In the early hours of this morning Isis barks loudly. Instead of rushing around hissing rude words into her ear after each utterance, I stay where I am and ignore her. She barks six times more and then stops.

I wait fifteen minutes (so she doesn’t think I’m responding to her barks) and lead her out into the garden.

Expecting her Dentistix, she stands in the kitchen and barks several times. But by now I have removed myself to another room. I wait. She stops.

After fifteen minutes I give her the treat.

I go upstairs to bed. She barks three times. I ignore her. She stops.

Well, we’ve taken the first step towards undoing my mis-teaching – perhaps.