The trainer at Katie’s dog obedience class advised me to put lemon juice on my hands when Katie is trying to play by biting them.  She said that Katie would hate the taste of lemon juice and would stop the rude behavior.  Really.

This morning I decided to give it a try.  Katie was in rare form, prancing around, nipping at legs and hands, wanting to play.  Even in play she wanted to nip at the hand throwing the ball.  So to the refrigerator I went, out came the little yellow plastic lemon containing lemon juice.  Katie was intrigued.  Was this a new toy?   I poured lemon juice into my palm and spread it all over my hands.  Katie sniffed.  Her eyes lit up.  She began licking my hands, tentatively at first and then joyfully, with increasing  exuberance.  It began to tickle and then we were rolling around on the floor, me laughing, she licking my hands, both of us having a wonderful time.

OK.  So lemon juice is not going to deter Katie from chewing on hands.  I guess we’re back to the stern “NO!” which was almost working as long as we were consistant.  The lemon juice is back in the fridge, Katie is asleep, exhausted by all the play.  Once again she has defied the experts.  I guess she’s a one of a kind sheltie puppy.