April 23, 2010

White Dog has come to take her responsibility to teach Quinn "proper" behavior very seriously. Quinn listens, watches, learns from her example and direction. It has been amazing to observe this exchange and to see its success. Quinn now routinely sits for treats and knows to take hand held offerings gently...these are entirely due to White Dog's mentoring.

On the other hand, White Dog sometimes does not know when to stop bossing, when to not add her voice to a lesson being learned. This confuses the Other White Dog and irritates the Alpha (me) no end!

This afternoon, for example, Quinn was snuffling around and could not resist a little longer sniff on a little longer stretch of the neck toward my turkey wrap lunch. "Quinn Marie," I reminded him and heard an echoing "Grrrr," from White Dog as she turned to give him the eye. Other White Dog nosed the tray again and I pushed his face away with a "Momma said NO!" Which was followed by White Dog's barking reprimand as she hopped off the couch and came to stand next to me (virtual hands on hips). Quinn looked at the turkey, then at White Dog, finally at me, shrugged and went off to find solace in his kibble bowl. "I could have handled it, you know," I said to White Dog, who harrumphed and went back to her nap.