Doggie Class-Part Tres/Trey or Whatever!

(Continuation from the last two posts.)

We brought doggie treats to use as rewards for learning and accomplishments. See Major looking the opposite way from the instructor? Ha. He was tired of being told what to do.

But he sure perked up when the teacher took her turn with him. Why?

Because she was so good, smelled like doggies, or Major had a sudden inspiration to work? Noooooo.

She had chopped up beef hot dogs in her treat bag! My regular dog biscuits didn't satisfy him any more. He wanted something new. People food was the best!

But his stomach didn't think so.

So we are back to his regular dog treats.

"God's blessing makes life rich, nothing we do can improve on God." Proverbs 10:22

How many treats do I need from God to keep me working? Isn't what He's done, enough "treats" to last me an eternity? Why do I sit and turn the other way until He sends another treat? Why not just work because of love?

Lord, help me to remember You are all the reward I need.

Photos:karenevans

Dumb Bunnies 4-10

This post comes on the tails, uh, pun intended of Parsley's post, Dumb Bunnie. Can you make out this baby rabbit? My dog is staring, waiting for my release command. He dropped the bunny to get a "treat" instead, but intense, animal focus remains.

No, I did not let him eat it.

Now for those of you who don't know, my yard backs up to a four lane road. I am not in the country. Anyway, Major found a nest of four, yes four baby bunnies, just like this one, Wednesday. I was out in the back yard, and saw him lay down with something wiggling in his mouth. My first thought was a snake. I ran up and told him to drop it which he did. That one was hurt, by the time I removed that bunny he had # 2 in his mouth. And so it went, till all four were rescued.

Here's where the dumb bunny-(DB) comes in. My neighbors on both sides are pet free, but where does the DB nest? Yep, right here. And get this, this time it was right behind my hubbie's barbecue pit right next to our patio. Helllloooo, is anyone home?? We counted all the nests that Major has found and DB has had about 15 bunnies in the past 2 years. Sigh......

I love the little bunnies, but this is not the right yard for them. This picture is how Major was restrained, he didn't do it all on his own. (We're lucky retrievers have such a soft mouth.)"They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay." Psalm 18:18

How many times have I gone after something that I shouldn't have? Maybe it wasn't even anything bad, but not the best, not what God wanted? Yet God became my "stay," my protector and treated me with something better.

Ah, keep Your good hand on my collar, Lord, this one is prone to chase.

Work for Treats

Major, my dog, gets treats for doing "work," or a training session. Oh, all right, and sometimes for nothing at all. (See the treat sitting on the edge of the chair?) Here, the trick is to "wait." He does real good, and if you look closely, a bit of drool is beginning to form, in anticipation.

Yummy food is a great motivator. Hey, I know that personally, too. But let's not go there.

Major learned this behavior by repetition. At first he would see the treat and be eager to do anything to get it. After a while he did commands without the treat. Conditioning. Receiving praise and attention from those he loves is enough, but treats are always appreciated.

"Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:28-29

God requires no tricks to please Him. So why do I think I "must" do things to get His treats? When once I realize I only need to believe and trust in His Son, then all the treats in heaven become mine, too. My works happen out of love for Him. No drool necessary.

I'm glad God never runs out of treats.

Photo: karenevans