AKRON, Ohio — I used to howl whenever I heard people alluding to the so-called training technique where you "catch your dog doing something good."

I thought it was canine psychobabble, until I realized I had inadvertently taught my goddess Emily to sit quietly if she wanted a treat.

Whenever she jumped up on me and clawed at my shirt or howled in her own special key, she got nothing. It was rocket science! It brought smiles to both our faces, and it cost me not one cent to reward the good.

This is the essence of obedience, citizenship training for pooches. Obedience is an ongoing conversation between you and your dog, not something done once or twice. It is not a chore but a bonding experience that will deepen your relationship.

At an advanced class of Carol Frederick's in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, seven gorgeous dogs, most of them title-holding champions, sat perfectly still on a straight line 3 feet apart, perfectly spaced, waiting quietly for a command. They were gods. Obedience got them there.

Obedience training is built on a foundation of pre-established trust, boundaries and limitations, says Frederick. Obedience is like school to a child — it's where your dog goes to learn how to walk on a leash, heel and sit.

Tracy Hotchner, author of "The Dog Bible, Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know" (Gotham Books, $20), a must for owners, says obedience is like ballroom dancing. "You expect to get some toes stepped on before you glide smoothly across the floor" together.

Even so, it's doable, and you can begin at home — practicing walking on a leash and sitting — today. Try it out a few times and consider taking classes. Ask your groomer, vet or pet sitter for recommendations.

Before you begin, a caveat. "Never, ever, ever work your dog if angry, frustrated or you've had a bad day," said Frederick. When she got into the business a few years back, it was in vogue to yank, jerk and bark corrections at dogs, methods considered outright archaic today.

Aggression and pain are cruel and inhumane and needless, and they often backfire. Use your children as the litmus test. Would you smack your kid with a rolled-up newspaper?

Work with your dog in a quiet place free of distractions. Keep the sessions short, 15 minutes, once a day, and have fun. Be lavish with the treats, small bits of hot dogs or cheese hidden in an open pouch on the back of your belt. They are the key to nirvana. You need easy and frequent access to your stash.

"By the time you pull a treat out of your jeans pocket, the moment has passed," she said.

Never repeat your command. Simply stop and wait until the dog obeys.

"A dog walking on a leash means he's not pulling," said Frederick. "That's not the same as heeling."

Heeling means the dog stays by your left side, keeps your pace and sits when you stop walking.

Walking is relaxing. Heeling is, um, work; your dog is at attention. You wouldn't want to take him on a 45-minute heel.

If your dog hasn't gotten used to a leash, attach a very short one to his collar and let him drag it around the house under supervision. He should get used to the sensation of the tug. If he rebels, remove the leash and replace it with a shoestring for a few short, therapeutic sessions.

Learn to use a lure — your treats. Dole them out frequently, but only when your dog does exactly what you wanted.

"You put the food where you want his head," said Frederick.

In teaching your dog to sit, for example, you put the food in front of his nose while he's standing, then raise it and quickly move it back toward his rear. If he follows the treat, he's sitting. It's just that easy. Give him the cookie, and gush. The whole move should take a couple of seconds.

To walk on a leash: Attach the leash. To get your dog to follow you, put the treat in front of his nose and walk backward a couple of steps. When he follows, treat. Repeat, repeat. When you're in synch, pivot a quarter turn. Your dog is now at your side. Treat, follow, treat. Turn again and walk. Your dog is now behind you, walking on a leash.

He'll pull up, maybe way up, and that's fine as long as he's not pulling on the leash. Any time he looks at you, give him a cookie, said Frederick. You want him to pay attention to you. Always keep your dog on your left. If he pulls, stop walking, do an about-face. Remember to rain treats on correct behavior — your dog's paycheck in pennies. They can be phased out down the line, but for now, tasty morsels grow on trees.

Once your dog is walking on a leash and sitting, heeling is a fairly easy next step, but practice makes perfect. Dangle your treats at just below your left hip, so your dog keeps his eyes on you. Say heel, walk a step, treat. Repeat, repeat. When your dog gets the hang of it, have him sit when you stop walking.

Library lovers are well aware of the literary confections on the shelves. Plunder the riches for a great positive-approach dog-training book. Your dog will love you for it.