[Dailydrool] Flat basset

[Elizabeth Lindsey]

Going flat basset is an effective way to manipulate your human into  
doing what you want while at the same time charming and amusing  
passersby, who misinterpret the behavior as cute instead of annoying.

A basset quickly learns that going flat will get him the full and  
undivided attention of his human. It may not necessarily be pleasant  
attention, but it's still attention. Even better, it's attention that  
tends to draw the attention of passersby, who then stop to express  
concern over the flat basset and offer comforting and encouraging  
pats. Their attention is quite positive and reinforces the behavior.

I'm fortunate in that our Elsinore and young Charlie don't feel the  
need to resort to using the flat basset technique to make me do what  
they want, but their basset friend the late Macy did. When she went  
flat, the only thing to do was to sit down and wait her out. Macy  
could be a real mule.

Elizabeth