I am not the most knowledgeable when it comes to dogs. I feed them, and make sure they are bathed, and give them their heartworm medicine, and whatever else needs to be done. But lately I have noticed that I am no longer doing the training.
About a month ago I noticed my big dog, who is still a puppy, sit over by me and whine to get my attention. So, I would get up to take her outside, thinking that she needed to relieve herself. But no…. she would just lay down by the kitchen doorway and just look at me, and I would close the door, come over to her, and give her a “momma hug”. Things would be fine for a while after that, and then the cycle would start all over again.
Now, I know I am spoiling her. I know that! But she is so devoted to me! So it came as no surprise for me to notice that she no longer comes to sit near me and whine. She goes straight to her spot, whines, and I automatically go over to her to give her a hug.
My dog has trained me.
But I figure I owe her in some small way, for all the joy she gives me. Besides, I am still mistress of my domain, and she respects that, especially at feeding time 😉
Sithy Things 
January 11th, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Back in the days before wi-fi, I did all my net-surfing on the desktop computer in the family room. Sometimes I would still be down there after everyone else had gone to bed. My dog would always hang with me until I went to bed. When I logged off the computer, it played the little Microsoft jingle PCs play when you log off. When he heard this, even if he was asleep when I logged off, he would jump up and walk over to the stairs where he’d wait for me to go upstairs with him. Dogs are really clever and more perceptive than we give them credit for. Sounds like you have a pretty smart one there, Aggie. 😀
January 11th, 2012 at 12:03 PM
Why do you have a dog if not to spoil it? My baby Patton is mischievous and incorrigible and horribly spoiled, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If I wanted something that needs to be beaten to keep in line, I’d have a child!!
January 11th, 2012 at 1:10 PM
They certainly know how to train us. Our German Shepherd has figured out that if you sit next to my side of the bed, breathe heavy, stare, and sometimes paw the bed that eventually I’ll wake up and let him out. It started as “I really gotta go relieve myself NOW!!!!!” but has turned into “I just need to check to see if the neighbor’s cat wandered into the yard or it’s such a nice cool night, I’ll just lay outside.” If he goes out and lays down, I follow with a light foot bump to his butt and take him back in and try to get back to sleep.
January 11th, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Howdy, stranger! Hope things are well with you!
January 12th, 2012 at 9:46 AM
Doing well. Just lurking and watching.
January 11th, 2012 at 3:26 PM
My kitties sit outside my bedroom door and wait for me in the morning. When we come home I just have to say “Where are the kitties” and they both come running. So much fun.
January 11th, 2012 at 3:31 PM
It’s amazing how time conscious animals can be.
Our two cats, promptly at 0530 hours every morning and I do mean almost down to the second, come into our bedroom and announce that it’s time to give them their morning meal, along with a cat snack and a fresh bowl of water.
The oldest one, a tabby, simply meows once and then waits by the door for me to get up. The other one, a year old black siamese, gives me a minute or two after meowing loudly several times, and then climbs the bedpost and leaps down onto either my wife or I to get us to wake up and get out of bed.
January 12th, 2012 at 5:54 AM
Just wait until she trains you to chase cars for her. (That’s why I workout 6 days a week.)
January 12th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Happiness is a warm dog on a cold day, keeping your feet warm.
January 13th, 2012 at 5:23 AM
I know exactly what you mean…I am owned by a Doxie.