Emphasis Preaching Journal

In the first months of walking my Labradoodle pup (they’re great dogs!), I finally understood his sudden stops: walking one second, stock still the next. He’d see something move — a leaf down the street or, more exciting, a cat or squirrel or person. He’d hear something — birds in the bush or children beyond the fence. He’d stop. At first I’d pull his leash and say, “Heel.” I finally learned that he’s genetically wired to stop and stare at something that may be dangerous, at least interesting, or possibly edible.