Giving You The Paw

Dear Smart T.

Why do we have to listen to our humans? It seems every time that I listen to one of their “Commands” it doesn’t work out well for me. For example, last week I responded to “Come” and you know what it got me - a bath!!! So from now on I am going to pretend that I did not hear them. What do you think of that?

Spike

Dear Spike:

That is not a good idea. Humans teach us commands to keep us safe and to make us good companions. Every dog should know how to sit, stay, down, heel, come and leave it. But what humans may not understand is we remember what happens after they use that command. And if we don’t like the result (the bath after come) we are not going to pay attention to that command again.

So humans, if you want us to listen, make sure that after we obey a command that something pleasant happens after it. It can be as simple as saying “Good Dog” , giving us a nice pat or rub or my personal favorite - a treat! And even when we have learned our commands, we still need an incentive to continue to listen. Sorry, but that is how it is. Would you come over when called if you knew something unpleasant would happen to you? I didn’t think so.

So Spike, please listen to your human’s commands and hopefully they read my blog and will get the hint.

Mr. Smart T. Pants