Doggone It! Read Online Free PDF Page B

watched as Pepper and Snowball barked at a squirrel in a tree. The squirrel didn’t seem to like being outnumbered.
    Katie smiled. It served him right.
    “There was a teacher, had a dog, and Snowball was her name-oh,” Mrs. Derkman began singing again.
    “Aroo!” Snowball joined in with a loud howl.
    Katie laughed. Having her teacher for a next-door neighbor wouldn’t have been something Katie would have wished for. But maybe it wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

Chapter 15
    It didn’t take long for Katie to teach Snowball a few simple tricks. You can teach your dog, too. All you have to do is follow these easy steps.
    You will have to practice these tricks alot before your dog will learn them. Some dogs can learn tricks in a few days. It takes other dogs longer to learn.
    Teach Your Dog to Sit: This is the easiest trick for your dog to learn. Start by holding a dog treat above her, just out of her reach. Your dog will look up. Then ... whoops! She’ll fall right into the sit position. As soon as your dog begins to fall back, say the word “sit.” Then be sure to give your dog a lot of praise—and the treat.
    If you do this over and over, your dog will understand what the word “sit” means.
    Teach Your Dog to Stay: Start by asking your dog to sit. Then hold your hand out so your palm is near her nose. This is your signal for “stay.” Take a step backward, saying the word “stay.” Before your dog can move toward you, hurry back to her. Give her a treat.
    Repeat this a few times. Each time, move a little farther from your dog. Stay away from her for longer amounts of time, too. She’ll soon learn to stay, no matter how far away you may seem.

    Author’s note: Katie was very lucky that Snowball was a sweet puppy. But there’s no guarantee that other stray dogs are as nice. If you see a strange dog wandering your neighborhood, don’t try to rescue her yourself. Instead, ask a grown-up to call a local shelter. They will send an expert to rescue the dog.