Historical clue formulations

• Excels at Simon Says, say — 2026-03-22
• Follows orders — 2025-08-25
• Does as instructed — 2024-12-17
• Falls in line — 2024-05-01
• Follows — 2023-01-08
• Earns a dog treat, say — 2022-12-05
• Falls into line — 2022-04-14
• Follows, as orders — 2021-05-31
• Conforms — 2020-11-13
• Executes orders — 2020-06-03
• Heeds — 2017-12-31
• Follows — 2017-09-24
• Adheres to, as a rule — 2017-07-17
• Follows orders — 2017-05-02
• Heeds — 2017-01-17
• Does as told — 2014-05-12
• Follows orders — 2014-01-06
• Heeds — 2012-07-04
• Falls into line — 2011-09-25
• Minds — 2010-01-11
• Does what a good dog does — 2009-08-12
• Toes the line — 2008-10-19
• Follows — 2008-04-24
• Follows orders — 2008-03-11
• Does as told — 2007-10-17
• Doesn't deviate from — 2007-05-19
• Follows — 2006-07-06
• Follows directions — 2006-07-03
• Takes orders — 2006-02-21
• Minds — 2005-11-15
• Doesn't ignore — 2004-12-18
• Follows — 2004-06-06
• Takes orders from — 2004-04-20
• Doesn't ignore — 2003-07-24
• Follows — 2003-03-10
• Follows the leader — 2002-08-19
• Follows — 2002-04-16
• Listens to — 2001-11-13
• Respects the rules — 2000-06-13
• Follows — 2000-02-10
• Observes — 1998-06-25
• Toes the line — 1996-12-05
• Listens to — 1996-04-13
• Heels, e.g. — 1995-11-19
• Listens to — 1994-04-08
• Minds — 1994-03-12
• Stays in line — 1994-02-19