January 16, 2022

 Diva is being schooled by her siblings about "selective hearing" and its value as a tool in every pup's skill set. The Littlest One leaps and runs every time Steve calls her name; often, it is to get her into the office where she can be unhappily gated for safety. Other times she responds to his call expecting treats and only getting a gentle petting.

"You have to learn to read Dad's tone," Zsofia explained. She is our most expert at selective hearing. "If the voice is all happy and excited, that is a yellow flag that coercion might be involved. Pretend to be asleep. Or stay where you are and wag but don't even stand until the second call. I like to ease a little at the third call by getting up and moving toward the human but stopping short of complying...and if they take a step forward then I playfully scamper backward or out of the dog door just to maintain control of the situation."

"Aren't you afraid that Dad or momma will get angry?" Diva questioned. 

"You have to stop short of disobedience. You can tell easier with momma when you are nearing that point because she says things like 'Fine, don't bother; I am sure ignoring me is perfectly great manners.' And her tone has lost its happy invitation. THEN you need to go promptly. You can push dad a little further; he is much more patient and is not above begging you."

At that point Steve entered the room. "Let's continue this later," Zsofia told her sister, "We do not want to give away WDA strategies."