"Bad" dog, misunderstood...
It is easy to write off a dog that is not acting the way we imagined as bad. In my own experience as a child having dogs all of my life, I found myself doing the same. Tobi was not behaving the way I needed him to...."bad" dog. Well, I am here to tell you that's not where it ends. And it IS a common misconception to be made.
My advice is to always remember your dog aims to please you! Lack of effective communication between dog and owner can be not only discouraging but frustrating.
I believe with the right tools we can all have the ideal situation we hope for.
Often times, people become complacent with their current situation. "It's okay, it's my dogs couch."..."It's okay I don't mind that he/she begs, we feed him people food." ...."It's okay that he/she pulls on the leash, I am used to it". These aren't scenarios we should find ourselves becoming comfortable with. In fact, these are the scenarios we should address AS SOON AS they present themselves.
It's always easier to brush the problem under the rug right? Wrong, address each scenario with confidence and trust not only for yourself but for your dog. Your dog CAN sense your confidence and trust. It is always wise to remain calm. Becoming flustered gets the dog worked up and flustered as well.
"A dog’s behavior is deeply rooted in the way he is bred, socialized, and trained.
You can have a social, confident dog that is able to cope in a human world if you take the time to teach basic cues and recognize the difference between minor nuisance behaviors and more serious behavior problems as they develop. If you put in the time and effort, you can prevent many behavioral problems from happening by training positively."
-http://www.positively.com/dog-behavior/