As I saw a glimpse of the posts at the Los Angeles harbor and a piece of my favorite ocean drawn into the land when I was driving home from work every day, the same relief always came over me. There was a celebration in my head. I was almost home! The place where I could finally rest and remove the seven hours of noise from my system. There were only a few minutes left to get out of the exit, go through the main street, travel on residential streets, and there it was. My little house, with its tiny backyard, where my dog, Arslan, and cats would greet me.

Most puppies probably learn how to behave when they attend doggie training school. By the time they are adults, they have mastered obedience techniques. I have seen some of them in the park while walking my dog or on the streets near my house. They will drop to the ground immediately at the sound of their master’s command. A whistle, a short order, or a hand gesture, and they stay motionless waiting for their owner to tell them what to do. Seeing that alone has given way to too many questions in my head. How do they do that?