How to train your parents

We soon learned that Jenny was quite different from Forrest. He didn't really play; she is ready to play at any moment. He would often leave food in his bowl; she consumes it all (and licks the sides) in two minutes. He would go outside whenever he wanted and spend lots of time laying in the grass. She only goes out if you go with her, and she won't do her business without fetching her ball at least once.

Wait, what? I am not making this up. If you don't go out with her, she will come back inside. And no matter how bad she needs to go, she will wait for you to throw the ball at least once before she will relieve herself. We're hoping this is just a phase. But she has us. Everything is focused around her. And she loves it.

Forrest would let you pet him a little, then he would walk away. If you stop petting Jenny, she will lick you and nudge you until you do it again. I lose all ability to multitask when we are on the couch; one hand must stay on her at all times. If I'm at the table, her nose is pushing my elbow out of the way so she can be as close to me as possible.

The one thing that is consistent between them is me. I was his favorite. I am her favorite. It didn't matter what my wife was doing with Forrest. If I walked in the room, he turned his attention on me. If she tried to touch his feet, he would pull them back. I was allowed to touch them for short periods. He occasionally growled at her; not at all at me. Jenny is proving to be the same. She prefers I throw the ball or I pet her or I walk with her. She will crawl in my lap.

My wife calls me a dog magnet, as I seem to be able to relate to dogs easily, and they tend to be more relaxed around me. I think she's just jealous. (j/k, Honey.)