Orly is always (at least) a step ahead of me.

We’re constantly innovating on our Explorer Walks, and we try out new routes and variations of routes constantly.

Let me amend that: Orly is constantly innovating, and I am always a bit behind in figuring out the real motivation. Let’s be honest here: The One True motivation is food. But it’s a little more challenging (to me, anyhow) to tease out just how Orly thinks a new route or new behavior will increase her treat intake.

I know that she intentionally guides me past yards where a barky dog is likely to be outside. And that she requests a treat whenever we pass yards that might have had a barking dog, even if the resident dog is nowhere to be seen. She recently led me past Milo’s yard twice on the same walk (Milo’s brother is a reliable barker, and their mom keeps a jar of treats hidden in a planter).

I eventually caught on to at least some of the ways that she, um, encourages other dogs in yards to bark as we walk by, such as sticking her nose under the fence or muttering something rude under her breath.

But it wasn’t until I read a recent review of an old favorite book (How Dogs Love Us by Gregory Berns) that I started thinking about all of the cognitive skill behind her masterminding our walks.

The author of the review, Daniel Antolec, describes putting together his dog’s excited expectation on days that a doggy friend was visiting with his dog’s ability to identify a pattern. Daniel’s morning routine varied in specific ways only on the days the dog friends were coming over. Daniel describes the book’s discussion of dogs’ ability to anticipate and dogs’ skill at learning from, communicating with, and forming bonds with other species.

Looking at Orly’s navigation of our walks with a bigger-picture view, I finally understand that she plans the route and engineers encounters with other dogs based on much more than a passing scent. She sets out with her goal firmly in mind (maximum number of treats) and is able to shift gears and redirect us by a block or a half mile if she picks up a promising cue.

I have accepted the truth that she will consistently outfox me. Lead on, Orly!