This was going well so far. Benjie the kneazle was being very cooperative and Naya was hopeful that they would be able to get this thing done.

Benjie followed Naya all the way to the start of the obstacle course and sat down. He was going to require a little something in the way of motivation, if she wanted him to continue on this journey

Naya should have known that it was not going to be that easy. It looked as if her kneazle had a change of heart. Focusing on the positive and not the negative, she pulled out a treat and gave it to Benjie. “Good job”, Naya said while giving him a head scratch. “I have plenty more where that came from, but you are going to have to earn your treats. I know you can do it.” Glancing at the course, Naya suddenly didn’t feel quite as confident. Benjie didn’t need to know that though.

Naya went on the other side of the first hoop and called to the kneazle. “Come on Benjie. I need you to jump through the hoop. Come on. You can do it. Naya retrieved another treat and held it in front of the hoop.

Benjie was enjoying his treat, taking his time to savor every bit of it. He looked up at Naya with an eager face. More. More treats please. Why wasn’t the girl giving him more? He said please. Why was she leaving him and standing by that round thing? Surely she didn’t want him to...... No. He didn’t want a treat that badly. Yes he did. Lucky for her, Benjie was a sucker for kneazle treats. Instead of jumping, he decided to go for plan B. Benjie walked around the hoop and joined the girl. Treat please?

Naya had to laugh. This was one smart kneazle. He tried to take the easiest route. Unfortunately that was not going to work. “No Benjie. You have to jump to get the treat. She led him back to the front of the hoop and tried to demonstrate by sticking her arm through the hoop. ”Jump means treat.“ Back to the other side she went with her treat. “Come on Benjie. Jump.” At the rate they were going, they would never finish the obstacle course before class was over.

Benjie was getting it, he just didn’t feel like jumping. Alas, his desire for a treat made him stand and eye the round thingy. Keeping his eye on the prize, he moved forward and jumped through the hoop. Ok now treat?

“You did it”, Naya said enthusiastically. After giving Benjie a well deserved pat, she handed over the treat. “Great job! How about we do it again?” Naya waited for the kneazle to finish his treat and walked behind the second hoop. “One more time?”

Again? The girl was nice and gave good head pats, but Benjie was getting a little tired of this activity. Couldn’t he just get a treat and a pat and call it a day?