Managed to wake Rodders to get him to go out for a piddle once but he was dead to the world when it came to bedtime so I tried to just put him in his crate. He had a whinge for about 5 minutes but settled down for the night.
While he was asleep during the evening OH put up a baby gate at the kitchen door. Rodders doesn't really like to be apart from me and this is not good so I wanted to be able to put him somewhere safe that he could be contained but still see and hear me. Because of the set up of my home, mainly open plan, this seems to be the best way to do it. Wish me luck when we try it out later in the day!
This morning OH was up just before 6 (I think! My eyes were not really open) and Rodders could hear him and started crying. I came down and talked to him through the crate until he quietened and then let him out. He was happy to have a quick snuggle while I quickly put the kettle on and then it was outside for a very looooong piddle - had had managed to stay dry all night in his crate so a huge success. Lots of praise and quietly whooping (it was early and we didn't want to wake the neighbours).
He wasn't too sure of his step and would not come up it back in to the house and stood on the patio crying so I lifted him in. Then he came across the baby gate at the kitchen and was a bit frightened to go over the threshold (again!) but I stayed in the kitchen making tea so he eventually braved it. Then he wasn't brave enough to get back over it and I missed the signs and ended up with poop on the kitchen floor :-( My fault.
We had a bit of a play in the conservatory until OH came down and then he was more interested in what he was doing. He went in to the kitchen while OH was at the table having breakfast so he gently pulled the gate t,plo. Rodders wasn't sure for a second or two so I threw in a couple of toys and he had a quick play before a little whimper. So I reached over the gate with a squeaky toy, making lots of noise, and then threw it in for him to chase. He played happily for a minute or two and then came and had a sniff at the gate, then a little chew. He then realised that it was only pushed to and opened it enough to get through. He got lots of fuss as he had been a big brave boy.
Again he was happy to play with his toilet roll inner while I used the bathroom and was barking at it (sorry neighbours!).
More play in the conservatory (should this be re-named the doggy play pen?) and then it was time for OH to go. We went and stood in the garden as he left and Rodders was interested in the sound of the car. He is so happy in the garden. When he wanted to come in I stood in the conservatory squeaking his toy lots and he bravely came in using the step to much whooping! And then he braved his way out and then in again. What a clever boy Rodders is!!!!
I managed to slip upstairs to the bathroom while he was in the garden without him getting too stressed.
We carried on playing until Rodders went and sat on top of the rolled up carpet. This seems to be a signal that he is tired so I called him through to the lounge and settled him down on his snuggle blanket and he is asleep at my feet.
No comments:
Post a Comment