Spinoza the Bayesian fine-tunes his own training

Formerly he would run to the kitchen every time I opened the refrigerator door. Now he comes only when I open the cheese compartment.

He has learned the difference between getting “a pee” (only modestly fun, a quick stint outdoors) vs. “a walk in the park,” the latter being very fun indeed.  He knows the words pee and park, but also can tell from my body language alone what will await him.  He wags the tail for only the park trip.

Often he knows when we are talking about him, even when we do not refer to him by name.  And if someone he knows calls on the phone, he comes over to listen.  Otherwise he does not budge.

Spinoza, a miniature Australian shepherd, is now over eleven years old.