This was a post from a couple of years back, when Sachi, my Golden Retriever, was still with us. My girls were generally a good team, but sometimes their worldviews simply clashed. (Go figure — a Golden and a husky at odds…) There were times I swear I saw Coyote roll her eyes…

Overheard from the living room:

Coyote: “OK, what did she do?”

Sachi: “She patted me on the head and smiled at me.”

Coyote: “That’s IT? Did she say anything?”

Sachi: “Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. She said I’m a good dog.”

Coyote: “Oh, brother.”

Sachi: “Because I really am a good dog.”

Coyote: “That’s not the point. I sent you in there because she seems to understand you better than she does me.”

Sachi: “I am a good dog, though.”

Coyote: “Yeah-yeah.” <thinking> “Did you wag?”

Sachi: “Yup.”

Coyote: “And point your nose at the back door?”

Sachi: “Yup.”

Coyote: “So, she doesn’t get me looking meaningfully at her and putting my paw on her leg — that just got me a belly-scratch and a smile…”

Sachi: <musing> “That was so nice.”

Coyote: “And she didn’t get your wagging and pointing and big brown eye thing…”

Sachi: “And she told me I was a good dog.”

Coyote: <frustrated> “Quit with the good dog thing already! I’m trying to figure this out!”

Sachi: <defensively> “But I *am* a good dog!”

Coyote: <huffing> “Whatever. OK, so what do we try next? Maybe rush her and dance around her a bit?”

Sachi: <flatly> “Say it.”

Coyote: “Say what?”

Sachi: “Say I’m a good dog.”

Coyote: <incredulous> “WHAT?!”

Sachi: <firmly> “Say I’m a good dog, or you’re going in there and dancing all by yourself.”

Coyote: <sighs> “Fine. You’re a good dog.”

Sachi: “You don’t mean it. You have to mean it.”

Coyote: “I might have to bite you.”

Sachi: “That’s not good-dog behavior.”

Coyote: “You know, you’re such a human sometimes!”

——

(I think my dogs need to go for a walk.)