My dog training is enthusiastic but sporadic. I am easily distracted and busy in my life, so what usually happens is I work hard to train my dogs in important ways, and then get sloppy about the smaller stuff.

Zinnia doesn’t ever steal food or eat our stuff, she is calm and quiet in my study, she never runs off, obeys basic commands quickly, and never, ever goes out to the road.

I’ve trained all of my dogs to stay from the road, and all of them have. I’m proudest of that. I practice positive reinforcement, but alas, am not always positive.

I am prone to yelling at my dogs when they disobey or annoy me, which happens two or three times a week. They are much too smart to be afraid of me, but yelling does get them to pay attention sometimes.

When I go out to the road to get the mail or pick up some garbage that people throw on the front lawn as they drive by, Zinnia always comes with me.

At the front porch, she is trained to sit and stay. She sits by herself now, doesn’t need to be told. She watches me walk out to the mailbox and bring the mail back. Sometimes I toss her a treat and say “good stay”, mostly I forget.

She just likes to come along.

I have this good feeling our country is edging towards being calmer and gentler. And I have the kindness and most gentle dog in the world. A good match.