As we quickly approach the New York Auto Show, automakers are coming
out of the
woodwork announcing that they are debuting new
cars or simply reveling redesigned versions
of existing
cars.
Real dogs not only must be housetrained - most owners are aware
of that need; they also must be taught not to chew the furniture, taught not to jump on their owners, taught not to play - bite, taught not to bowl over the toddler, taught not to dig holes in the yard, taught to come when they are called, taught not to eat the homework or the
woodwork, taught not to swipe food off the table, taught not to growl at strangers or bark at the mail carrier, taught to walk on a leash without dragging their owner down the block, taught to allow their toenails to be cut and their coats to be groomed without biting the groomer, taught not to shred feather pillows and down comforters, taught not to steal the baby's toys, taught not to growl at their owner's mother - in - law, taught to sit, stay, and to lay down when and where the owner tells them to, and to wait there until the owner says they may get up (absolutely essential commands for the dog's own safety), taught not to escape
out the front door or
out of the yard or
out of the
car when the owner looks away for just a second... all
of these things and many more are not «natural» canine behaviors; they must be taught by owners who are willing to spend the time and the effort doing so.