I’m an inveterate dog watcher; I love stepping back and trying to understand their behavior. Bud is the head of the dog committee that greets me as I come out of the shower each morning. Bud is the ring leader of this enterprise, and he barks and rushes to the treat door to encourage me and remind me of my duty.

Everything they do can teach us something about them if we observe and understand that they are alien creatures, not just like us.

The three dogs are always in the same formation. Bud first, the cheekiest, Zinnia shy and reluctant to pester me, and Fate, the smartest of the bunch, knows better than to pester me. She keeps a safe distance.

So they stay in the background, quiet and at a distance.

Zinnia is the giant dog, but she is too sweet to be a leader. Fate takes the lead when there’s trouble or too much excitement. She barks and nips to calm the other dogs down.

When they get their treat, which they always do, I make them sit – never give a dog anything for free – and then give Fate the first, Zinnia the second, and Bud the last. Because Bud is the most assertive, I want him to wait, and there is no treat unless or until everyone sits quietly and patiently.

I am not a macho man, but I do remind them all of the time, that I am a natural leader, all the time. It keeps them calm and well-behaved. It’s good for Bud to wait last; like most terriers, he thinks he is a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and Zinnia is way too polite and soft to take that position.

Fate doesn’t want to be in charge of people, only of getting out to the sheep and hanging out with Maria. She doesn’t care much about anything else, not even treats.

So this committee gathering is now a fixed part of the daily tradition, and dogs love tradition. They will happily do the same thing at the same time every day of their lives. It’s also an excellent way to train them about good behavior and what will be rewarded.

Real dog training never ends, and everything they want and love is an opportunity to get the behaviors we want.