Training Edward
The first lesson was about sitting. Edward met Muriel at the front door with his usual wild bar and jumping, but Muriel more or less walked right through him and pointed at his rump and told him to sit. Edward stared at her. She then bent over and with a long pointed finger pushed his rump down.
‘Now you kind of cluck your tongue,' she told Macon, doing it herself to show him. ‘That means you're pleased with him. You have praise them when they do things right. And when I hold my hand out- see? That means he has to stay
Edward stayed, but gave a short bark every few seconds Muriel didn't seem to hear, and began to talk about herself. Macon wondered how long she expected Edward to sit there.
‘When I was a little girl, I didn't like dogs at all, can you believe that? All I was interested in was how to change the way my hair looked. My natural hair is real straight and now look at it! I had it done and made it so frizzy I can't even brush it.’
‘ Maybe you could just comb it.’ Macon suggested.
Muriel shook her head. ‘It's hard to pull a comb through it.’ ‘Shouldn't we let Edward up now?' Macon asked anxiously. Muriel snapped her fingers over Edward's head. ‘Okay!’ she said, and Edward jumped up, barking.
Edward learned to sit when Muriel pointed, and then it was Macon's turn. He pointed to Edward's rump. Edward stood fast. Macon frowned, and pointed more fiercely. He felt foolish.
‘Push him down,’ Muriel said.