Keep in mind that your tone needs to be consistent in order to get a reliable response from the dog. Change the tone of your voice and you may be changing the whole meaning of the command.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Next spray the soiled area using a mixture of one cup white vinegar and four cups of water. After a few minutes, rub the spot with a damp cloth. Then sprinkle the area (even if it’s still wet) with a mixture of one cup baking soda and two drops of bergamot oil, a pleasant smelling essential oil sold in health food stores. If it starts to bubble, don’t worry, that just means it’s working. Allow the mixture to completely dry before vacuuming.

Before trying this tip, test the mixture in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t discolor your rug.

Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here.

It is important to note that you should NEVER use the COME command to call a dog to you for any discipline, because if you call a dog over to yell, scream, or scold him, do you really think that he will be anxious to COME to you again?

All it takes is a few “bad eggs,” a few humans not cleaning up after their dog, for communities to start considering dog bans in public walking areas. Make sure that you don’t leave your home without bags for cleaning up, “just in case!”

Once, I was caught without a bag, and not wanting to leave a mess behind, I knocked on my neighbor’s door!

“Excuse me, I hate to bother you, but do you have a spare baggie? I forgot to bring an extra, and

I’d like to make sure that I clean up after my dog.” My neighbor was more than happy to oblige, and appreciated that I took responsibility for my dogs.

Additionally, I suggest bringing along extra “poop bags,” more than you think you will need. I will pick up neighborhood “messes,”

regardless of whose dog left it there. Consider it good dog ownership karma, a random act of canine kindness!