Maria calls them my fan club, they keep a close watch on me and are curious about everything I do. At the moment, I have three bright, enthusiastic, and alert dogs. All three are working dogs, Zinnia bred to work with people, Fate to herd sheep, Bud to chase rats and mice.

They always want to know what I am doing and where I am. They are all Jon Katz or Maria scholars.

I learned early on that he who replenishes and distributes things from the treat drawer is much loved and followed. Food is the path to trust and training, at least initially.

My treat drawer is in the kitchen, and it is always chock full of healthy, light snacks. The dogs get two or three treats a day, once in the morning, once after lunch, once after dinner or in the early evening.

In the morning, when I get up, all of my dogs are sitting patiently and eagerly by the treat drawer. They each wait patiently while I hand each of the dogs a treat, depending on seniority.

Fate gets the geat first, then Bud, then Zinnia. Once dogs understand they will each be treated fairly, they behave. The treats are distributed in the order of pack dominance, there is never any trouble. Fate is the dominant dog, Bud next and the affable Zinnia at the bottom of the pile, at least so far.

Treat drawers are great training tools. Nobody gets anything for free in my dog world, they each have to come, sit, lie down, or stay. And they must take the treat “gently”, or not at all.

For a few minutes a day, I am the star, they are my peeps.