Lessons On Negotiation From Artie The Briard

A few years ago, as I sat writing a blog post, my dog, Artie (now deceased but never forgotten) reminded me of an important lesson in connection with negotiation.

Artie, who, when standing on all fours was tall enough to eat off the dining room table, shoved his face into mine. I told him to sit; he did, but he rested the weight of his head on my lap and on the keyboard of my notebook computer. I then told him to go away. He looked up at me, but other than that, didn’t move. Finally, he lied down on the floor and lifted his paw up to the armrest of my chair. I then put my notes down and gave him a belly rub.

Yes, Artie could've been better trained, but that’s not my point.

My point is that Artie had intensity of purpose. To him, the word “no,” which he fully understood, was only the beginning point for further negotiation. He didn’t give up when told to go away, he just changed his tactic. True, he sometimes settled for less than he initially intended, but he generally got far more than I intended to give.

Sit! Remember that! Good boy!