Dog Days

Dee is at a training camp and I am now "stuck with the dog" for a little more than two weeks. I feel it is really stuck because she needs attention, exercise, and more attention. Add in the fact the weather has been awful - misty, icy, wet, cold - my feeling of the canine burden is complete.

Daisy is able to be out of her crate more now without danger of relieving herself on the floor. However, she chases the cats and Margeaux teases her which drives her nuts so it is unwise to just let her run wild. I limit her access to rooms by closing doors and using baby gates. I keep her on leash in the house. I say the word "no" a whole lot.

The command "down" gets her to sit and "lay" is the obvious. "Stay" is known but not necessarily respected. It depends on the context. If I say "down" and "stay" on the way into the house, she waits until the word "okay" to enter. So we need to work on down-stay in other locations. I think she anticipates that she's coming in so she obeys that command set. She thinks of stay as a temporary situation. When really - I'd like her to stay for a while.

My m.s. has been acting up this week so I'm not the able-bodied dog-walker. I have been putting her on the treadmill to get some exercise. And - right now - I have this break because she's outside in the fenced yard. Quiet - no rattling about in her kennel, no whining, no hopping all around in this room where I have to make sure she does not rob the litterbox. Yes, she is a turd-burglar. She is a dog and dogs do that kind of stuff. I am taking care of business, doing what needs to be done, and awaiting Dee's return. I'm glad SHE loves having a dog - I guess.