Being left here in New York because I’m 16 and needed my parents permission to travel out of the country sucks. Okay, I could have gone on my own. Yet, Imadge is right, I should tell my parents. She is so polite all the time and must follow all the etiquette of good behavior.

And, I have to be stubborn. I had to make my stand. Imadge should know that though she might be 18, she does not run my life. Oh well… that’s truly foolish of me. I know that my parents would say yes, but I have to be bullheaded. I just have being told what to do.

So, here I am in New York, alone, with my roommates attending the European menswear season while I am walking dogs! It started as a favor first. I miss having a dog around, especially since I grew up having man’s best friend around all the time. The neighbor started asking me to take Coco, her 3-year old poodle out for walks when she found out I love dogs.

Coco, who used to be the terror in the neighborhood, began acting nicely and stopped barking and yipping to everyone. Word got out that I’m a good dog trainer! My Lord, what did I get into? So, now I have four dogs that I’m taking care of, training them, i.e. It’s good to pass the time and I could not complain with the money I make either. I would do it for free, but Napster said I should get paid for it. And, I followed his advice.

Apparently, having a dog trainer is actually the norm for privileged pooches. Tamar Geller, dog trainer to the Hollywood elite and counts Oprah Winfrey, Ben Affleck, Courteney Cox Arquette, Nicollette Sheridan, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin among her clients is a celebrity in her own right!

This fall she will release her New York Times Best Selling book, “The Loved Dog: The Playful Nonaggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior” in paperback, wherein she provides insight to millions of dog enthusiasts nationwide as resident dog expert on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as Oprah’s personal dog coach, training Oprah’s three golden retrievers.

Finding this video of her made me smile. In the video, Geller shows off her remarkable training techniques with a few furry friends by her side, and offers pet owners tips to make any dog a well-behaved member of the family. She also provides details about an upcoming online contest and talks about how she will train the dogs of the winning contestant.

[MILAN WESTIN]