A Love That Knows No Bounds
Is Bound For Trouble
 We all have our weaknesses: those soulful brown eyes pleading for just one morsel from your plate, the warm head on your lap while you tap away on computer, heavy with the weight of hope and expectation for a game of fetch or at the very least an ear scratch, or the more-empty-than-usual bed when a spouse is out of town that leads letting her sleep with you "just this once".
Let's face it, we love our dogs and sometimes that love, our need for connection, our and desire to give back some of the happiness they've given us causes us cave in situations where we'd all be better served by sticking to our guns.
The thing is, dogs don't do "exceptions". Instead, they are constantly collecting and evaluating the feedback/consequences to their actions and if something they do works to get them something they really want, chances are they are going to try it again. Period.
If the "rules" you've outlined are occasionally (or routinely) broken, they really won't be viewed as rules through a dog's eyes. We may be able to comprehend the concept of special occasions but inconsistency in our responses breeds confusion in a dog's mind, sets them up to make mistakes, and causes us to become frustrated or angry because "he knows better". Guess what? He doesn't. He just knows that sometimes when he jumps up on the couch he gets to stay, and he hasn't worked out quite yet why it's okay with you sometimes and not others. And the occasional reprimand from you is worth it for even the possibility of one more evening curled up next to you in comfort rather than across the room on his bed.
So be clear and consistent when interacting with your dog, determine your house rules in advance, and then take the time to teach your dog what is expected of him rather than just punish him for mistakes (or for not following a rule he's never been properly clued-in on in the first place).
Boundary training is an excellent place to start your new crystal clear communication. Not only does this make life easier when you are trying to come and go, but also it keeps dogs safe.
Teaching dogs to pause at thresholds rather than push past you and bum-rush the door is another great habit to teach your dog, and NOT because he may take over the world if he goes through the doorways before you. Rather, "Sit" as the default setting at doorways saves lives. It also gives you a marvelous opportunity to reinforce a polite sit and impulse control with a very powerful life reward - "let's go"!
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Practice Makes Perfect - (For You!)
 As DSD blogger Jeff Siverman so eloquently pointed out in this post, humans can be a little slow on the uptake compared to dogs when it comes to learning.
If you'd like to hone your training skills to enhance your relationship with your dog, try
Sniffy The Virtual Rat for practicing clear communication and timing.
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