On motherhood

[constance]

Since I moved, I've been crating my dog. She's an old lady now, and her bladder control isn't what it used to be, to say the least. And now that I have the space for it, I've set her up a crate for an enormous dog--by this I mean a crate for a dog at least my size, because I can crawl into it easily--with her pillow in the rear half of the box and a puppy pad in the front half, so that if she does have to go, she can go in a place where neither of us has to get upset about it.

It's been a month and a half in this house, and we've made progress, from my having to pick her up and put her in the crate myself, to my leading her in by the collar, to my saying okay it's time to go in your box and following her into the sunroom. And now, this week, I wake up and take her outside and she eats her breakfast and then goes and lies quietly in the box while I take a shower.

This is what's supposed to happen, I know. But it's still amazing me. I go look for her when it's time for work and she's in her box, sleeping with the door open, and I feel like doing a little victory dance, and at the same time pulling her back out and smothering her with pets and apologies.

:::

Also: Have you seen my Stephen Hawking box set? I haven't seen it since I moved, and I can't think what I did with it, and it's driving me crazy.

Comments

[leestone.livejournal.com]

*cuddles Flan like crazy*

Our dog is almost 10 yrs old now. My mother yells at her when she loses control of her bladder on the bed or anywhere indoors, can you believe that? It's so needlessly cruel. >:O I'm like, let's see how well you're doing with that when you're 70, lady.

[tofty.livejournal.com]

It's hard not to yell when they choose the most inconvenient place imaginable--not to mention the most uncleanuppable--to have an accident. Which is why the crate, really--the last thing Flan needs is to be yelled at for something she doesn't really have any control over any more. :/

[leestone.livejournal.com]

I know, I know it's tedious to clean up dog pee, but I just can't forgive my mom for yelling. She's totally not sorry for it afterwards, either. >:/ It's not Callie's fault. She's just old.

Hmph. *sulks over Mother, as usual*

[tofty.livejournal.com]

I know. I would probably be mad at your mom, too. :/

*hugs you*

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

Hurrah for successful crating! It's amazing how they really do take to it after a while, isn't it?

When my beloved-but-unfortunately-psychotic Dalmatian moved with us into this house, she hated it so much that she peed everywhere out of spite (or fear- I remember her quailing in the front doorway like the place was brimming with zombies or something) and we couldn't trust her not to besmirch things while we were sleeping. We bought a giant crate and I thought for sure I'd have to cram her in there every night, but she loved it.

I think the crate is an excellent solution for Flannery's issues, and I'm so glad that she seems to be enjoying it.

[tofty.livejournal.com]

She really does. I know that someday I will get over my guilt over crating her, which is almost a superfluous guilt now anyway, since it turns out she's not just comfortable in her box, but sometimes just prefers to sleep there. And that day will be a good day.