It took about three months to train Fate not to open doors. Fate is not strong on boundaries, she has come up with a half dozen ways to open the back door. She never runs off, she just runs off to the pasture gate to wait for work. She would nose open the inner door and then stand up and push open the outer door, I would find her sitting patiently by the pasture gate looking innocent.

One thing that does not work in my life is have dogs, even cute ones, open doors at will. I stood by the side of the door outside and when I heard it open, I threw a choke chain against the outer door and yelled “no.” It has worked.

Fate is one of those dogs who will test almost every rule and restriction but when we make a strong and clear statement – when we find the time and patience to do that – she gets it and honors the command.

She no longer opens doors, but sometimes I still see her in the morning sun, plotting and scheming how to get back to work.