Yesterday I was in a small shop in Amsterdam. The shopkeeper's large dog joined him behind the counter and began barking in what I could only characterize as a "speech." She certainly wasn't barking at me. I addressed her, and asked her what she was saying.
Her owner said she was a "cookie monster."
I siezed that opportunity for some fun & asked him if he had any I could give her. The three of us went to the back of the shop. Tara sat for me, and earned cookie #1. She was a very large dog, and we were barely introduced, but I hardly felt her touch taking it, she was so gentle.
The man had begun a converstion with someone behind me so I went improv. I asked for Tara to shake, and darned if she didn't lift up one huge paw for me. She earned cookie #2, and again was unbelievably gentle.
I wonder how many cookies a day she gets with her strategy. I would guess many.
Did you know the same approach works with people:•)
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