Millions
of dogs and cats are killed each year simply because there is no place for them to go or anyone to care for them. This terrible overpopulation will be eliminated by being a responsible person and spaying/neutering your pet.
Alabama Animal Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic at 334-239-7387 (PETS)

Thursday, November 21, 2013

I'd Do Anything for Cheese (But I Won't Do That)

Me: Come inside Daria
Daria: Coming! Wait, why am I doing this?
Me: Because I asked you to of course.
Daria: I can outrun you. How about a game of tag instead? You're it!
Me: Daria, I am running late for work; please come inside.
Daria: This is way more fun than an exercise pen.
Me: Will you come inside for some cheese?
Daria: No.
Me: Oh, look what I found; it is your favorite toy!
Daria: What toy?
Me: The one you hid in the back yard next to the fence.
Daria: You wouldn't!
Me: I would.
Daria: Fine, you win. Give me the toy and I will come inside.


Siberian Husky Daria is usually pretty good about coming inside when I call her. This morning, however, a muse was clearly whispering in her ear. Tag is one of Daria's favorite games – a game that I have never won. I sometimes get help from Shiba Inu Loki, but unfortunately not today.

Siberian Huskies are both highly intelligent and independent and will not obey without a good reason. Sometimes that reason is a tummy rub, cheese, or their favorite toy; it really depends on your dog and how recently she have eaten. Daria is much more likely to come if I am waving her favorite toy in the air squeaking it than if she knows she is going directly to the exercise pen. If you can turn the recall into a fun game that leads to a chance at fun rewards your recalls will be much more reliable in the long run.