Help - iPod Connection to AVR - How to use?

I want to hook up my iPod to my AVR. I have seen some AVR that have iPOD compatibility, my existing Pioneer Elite does not.

If I use an iPOD Dock - looking for recommendations here as well, how do I control the song selection? I am assuming that the new AVR with iPOD control allows the user to change songs with the remote.

How do others change songs/playlists on AVRs that do not have the integrated iPOD control?