For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 26, 2025

What difference does it make?

Another lesson in how not to train your dog from Elly Patterson. Today’s example shows us:

1. Dogs do not understand human language.

2. The lecture finger in the air does not work on dogs (or on humans either).

3. In order to reward positive behavior, it is necessary to stick around long enough to see the positive behavior and reward it. Walking away defeats the whole purpose.

4. To address impatience during training sessions, it’s important to first recognize and manage your own inability to concentrate on the training.

5. If your dog is accustomed to getting food from people sitting at the table, then you need to stop the people who sit at the table from giving food to the dog or removing the dog from the room during dinner time. Otherwise the dog will think eating should occur under the table.

I think the real crime is that they named the dog Edgar

A chip off the old block!

Edgar is showing us what he thinks of Elly’s smug attitude.

So elly, if you don’t want him to eat the treat under the table, drop it in his bowl.

Edgar doesn’t want anyone taking his treat so he goes under the table to eat in safety.

The table is kind of like a doghouse to a dog – sort of a ‘protected space’ where a doggie can eat…

I made my dog eat under the table so I wouldn’t be tripping over him.

Wow, Elly must have the fastest growing hair in the world! Just yesterday she had her hair cut short, exposing her ears.

Today her hair completely covers her ears again!

From Lynn’s Comments: I gotta say it again…I absolutely loved drawing the dogs. Their facial expressions and body language could be exaggerated far beyond the human forms and the results were always hilarious. After I introduced dogs into the strip, the drawing became more and more enjoyable.

It’s a survival instinct. When an animal in the wild eats, their attention is on that and not their surroundings. They’re vulnerable. So, the tendency is to hide while they eat, making them less vulnerable.

All I can say is — poor Edgar! He’s not even allowed a little privacy. He’s such a good boy … doesn’t deserve all these silly rules.

Is he part cat? They never obey either.

In Congress, most treats are offered under the table.

Elly’s hair grew back quickly.

A teenage dog? AKA someone who doesn’t pay attention.

As long as he eats by April’s chair, Ellie will never know the differnce.

You know where you can stick that finger, you nagging cow!

Her hair grew back overnight !!! Wish mine grew that fast.

You gotta put your foot down and teach them young… Take my kids for instance, one word from me, and they do whatever in heII they please!

Elly’s hair sure grows fast. She must have the same ability as Calvin, who was shaved bald by Hobbes then had his normal hairdo in the strip the day afterwards.

Rules were meant to be broken

You never store treats down low where the dog could get the bag

Is the FB share button not working anymore?

Edgar and Michael both failed to learn a lesson: they ought not to have shat where they ate.

What an old poop!

Just like Farley.

Haha… just like a kid. Waits until Mom’s gone…

I gots bone to pick wid dis. Doggie shud get to chooze where he chewz.

My cat prefers to have his own chair at the table, sleeping. He just needs to be near me.

How about giving him the treat IN the bowl, Ellie?

If you want him to eat it at his bowl, put it in his bowl. Don’t expect him to take it over to his bowl.

It also works every time when you tell cats not to jump up on the kitchen counter

I just know my dog eats w/e she wants as long as it is not on the table