March 26, 2010

White Dog is beginning to see ways that Quinn can be useful in her life. While such an approach isn't necessarily the high road, it makes her much more willing to include her still new brother in her daily activities. Following advice, we have been very careful to defer to White Dog first in situations where both dogs are involved. So whenever treats are handed out, she gets hers first. Whenever Quinn gets a goodie, White Dog also gets one; not so for Quinn who has not yet mastered the art of "trading.," White Dog still gets "trade payments" that he does not. White Dog has thought this all through and today found a way to "profit" from our strategy.

Quinn was napping in the other room. White Dog brought in 3 or 4 sticks and leaves from the yard and traded each for a treat, but she tired of the trip outside each time. I refused to just give her snacks and she did not want to do tricks instead of trades...so we were at an impasse.

White Dog broke the stalemate by using her brother. She went in and woke him. He followed her to the front of my chair and mimicked her polite sit and "ask" for a treat. We have been working hard with Quinn to get him to sit and wait so I could not refuse this opportunity. Of course, White Dog knew that she would get a treat first because that has been the routine. And she did. White Dog managed to scam three more salmon snacks just by being a "good" sister!

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