That is the title of Chapter 4 in the book “What All Good Dogs Should Know”, The Sensible Way to Train by Jack Volhard and Melissa Bartlett, one of the many books I’ve picked up on my learning journey with Charley Waffle. I am always amazed out how little I know about raising a dog yet am surprised about how easy it can really be and is just common sense if I really think about it.

This chapter gave me a real wake up. It really made me question “who is training whom”……

There is a training quiz at the beginning which seemed like simple questions until I realized almost all my answers were yes. Here it goes;

What do you do when your dog:

• Drops a ball in your lap while you are watching t.v.
• Nudges or paws your elbows when you are sitting on the couch
• Rattles the food dish
• Sits at the door

Then;

If your answers are:

1. Throw it
2. Pet the dog
3. Fill the dish
4. Open the door

“Then your dog has you well trained!”

So I am like, shoot. Yes, when she acts playful and starts pulling out her ball I sometimes give in, depending on the circumstances, (chores or stuff I don’t feel like taking care of) and seem to drop what I am doing and accept the challenge.

When she comes up to me and nudges me, of course I pet her right away. In the book they suggest to make your dog sit before you pet them, but to me it just seems ok to pet her when she wants to get petted. I guess I’m wrong. But, it makes sense if I think about it.

Her constant nudging is her way of getting attention, her way and her time. And I’ve given in almost every time even though it was annoying at times.

As far as the dish thing goes, rattling the dish for food, that never happens. I am one of those that leave crunchies in the bowl all day, even though Cesear Milan says that the way to train your dog is through food.

I want to put her on a feeding schedule like you are supposed to do. Once in the morning, and once in the evening, giving them 30 minutes to finish what is put in the bowl and pull it afterwards, making meal time a true grub time.

I just don’t like the idea of thinking my dog being hungry and not being able to eat when she wants to eat. I am starting to think it may just be laziness at my end. I’m getting better on this one, because I realize it is making mealtime an experience for her which I find out she likes the routine. Something to look forward to. This one makes total sense to me, and something I was supposed to be doing when I got her 3 years ago.

As far as opening the door and her running, that is one thing that I have to say she does not do. I had taught her as a small puppy that is was not ok to do that. Even though I live in an apartment and don’t have to worry about her running out to traffic, I still have to worry who may be in the hall that doesn’t like dogs, or what just what we may encounter.

At least I have control on that part of it. I didn’t strike out on all of the situations listed above.

So my big things to work on is having her sit when she wants to be petted, don’t always give in to her ball even if it seems like the opportune time, and to feed her on a regular schedule.

I suppose, not easily admitted, I realized that maybe my dog has me trained.

A trained dog is a good dog.

Right as I’m writing this she’s been nudging me, and now she is throwing her stuffed toy in the air playfully. She’s not grabbed the ball…yet….