I admit, I am not perfect. I am wilful, hard-headed and sensitive…. a bit like my Momma. I don’t know exactly what my transgression was on this particular occasion. Well actually, I do. Wonder Boy was talking to Momma and, since I am the centre of the universe, I started bugging Momma, pushing her hand to indicate, ‘Pay attention to me, NOW.’
Apparently, I had done it one too many times that day because, Momma said to me, rather sharply, ‘Lay down, Jakita.’ Somehow, Wonder Boy took exception to Momma trying to discipline me, since he said, well, that I only respond to his command.
I know, I know, dogs understand words, not sentences but you better believe, I understood, that my needy self shone a light on Momma’s weaknesses. I meekly lay on the floor beside her, my head on my paws, hoping she would look at me and see through the love in my unwavering stare that I meant no harm. So the moment passed, the night rolled out as usual, me sleeping blissfully beside Wonder Boy, dreaming of succulent doggie treats to devour and bones to demolish, but the next day, a new regime began.
It seems like all the hours of training Momma spent in order to make me perfect, had not quite paid full dividends. Momma says there are a multitude of things I get right but then there is that Quite Contrary side of me (inherited no doubt from Momma) that makes me buck the system. Apparently, I am a Work-In-Progress.
Momma started with the easy stuff, like sit, lay, stay, rollover, pray, count, beg, come, stop. Blue Ribbon, all the way…..On to the stuff that unnerves me…a knock at the door, a doorbell rings. It could be anyone at that door with malicious intent. It is my job to both warn the family of potential danger and frighten the interloper in to beating a hasty retreat. No??? You know the person at the door so when you say, ‘Jakita, lay down. Stay’, I am not supposed to move a muscle, until further command. Really, like REALLY? Just lay down? Everyone knows a dog laying down can not bark. I got to go through my Policies and Procedures for All Creation. I am sure Momma is wrong.
Okay, I got it. It is okay to bark, say one woof, if it is legitimate, like the cat is on the table or wants outside or to sound an alarm if no one is expected but someone is here, say poking around in our garage. But Momma and Wonder Boy are Control Central. I am to take the lead from them. Gotcha!
That leaves the annoying attention seeking behaviour. I solemnly do swear I will cease and desist to the best of my ability. If sometimes I forget, remind me. After all I don’t run away any more. I am perfectly house broken. I try, I really try.
I mean, when I was a puppy, it was easier to resist training but now, with every breath in my body, I want to please Momma and Wonder Boy. Their approval means everything to me. And you know the best part of the Retraining Program? It is the treats for performance. So bring it on, Momma! Especially those Kitty Cat Temptations. They seem to awaken the beast…I mean, the best in me.
