Does your Lab "test" you all the time? Just wanted to share: early morning he usually goes out to toilet, no problem. But, some mornings, he wants his breakfast FIRST, not after toileting. So it's a test of wills.....do I give in and give him his breakfast first or do I wait until he does his business? Well, he sure can hold it in!! Other times I "sugget" he have a drink of water because we just came in from playing fetch and he is panting.....he will not when I suggest it....but a few minutes later he will go and have a good drink.....just as us humans....we want it to be OUR idea!! I just think it is so funny how like us our lovely Labs are! Now, is he being stubborn or am I???!! It just fascinates me to see the different traits our wonderful pets have. I just would love to get into their head and see what they are thinking all the time! Also would give anything to understand the "dog" language.....he seems to understand me when I talk to him (not that he does what I ask, of coursre) but wish I could totally understand him. Just wondered if your warm and furry friend manipulates you the same as Cooper does me!
Well, he is definitely not being stubborn or manipulating you or testing you Dogs just do what they feel like or what they have learned has worked (provided a payoff) in the past. He just prefers breakfast to going outside, or does not feel the need to go to the toilet. If he doesn't drink when you suggest it then it's because he doesn't feel like it at that moment. Although it's really cute to think of them as being deliberately deceptive in a cheeky way, the reality is far more mundane.
Lilly has this habit of going to the back door to be let out when she feels it is past her teatime, does a 360degree turn on the step, comes back in and looks at us. A big fat hint. She has us well trained.
