Thanks for your thoughts, Hannah!
And yeah, "Dad" KNOWS!

Originally posted by Rachel

... may not be so much being obstinate as maybe a case of
certain parts not bending as easily as they should any more.

(Ahhem, seems like Dad would know a bit about
that sort of thing too.)

Maybe all those treats could be used
to perfect *stay* and *come*.
He Can and Does <SIT> whenever HE wants to!
It's a favorite position when he desires a "pat onna head" and I'm
at the puter - he'll walk up beside the chair and just <SIT>,
then give me an "elbow bump" to tell me he's arrived.

It appears a "MODIFIED 'Candy' Method" gives a good <SIT>!
The word <SIT> seems to have no meaning - he IS <focused> on
Cinder & Smoke getting Their Bisquits, and focuses his attention
upon the THIRD Bisquit quite intently!

As previously reported, passing the Bisquit up to and then over his
nose and head usually produces a neck-bending exercise where he
displays his neck & head FLEXIBILITY; the rear end remaining in the
UPright posture!

What DOES Work is to <pass> the Bisquit up & over ONE time, ~
then "CIRCLE & HOVER" the Bisquit OVER his head!

He seems to realize the sought-after treat IS "UP There" (somewhere)
and tries to flip-flop his head to focus in on it -
difficult with a fast-moving, circling target! ... His "solution" ??

He just leans back on his haunches and <*PLOPS*> back into a <SIT> -
which opens up more of the "sky" and brings the Circling Bisquit
back into view!

<COME> ??
He <COMES> when it's OK with HIM! - Meals, treats, attention, etc.

He <GOES> when he feels like it! ... Bisquit-in-hand or not; when
HE decides to explore or just go-the-other-way -
a Busquit isn't enough to turn him around!

<STAY> ??
Needs sum werk!
We're actually werkin on <WAIT> at doors ...
He tries to be FURST Out rather than in his assigned #3 position
behind #2, SmokeMutt.

He barges to the front of the line and jams his head out as soon as
the door is cracked.
A gentle closing of the door results in his head out, and shoulders
jammed up in the too-narrow opening.
After he quits <pushing> forward and has to stand trapped for a few
seconds, he's more than willing to <Back Up> and let Cinder go.

He HAS "caught on" to a LOT of the Howze Rules ...

He's #3 in the Chow Line; and DON'T stick yur head into #1 or #2's BOWLS!

DON'T LAY close behind da Bus Driver's puter chair - he backs up often
and there's NO Back-Up Alarm on the darn thing!

Fire Calls - Stay OUTTA da Way!!
Cinder & Smokey can recognise "OUR" Fire Alert Tones on the radios -
When they hear "OUR" tones, they both move away from shoes, clothes,
and the basement door; and KNOW they aren't "going"!
Bowsie can't tell the difference between "OUR" tones and the other
Departments' tones - but he HAS started to <move> when he hears
ANY tones on the fire radios!

DON'T *MESS* wiffa Black KAT!!
Probably comes from his years with MidNight, but he has NEVER
done anything to <bother> Boots! (Other than just BEING here!)
Bowz hardly <looks> at Boots if the pass in the house; and Boots now
"allows" him to enter the Baffroom without even a (silent) "Hisss!"

Nail Trimming ??
NOT a problem with Bowz!
The "other" members of The Gang should be half as good as he is!

His HEARING ??
I think it works just FINE! - Very "SELECTIVE" - but always "operational"!
He comes out of a SOUND sleep at the sounds of:
* The Bisquit storage cabinet opening
* The Krunchie Can storage closet opening
* A (whispered) "Wanna EAT?"
* Fire Tones over the radio

Maybe instead of <COME> I should try "<Wanna EAT>".

"Pecking Order" ??
Well, he's "Only #3" - but Cinder & Smokey NEVER <pull rank> on him!
Cinder "Rules Her Pack" with a Very Soft Paw ~
and allows both Smokey and the Bowz to do just about ANYthig they
want to, whenever they want to!
It's a pretty & *mellow* Gang of Three,
wiffa KAT tossed in for Variety!

Bowser Boy IS a Goof-Ball - but he slid in without much fuss!


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