At the ripe old age of not-quite-three-months, Cali made her first play for Jana’s job. She liked the idea of a paycheck, in the form of some treats, delivered as soon as the work was complete.
The newspaper was still bigger than Cali the first time she grabbed it and dashed off ahead of Jana. Reined in by a too-short leash, Cali was soon overtaken by Jana. Jana looked at her in annoyance, then reached over and snatched “her” newspaper back.
Jana’s held this job since she was a tiny pup, and she is not ready to retire.
Since that day, I try to get the girls to take turns, and I give each one a reward, but Cali still wants that job. And Jana is not giving up without a fight. Sometimes the paper bears the brunt of this literal tug-of-war.
Dogs need jobs. Ever more, dogs need opportunities to earn rewards. But I think what is really at play here is that Cali looks up to — worships — Jana and wants to do everything that Jana does. Cali learns new skills very quickly and I am sure it is partly because she is watching what her adored big sister does and copying every move, albeit in her clumsy puppy way.
Still, I think the best solution might be a second newspaper subscription.
The Thinking Dog 
[…] Cali was a very small puppy, she tried to move in on Jana’s turf, to steal her job! Young Cali had her heart set on delivering the paper, but that didn’t go so well. Cali […]
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[…] happily devours both cookies as payment.) She is the sole newspaper girl now, a job she argued for, tried to seize by force … and now really, really wishes she could share with her […]
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a second newspaper subscription is a small price to pay for peace in the kingdom!
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Pam, this is so adorable – Jana’s long-standing job being challenged by young newcomer Cali – what a story! I think 2 newspapers is a great idea, plus Barb’s suggestion of a mail bag is good too!
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Perhaps you could get a little sack to carry the mail in. Then you could take them to the mailbox each day, just as you take them out to get the paper and bringing back the mail could be Cali’s job just as carrying the paper is Jana’s. Even if you actually get your mail at school, you could plant mail in the box for Cali to carry. It would be interesting to see if they buy in to the routine and agree to each take a shift, so to speak. Then they’d each have the same jobs when you go back to FL.
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