Jodi wrote:
For those of you who go off to work in the mornings, what kind of routine do
you have for your dogs before you leave the house?

Thanks,
Jodi, who doesn't need an alarm clock now that she has a nine-week-old
Aussie

Our routine varies a bit, but generally it goes something like this.

Unless the electric alarm is set for 7 or earlier, the Oppie alarm
goes off about 7:10-7:30. After either alarm goes off, he picks up
a sock or two in his mouth and walks back and forth around the bed
between Hubster and I, whapping his tail and whining gently, getting
scritches from each of us. Dylan gets up and muscles in for some
pets. Gordo and Chile are still sacked out.

Hubster gets up, lets Dylan and Oppie outside, and starts making
doggy breakfast. When I hear him rattling around in the kitchen, I
nudge Gordo and Chile out of bed, but only after each has received
their quota of tummy pets.

Hubster feeds all the dogs (which has its own rituals) and kicks
them outside for a few minutes. Oppie comes in while I'm fixing my
cereal and waits for me to toss him a couple of pieces. I carry my
cereal and tea into the living room and make Gordo and Chile, now
occupying my couch-potato chair, move aside so I can sit down. I
cover them with an afghan. Oppie comes over and puts his head on my
lap, waiting for me to finish the cereal and let him lick out the bowl.

We shower and dress, and Dylan and Oppie lie down on the bath mats -
which ensures a clean floor, since we have to step over them, drip,
and then wipe up the water.

As we get ready to leave, we kick everyone outside for another potty
break, make sure they have water, and close the door to the kitchen
(to preclude counter-surfing, which they only do in our absence).
Gordo lies down on a pillow in the den, and Chile goes back to bed.
Dylan and Oppie hang around to see if they get to go. If they do,
Oppie does a joyous bouncy dance and hovers at the gate. Dylan is
much more sedate, but she brightens up and wags her tail. If not,
two sad-faces hang around near the door, hoping we'll change our
minds. To keep them - especially Oppie - from trying to push past
us, we place treats on the floor and tell them to "leave it." They
sit very still staring at the treats (a miracle!). As we start to
close the door, we holler "OK" and exit to the sounds of munching.

FurPaw



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