years. Young pups should be supervised at all times: confined to one visible part of the house when you're home with them, and in their comfortable crates when you're not.

- Do not allow the dog to sleep in the bed with you. Dogs do not belong on Cal-King pillow-top mattresses.

- Do not allow the dog on any furniture at all. He won't understand that the bed and the leather recliner are off limits, but the ottoman is fine.

- Obedience-train your dog.

* Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!". Send your questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.