Top dawgs: Smart shopping for a trainer can lead to well-behaved pets

The expression "man's best friend" has become one of the most endearing terms for dog lovers to describe their canine companions, even though some owners might tell you their four-legged "best bud" can often behave like "the devil's own."

Parents typically have to be responsible for training their unruly kids how not to jump on the furniture. But dog owners can hire someone else to teach their pet how to behave.

When Oprah Winfrey has issues with her pet pooches, she calls her friend Cesar Milan, aka the "Dog Whisperer." These days, the California-based Milan is a household name in the dog-training community, with his own show on cable television, books on dog behavior and nationwide seminars on how to help dogs become "healthy and balanced," according to his Web site.

In addition to Oprah, Milan's clients include actor Will Smith and rapper Redman, whose mild-mannered pit bull, Daddy, is one of the most popular assistants on Milan's show. Another trainer whose celebrity status rivals that of Milan is Tyson Kilmer, a Canadian-born former fashion model who has become a hot commodity in the dog-training world.

Based in Los Angeles, Kilmer's roster of A-list clients includes Sheryl Crow, Rob Lowe, Viacom CEO Tom Freshton, Marilyn Manson, Mike Tyson and most recently, Utah Jazz stars Deron Williams and Ronnie Brewer.

Like Milan, Kilmer is involved in numerous ventures, including the upcoming launch of his own webcast, as well as a television show on "Animal Planet," the title of which has yet to be determined, due out later this year.

Jazz point guard Williams sent his puppies to Kilmer in California for training. When Kilmer brought the dogs back to Utah two months ago, he also brought two Rottweiler puppies for another client, in addition to his own personal pet, a 100-pound French mastiff named Cleo. They all stayed at the Hotel Monaco in downtown Salt Lake, where the well-behaved animals amazed guests and staff alike.

Kilmer's premium services come at a premium price, ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 — depending upon the level of training. But for Brewer and Williams, his services are well worth the cost.

While training celebrities' pets may be the way for some trainers, most dog trainers work with average families, whose pets have the same kinds of issues as their more famous counterparts.

In the Salt Lake area, prices for private individual training range from $52 to $100 per hour, with some trainers offering in-home instruction. For non-personalized classes, prices began at $75 for a six-week course for one hour per week to $210 for a four-week course meeting once a week.