Living with multiple dogs, making dogs your living, you learn a lot of silly little things you never think to tell people, but you also learn a lot of important things, too. Here are 20 quick tips that make living with dogs easier and safer.

1. When grooming your dog, start with the part your dog dislikes the most, usually clipping nails. End the grooming session with the part your dog likes best; for most dog,s this is long brush strokes along the back or under the neck. That way, the next time you get the grooming kit out, your dog remembers the good part, not the bad.

2. Always teach your dog to wait either at the top or bottom of the steps for you to finish going up or down. A dog on your heels is a tripping hazard, and lots of people are injured every year falling over their dogs.

3. In the same line, teach your dog to stay where he is while you step over him. A dog leaping up mid-step can send you flying. I also always teach my dogs that two light taps from my foot on their rear combined with “Excuse me” means you get up and move.

4. Collars need to fit properly. Once a dog knows he can slip his collar their whole world changes. Make sure the collar your dog wears can't slip up over his ears but still has room for you to fit a couple of fingers underneath.

5. Dogs should go into crates naked. Tags can get caught between the tray and the side of the crate in wire crates and even in the wire “windows” in plastic crates.

6. Along the same line, make sure the crate door is closed securely, top and bottom. Even dogs who are well crate trained may decide to try to get out for some reason, and a partially latched crate may mean they can get their head out and get stuck that way.

7. Dogs wearing choke or pinch collars should always have them removed when left alone.

8. Toys should always be picked up when you're leaving the house, but knotted rawhide bones can be especially dangerous to leave out with your dog. The knots are usually fairly easy for dogs to chew off and this presents a choking hazard.

9. If you own a breed predisposed to bloat (usually large, deep chested breeds) keep a simethicone product on hand. Gas-X is one brand. If you suspect bloat, it is a safe drug to give and may save your dog's life.

10. If your dog gets loose and is playing “catch me if you can”, run the other direction, away from your dog, clapping your hands and encouraging them to come. Most dogs can't resist tagging along, especially if you sound like you're having a great time and couldn't care less if they join you or not. Alternatively, if you sit down on the ground and act like there's something very interesting there, or cry like you just hurt yourself, your dog will usually come over to investigate.

11. Don't make those strange non-dog people hate us. Take a bag and pick up after your dog. The amount of you-know-what I see when walking my dogs is embarrassing. I was picking up after one of my dogs the other day, and someone actually thanked me for doing that. Is this basic act of good manners becoming so rare that people thank you for being responsible?

12. Every dog should know how to be led by both her collar and (gently) by the scruff of her neck. It's a simple fact that dogs get loose sometimes. It's surprising how many dogs don't have these easy-to-teach skills that can make your life so much easier.

13. I'm not a fan of dogs being tied out. A chained dog (and if your dog is going to be tied out while you're not home, they definitely need a coated airline cable or chain - something they can't chew through) is, statistically, the dog most likely to bite, especially if said dog is an intact male. If you have no other choice than to tie your dog, make sure he is wearing a harness.

14. Canned pumpkin can put a stop to a dog with the runs. Oddly enough it also works on dogs whose plumbing is working a little slowly. As long as you know that your dog's loose stool is the result of a dietary indiscretion or some other non-medical issue like stress, add a small amount, depending on the size of your dog, up to about ½ cup, to their food. Works like a charm.

15. If bath time is always a struggle and your dog is food-motivated, smearing peanut butter or squeeze cheese onto the tile can keep your little darling happily occupied while you lather and rinse.

16. It's an old wives tale that dogs who have hair covering their eyes need it to protect them from the sun. Dogs are happier when they can see, so keep that hair trimmed.

17. Ya know, your dog doesn't have to hike his leg wherever he pleases when out for a walk. Be a responsible dog owner and teach your dog the simple command “Not there!” to prevent destruction of your neighbor's petunia's and evergreens. They'll love you for it.

18. Dog doors can be an awesome accoutrement to your life, but they are not without problems. For one thing, bladder control is a learned behavior. If your dog always has easy access to the great outdoors, this skill won't be learned and you will forever have a dog who, like your favorite 3-year-old child, always has to go now. Plus, don't think those racoons and squirrels hanging around the yard won't someday discover that handy access to your home.

19. Do the staff of your favorite veterinary clinic a favor. Dogs should show up for appointments on a five to six-foot leash with a buckle collar. Flexi-leads, pinch collars, even choke collars can be a painful nightmare when it comes to restraining your dog.

20. And finally - watch your dog's behavior with strangers. I recently stopped at Belle Tire to have them fix a leaky tire on my van. I had two dogs with me and was firmly informed that dogs were no longer allowed in the building after someone had been bitten by a client's dog. I was not happy. Not only do I now have to find a different tire place — since I try to support dog friendly establishments —  but it also really, really makes me angry that this establishment was put in this position. Being allowed to have our dogs accompany us on forays around town is a privilege, not a right. If your dog's behavior with strangers or housebreaking is a little sketchy, do the rest of us a favor and leave it at home until you get the behavior under control. Pet stores lose vast amounts of product when someone's little angel leaves their mark, so to speak, on their stock. At this point, pet stores are one of the places where you are pretty much guaranteed your dog will be happily allowed. We all need to do our part to be able to continue this practice.

Amy Samida is a dog trainer and owner of Naughty Dog Cafe in Ann Arbor. She can be reached at amy@naughtydogcafe.com or 734-276-3522.