"Wait," his Mistress told him. He knew when he heard her command that he was allowed to explore the room, search for treats, chew on his toys until he fell asleep, and yes … wait for her return. He did not have permission to leave the room; he knew better than that. He had been her pup for three months now, and disobedience was simply not tolerated.

Human pups and dogs come in many shapes and sizes. Some pups identify strongly as puppies with play time, bath time, grooming and snuggles at the center of their play. Some identify as dogs, with training, commands, hand signals and pack leadership key to their identity.

Whether it is exploration of breed, romps in the park, puppy moshes, clicker training, weekend intensives or simply lying at my feet, there are pats, scratches and a jar of treats waiting.