Merlin chases after the tennis ball. He pounces on it with a happy bark. He chews on it for a few minutes and then returns it to Jack.

Digging into his pocket he pulls out the training treat. Merlin sits before he can say a word. Jack laughs. "Yes, you got that one. But we're trying something new."

Merlin wriggles a little. "Paw, Merlin." Jack instructs. The dog cocks his head. His right ear flips inside out. Jack chuckles. Merlin shakes his head and his ear flips right side out. He whines a little wanting his treat.

Jack picks up Merlin's right front paw. "Paw," he repeats.

Merlin whines and tries to get away. Jack puts the paw down and Merlin sits. "Okay." Jack digs out a lamb treat and the dog snarfs it up.

"Paw, Merlin." Jack says again. He taps the dog's foot. Merlin pulls his paw out of Jack's grasp. He doesn't like people touching his feet. "Yeah I know."

Jack keeps it up for a few more minutes then switches out to playing ball with the dog.

Over the next week he does paw work with Merlin. Bella usually sits and watches. Soon she's picked it up.

"Paw," Merlin's four feet stay firmly on the ground. Bella holds out her front foot and Jack chuckles. He salutes her and then shakes her paw. "Good girl."

Merlin barks at Jack when he sees Bella getting treats.

"She did the trick," Jack tells the dog. Merlin scratches at the treat cabinet. "No."

Merlin knows that word. He grumbles, sighs and plunks down in front of the cabinet. He props his muzzle on his paws. The freckles on his snout appear darker with his white tipped paws peeping out.

Jack grins at his dog. Merlin likes to sit in front of the cabinet if he doesn't get a treat.

Team night comes around again to his place. Bella greets the team. Jack decides to surprise them with the new trick.

"Bella, paw." He calls out when Sam arrives. Bella's right front paw comes up and stays level.

Sam laughs and salutes the dog back. Bella barks happily and leans up on Sam. "Hi girl." Sam rubs Bella's ears and scratches her chest. Bella's tail wags faster. Sam gives good pets.

Daniel and Teal'c climb out of the car and Merlin jogs over to them. He sits and holds up his left paw.

Jack rolls his eyes. "Close but not quite."

Daniel leans down and shakes Merlin's paw. Merlin licks Daniel's hand and pulls away. The dog races back to Jack. He dances around whining for a treat. Jack digs for one of the training treats in his pockets. "Here ya go." Jack rolls his eyes. "It's a trick, but not what you were supposed to do." He tells the dog.

"What's going on, Jack?" Daniel asks.

"The Colonel taught Bella to salute and Merlin is trying to do it as well." Sam explains. Jack chuckles. "I was trying to teach Merlin, but Bella got there first."

The team laughs. Jack has Bella repeat her trick for Daniel and Teal'c.

Daniel chuckles. "He missed a few points, didn't he?"

Jack nods. Aside from using his left paw, when Jack was trying to teach him the right he also sits. Which is why Daniel thought he wanted to shake.

"It's a start," Daniel says.

Jack shrugs. "He needs to figure out the instructions before we go the therapy visits. Not just for snacks."

"He will, sir." Sam defends Merlin. "He's smart." She strokes the dog's head.

"He's a chowhound, Carter."

Sam bites her lip remembering Merlin begging under the table. "Yes, sir." She agrees with her commanding officer.