Tucker
We have had Tucker for over two years. I love this silly little dog like crazy. He just wants to play or cuddle. That’s it. He doesn’t growl. He doesn’t show his teeth like any kind of mad dog. He’s nice to his sister, Mishka. I swear, this dog smiles.
Both dogs, Tucker and Mishka, follow me all day long from room to room. Tucker has even convinced Mishka that picture taking can be fun!
When we got Tucker, he was 1 1/2 years old, and from what I understand, had spent most of his life in a Kennel or crate because his previous owner traveled a lot. At first, I didn’t want him to just have free range of the house like Mishka did, so I tried the crate. He HATED the crate! He pee’d in it. He pooped in it. Every time I came home, there would be a HUGE mess to clean up. He seemed to lay in his mess and spread it around as much as possible, almost as if to say….”Put me in here? Pay the price!” I would have to clean the crate, and I would have to give him a bath. Occasionally, I needed a shower myself after all of the cleaning up. Sometimes that whole clean up process could take over an hour or more.
Sleep in the crate? Forget about it. He just barked and cried. It all became exhausting! I finally gave up. I felt sorry for him and couldn’t deal with the mess any longer. It seemed as though the crate just scared him. So I gave in and I let him have free range of the house. The way our house is set up, it seemed impossible to “gate” any of the rooms. He seemed to be doing pretty good, and by good, I mean I didn’t seem to notice any accidents. Then I thought, Well, this is great! Maybe he is already house trained and he just didn’t like that crate!
We don’t go into the basement very often, but I soon discovered he was pooping in the basement. I would discover this about once a week. There is no door to the basement, so I couldn’t close it off. I tried to keep both dogs in our bedroom with the door shut, but they just barked the whole time I was gone. If I kept them in the office, they barked the whole time. I know this, because my neighbor was kind enough to tell me on a couple of occasions that my dogs “BARKED THE ENTIRE TIME YOU WERE GONE!!”
I just gave up.
I’m home most of the time, so I became fairly strict about making him go outside every 2 hours. When I run errands, I try to not be gone too long, and if I am, I make arrangements with a neighbor. I’m super lucky to have several neighbors that are willing to come over at the drop of a hat to let my little friends outside.
After going on vacation and the dogs having an unusual schedule for a full week, I really came home to a mess. I found “spots” all over the house. I spent our first day home from vacation spot cleaning the carpets. I am disgusted and I know I need to do something so this does not happen the next time we go out of town, or even so I can be gone for more than a few hours and know that everything will be okay at home.
I started a new “house training” schedule yesterday.
Can you teach an old dog new tricks? God, I hope so.
I am going to promise myself to be patient in this process, and to be consistent. Prayers for success are appreciated!! I really would like to replace our 15 year old carpet upstairs sometime this year!!
I put these two gates together with a bungee cord in hopes of keeping Tucker in the kitchen and off any carpet while I ran some errands.
I knew I couldn’t put him in there alone, so I brought a couple of dog beds in to make it cozy and I put both dogs in the kitchen. Both of these beds actually belong to Mishka, but she spends most of her time in the smaller one.
Once she realized he was happy in her big bed, she joined him.
I wasn’t real sure how long this would last.
I told them to be good and that I would be back shortly. (I always say….”Be good! Mommy will be back!” I wondered how long they would both actually stay in this bed. I wondered how long Tucker would actually stay in the kitchen without attempting to jump over my little fence!
They pouted. I left.
When I got home, Tucker was in the front window looking at me. When I walked in the house, perfect little Mishka, who would NEVER pee in the house, was still trapped in the kitchen.
I didn’t find any accidents. The carpet cleaner is coming this week. I go outside EVERY time Tucker does and immediately praise him when he pee’s and I give him a treat!
I’m already exhausted.
Breakfast
Open Faced Egg Sandwich
English Muffin, 3 Egg Whites, 1/4 C. Turkey Sausage, 1 Slice Cheese
Strawberries
Lunch
5 Baked Tostito Scoops
Topped with One Cup of Taco Soup
Topped with 1 T. Light Sour Cream
Snack
Grapes
Snack
Strawberries
Dinner
Leftover Mexican Casserole
Topped with Smashed Avocado & Tomatoes
Apple
Weight Watcher’s Points Plus
I can eat 26 PPV a day.
I can earn Activity Points by doing exercise, and eat them if I choose.
I have an allowance of 49 extra points that I can dip into throughout the week if I choose.
I should drink a minimum of 6 (8 oz) glasses of water each day.
My Weight Watcher Week Begins on Friday’s
Breakfast = Breakfast Sandwich, Fruit (6)
Lunch = Soup, Chips, Sour Cream (6)
Snack = Fruit (0)
Snack = un-pictured Small Nonfat Latte (2)
Dinner = Leftover Mexican Casserole, Avocado, Tomato, Apple (11)
Total = 25
Exercise = 5K training on the treadmill
How many glasses of water I drank = 8
Activity Points Earned for the Day = 2
Activity Points Earned This Week = 10
Remaining points from my 49 Points Allowance = 32
Alcohol Consumption = none
“love the life you live, live the life you love”
