What amazes me is how different dogs think than humans. No matter what I learn, I still find myself trying to relate to my dogs in a human way. Even when I try to put myself in their paws, I find myself thinking like a human for them.
So, for me, it's puzzling, when I try to figure out what's going on with Posh, my little Maltese. She's about 9 months, and still not fully potty trained. Her brother and sister, Barley and Sk8r, a wheaten terrier and Yorkshire terrier, are doing pretty well. They are both potty trained and will go outside when asked. Posh is doing pretty well, but there's no rhyme or reason to why she still potties in the house, on occasion.
I've learned, the first thing, before anything else, when I wake in the morning, take the kids out. The first trip is good for a tinkle from each. I walk them back inside, brush my teeth, and then back out again. No more than 10 minutes have passed, and guess what, they do the second half of their business. Why they won't do it all in the first trip, I'm not sure. But no problem. I can deal with that. I don't understand. But I know what to do.
So, everything has been going well in the potty training category. Then two days ago, I wake up and there's poop and pee on the bedroom floor! I know who's to blame, but why? We were doing so well?
Instead of trying to make sense of it, as I would normally attempt, I just make up a story. No use in trying the impossible...to give a dog a human sense of the world. Here's what I think happened:
Posh wakes up in her playful mood. She nudges Sk8r and says, "Hey! Don't say anything, but I think I'm gonna potty on the floor."
Sk8r says, "You better not, he's gonna be upset and I'm gonna have to go and hide somewhere for a while, cuz I don't like it when he fusses."
Posh responds, "OK. Well you better go and find a good hiding spot!"
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