Dog Trainer

No. Not in the manner you're thinking.

Bouie has a tendency to be a little over-the-top territorial when he's in the yard. He does the "I'm a big fierce black lab" routine pretty well when neighbors stroll past the fence. And he really goes nuts when someone attempts to put something in his yard or his mailbox (fortunately for the mailman -- and our homeowners' liability premiums -- the mailbox has a slot that is loaded from outside the fence).

I doubt whether he would really bite anyone -- he's actually just a big ol' coward when it comes to interacting with strangers -- but his "fierce act" has delivery guys pretty well buffaloed. And now he's taken it to a new level.

 He has trained the UPS guy to give him treats.

We regularly take delivery of shipments of wine that requires an adult signature. I know when to expect delivery because UPS does a robo-call telling me that "a delivery is coming tomorrow sometime between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. that requires a signature." (Yeah -- that 's a pretty broad window, huh?) So, over a period of months, when I would go out to the gate to sign the electronic box-thingy and Bouie would be going nuts, the very nice delivery guy would talk to Bouie and get him to "sit" by offering him a Milk Bone (which he would then toss to him over the fence because, well, you know!).

Then, on a day without a scheduled delivery, I heard the UPS truck coming down the street and Bouie woofing like mad in the yard. I looked out the window and saw the driver tossing a Milk Bone to Bouie without really even coming to a complete stop!

Today we got an unexpected delivery while I was in the shower. I knew something was going on in the yard because Bouie was going nuts at the front door as I was getting dressed, so I looked out the window and saw a package.

When I went out to get it, this is what I saw --

Yep. My Dog is a Master Trainer!

And a real sweetheart.