This is Buster. I’m the white-colored, brown spotted dog. Ever since I came to live with Mister Tom he has been teaching me stuff. It’s the same with Eddie. There are certain things we have to do. For example, at meal time we have to do a down-stay in the kitchen and wait. Once Mister Tom puts down our food bowl he walks back to us where we wait until he gives us the release word. Going outside it’s kind of the same thing. Even if the door to the outside is wide open, we have to sit and wait until Mister Tom says our release word. We go along with Mister Tom because when we do what he asks we get praise and pets. Sometimes we even get treats.

Every so often Mister Tom wants us to do something and we can get stubborn. It usually happens in our obedience training. I get bored and decide I would rather be doing something else. Eddie, too. Usually Mister Tom finds a way to trick us into doing what he wants, or so he thinks.

STUBBORNNESS (Copyright 2014 by Buster J. Brown and Captain Eddie)

We practice, work, and mostly appreciate,
His efforts to make us more considerate.

We’ve done it before and loved every minute,
Yet, this time we balk, our minds aren’t in it.

Sharp focus lacking, attention turned elsewhere.
Why should I do this, why should I care?

We yearn for the new and the different,
Ignoring command and treat enticement.

We are individuals with our own brains,
So what if we occasionally err when we train?

He urges us on with a different approach,
Finally we decide not to suffer reproach.

In the end he thinks he’s succeeded,
Yet we’re the ones who’ve really decided.