He was a very fearful dog. Terrified of just about anything.
In fact, I got him to stop "Counter Surfing" by leaving metal bowls on the counters balanced close to the edge. One wet nose later, one hit the floor and he tried to run out of the kitchen to get away from the clattering din. It looked like a cartoon character trying to escape.
Some dogs don't get a good grip on the floor right away, and that was our boy Rack.
Now, they will tell you that if you can't train a McNab Dog, you can't train a dog. I find that to be completely true. He's amazingly easy to train. He picks up things both simple and complex and is smarter than some folks.
Just ask me about my one neighbor if you get me aside some day.
But he is getting older. He has had a bout with cancer in the Anal Gland. Yes, butt cancer. If you don't laugh, you will cry.
However he seems to be handling it well, no real issues other than the surgery changed his scent. It's stronger.
Being older also means that he's going to have a weaker bladder. Doggy Depends are a pain to use and he's not ready for that.
What we did was to ask him what he wants, literally.
"Rack! Do you want to go out back?"
If he needs the tree, he will get up and walk to the back door. On there, I have a string with some elephant bells. They were from my sister's wedding years ago, and I keep them here. Rack will go to the back door and ring the bells. They aren't loud but I will know when he wants out.
There are places where he can go out and empty his bladder, privately.
Since we are in Florida, the sun on a black and white dog, will make him quite hot. On coming back in, he hits the water bowl and drinks up. Then off to his corner for some quiet time on the cool tile in the corner near my rocker.
I'm normally off my rocker, but this starts the cycle again.
I have learned that after two hours to ask if he wants out. He is smart enough to know when he wants out. If he doesn't he will hesitate.
This is the thing about a McNab. They live to work, they live to please their people. Since I am Big People here, he will go out regardless of whether he needs it or not.
However, this has been corrupted. We taught the little guy how to lie.
If he really does not have to go out to the tree, he will do a quick circuit of the yard and haul back to the door. Usually faster than I can get out of the back room.
I will wave him back out to the tree and he will go. But he will not do anything.
If I wave him again, he knows that he can go around the corner, out of sight, and after a short count, he will trot back. Knowing that he did not do what I asked, his demeanor is just a little bit subdued.
Yes, he lied.
Yes, he knows he did.
Yes, on some level even he is ashamed of telling a fib.
Ok, it's a fib. But if I get involved in doing something else... well I may not have time to make you comfortable you furry little dingus.
See, a McNab is more like a non verbal child. They hear you, they learn, and they always have their own agenda. The agenda is to please you, because you are their job.
I have said that if I were to do it over, I'd have talking buttons. On the other hand if I did... he'd be talking my ears off. Most likely at 2 in the morning, but he would know how to get his point across.

I was out for my workout today, and it's time for our lunch routine. We have to respect the process. The process is feed Rack, then he comes back into the kitchen and looks expectant. I say "Show me what you want". He always walks me over to the high cabinet over the oven where I keep his cookies and looks at it. "Here, do you want your cookies?" I ask as I try to get him to take the entire closed bag.
Of course silly human, I am not allowed to have the whole bag, so lets move to the next step.
Picking out a small cookie I toss it to him so that he can catch it in air. Then I count out three more and put them into his "cookie ball" so he knows that they are there. I may have him wave or down or other little useful tricks and then hand him the ball and send him on his way.
We are not done yet. It gives me time to start cooking my own food, but when he comes back, he wants out to the back yard. Asking me for out by ringing the bell, I let him out.
Yes, it is July and Noon, and Sunny so I know he will have water and ...
You know the drill. Respect the process. Two hours later:
"Rack! Lets go out back!"
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