Old Dogs Teaching New Tricks

I cannot bark enough about how happy I am that Immortal Divorce Court series is doing so well.  As it should -- for how could any book that includes a vampire Maltese that is based on yours truly, Daisy the Maltese, not be a fabulous success? If I had opposable thumbs, I would have read it one hundred times by now.  As the curator of the Dog Blog, I have decided that it is important for me to dispel certain myths about dogs (regular canines not vampire ones!) for the readers of the Immortal Divorce Court series.  Most of you pet owners have already figured out that we dogs are a whole lot smarter than we let on.

That is why after careful consideration, I have decided to address a subject that is quite controversial in the dog community – teaching an old dog new tricks.  You humans seem to think that once we canines get past the puppy stage that we somehow lose the ability to learn new tricks.  What is controversial about this among us dogs?  Well, some of us don’t want you to know the truth!  So, I sorted this out the only way I could – by taking a paw vote, and the arfs had it.

Here is the truth – old dogs only learn new tricks if it is something that will lead to us getting something we want such as a favorite treat, toy, or a piece of bacon, or cheese.  When we are puppies, we are trying to impress you and thus we will do anything for you.  Plus, we are a little unsure if you are going to keep us around, so the cuter we can be the better our chances are, right?  But, by the time we are growing long in the tooth, we are literally part of the Family.  We both know we aren’t going anywhere!  Old dogs actually teach their humans to do new tricks.  I recently trained the Author to open his bedroom door if it closed so I can get back in his laundry basket by simply barking until he comes and opens the door for me.  So, remember for dogs the expression is -- you CAN teach an old human new tricks!  Howl at you later!