Sheena, she says, will shake your hand with her paw, roll over on command, and sing on cue if she's in the mood. Pepsi, a black Labrador, is an actor. His owner, Linda Copti, tells children's groups about bear safety and what to do if they chance upon a bear in the woods. Ms. Copti owns the Pups 'N' People school. She does not think pet owners spend as much time teaching tricks to family dogs as in the past.
People are busier.
Some get a dog and don't teach it anything. Most dogs nowadays are unemployed slobs. By teaching tricks, owners get control and dogs become better pets. Obedience is a trick, too. When people don't teach dogs anything, many wind up given to shelters, with behavior problems.