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An Easy Way To Find Out Who Leads The Pack At Your House

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By STEVE OTTO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 18, 2008

I could feel her eyes watching my every move.

"Wait a minute!" she snapped. "What are you doing? You go first! She goes second! Are you the lead dog around your house or not?"

Well, I already knew the answer to that. At my house I'm probably fifth or sixth on the totem pole. But you don't want to spread that around, especially in doggy school, where it is assumed you are the master.

It was the second class at obedience school and the problem was that Tennessee, our 9-month-old, 60-pound puppy, believed that she was the lead dog and didn't want to wait for me before dashing through the door in the pet shop where class was being held.

Ever since we picked Tennessee up on a back road outside of Lynchburg, Tenn., last fall, when she was not much bigger than the ticks covering her body, she has come to believe that she is at the top of the pecking order at our house.

Finally, not too long after she began consuming the lawn furniture the Frau bought at one of those overpriced South Tampa boutique stores, we enrolled her in obedience school.

For the first class we were instructed to come alone and leave our dogs at home. "I think the teacher wants to see if we're smart enough to handle the class," I told the wife kiddingly, not realizing that was basically it.

It was a small class, just three of us: a woman with a toy poodle, a couple who owned a pit bull named Sweetie Pie and us. The teacher sized us up, gave us manuals and told us to return to the next class with our dogs, some treats and a squeaky toy.

The next week we were all there, including Sweetie Pie, who immediately snarled at the instructor, earning her a refund and a dismissal, reducing the class to Jacques the poodle and Tennessee.

That was three weeks ago. It turns out Jacques the poodle is one smart cookie. Tennessee is doing all right, too. They can sit and stay, and are learning to walk without dragging their owners down the street.

I've sensed, though, that they also haven't quite grasped the idea of who is in charge at home. There are only a couple of classes left and they are going to have to work a little harder if they want to convince their owners that we really are in charge, even if it is the dogs that are getting the treats and get to sit in the back seat with their tongues hanging out of the window on the way home.

Your Ottographs

A mixed bag from you this week.

Jo Anne Whale of Tampa writes, "This is my first letter to a newspaper for it is not in my nature to do so, but after seeing the picture of what the new scanners at Tampa International Airport would reveal, I am enraged. One would have more dignity in a hospital gown than at TIA. The police arrest men who put cameras under women's dresses or coaches who place cameras in girls' locker rooms. My question is, could I call police to arrest TIA scanners for the same thing? I love to travel but I plan not to fly anymore."

"Kjterz," in an e-mail over the demise of Whaley's market, makes the point that, "As much as I'm feeling the pain of energy price increases, I believe local businesses have a better chance of survival in a green environment. Think global, buy local."

Tons of letters about failing schools in Hillsborough County, especially the relatively new $50 million Middleton High School.

Here's a portion of one from an instructor who asked to remain anonymous: "...how about instead of saying what are we going to do about it, instead focusing on the success of the magnet programs. I'm in the computer systems and technology program and I can assure you that everyone in the class passed the FCAT. In order to remain in a magnet program at Middleton the students have to have a C or better in all of their classes. How about we instead look at the problem. The problem is the overwhelming amount of students who don't want to be there. The school board uses Middleton as a dumping ground for kids who have problems at other schools. It's not Middleton's fault either. Because our principal tries to suspend those who shouldn't be there, but when this happens their parents call and complain, the system makes us take them back even though they are repeat offenders and not allowed in school."

"CP" writes, "This supports an observation. No matter how much you spend on technology, classrooms, etc., you cannot teach if the children and their parents don't care. The only way this will be solved is to find some method of either removing or motivating these students. Our public school system has gone from equal opportunity to trying to force an equal outcome. Ninety-nine percent of our students would be much better served if we went back to equal opportunity."

Keyword, Otto Graphs, to read and comment on Steve Otto's blog.

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