Today was a disappointment....in myself, not the dog. I know better than to blame the dog. An effective teacher has an exemplary student. What's great about today is that although I am a dog trainer, I am still an average person. My husband is away for two weeks, I homeschool my kids, I have two dogs that I dote on, I run a business and my kids' social and extracurriclar lives are busy!! I am not fishing for sympathy...at all. Just painting the picture. Average people are busy and average people mess up with dogs. Dogs are patterned and predictable; people change depending on the circumstance! I wish I could devote 100% to this dog and find her a home, but I only have a strong 40-50% to give. I am giving more than an average owner, I think, but it's tough. Noel should have received guidance at the beginning of her life, but people failed her,  So many dog owners are under educated in what dogs need, that she didn't stand a chance, There are about 5 million homeless dogs in the USA every year. Dogs become homeless primarily for behavioral problems that are preventable.  It is our fault, as was Noel's accident today. How can I expect a dog to know how to ask to go outside if no one has taught her? How can I expect her to know that I prefer she pees on my grass if she is inside a closed door and I am not paying attention to her?

 

Let me show you what today looked like: We woke at 8am and I promplty took Noel outside and she peed. She went in and out several times between 8:30 and 10:30 as I attempted to read my emails and do some paperwork.  I put her in her crate with a chewtoy from 10:30-11:30 while I showered and ate and woke my kids (yes they sleep late cause we are special.) I took her out and she peed at 11:35. We stayed outside and messed around for about an hour. She went back in the crate with somebody's femur from 12:20-1:30 so I could teach my kids how to summarize. She went out and peed again at 1:30 and 3:10. It was at 2:51 that she peed in the house as I was on the computer trying to finalize my new brochures to advertise my upcoming puppy classes. The kids and I took Noel to our park form 3:15-4:30 where she peed again and had some training for recall and drop it.  After that, she hung out in my backyard with my supervision and went back in her crate at 4:45 so i could walk my dogs. At 5:30 Noel hopped in the car as we headed to Cecil Field for softball practice. She did well...was on leash for 2 hours, sniffed everything she could, got bitten by red ants,and pooped on the walkway, but generally behaved herself. I recalled seeing another softball parent's dog attend some games and behave in a way that isn't for public! but Noel showed everybody that she has what it takes to be a family dog and travels well. She slept on the way and on the way back.  We arrived home at 8:45 and since then Noel has been in and out with my dogs and given acceptable things to chew. She gets playful at night, until I put her in her crate for bed. I think it's like an overtired toddler. She doesn't know enough to lay down and stop moving. So...the total of the day is 8 pees that I wrote down and 2 poops. I was neglectful today and I know I missed some.  If I don't get back on the horse tomorrow, it's downhill for Noel. The story of her life. Will I let her down?

 

Regardless of how well things are going, Friday is that last day Noel will live in the Marshall house. Annie has a softball tournament on Saturday that I won't miss.  Kids come before dogs here...most of the time. If Noel is returned to the vet's office, all this training will be for not..except for the knowledge that she is trainable.  Do we know more? Yes and no.

 

The point of this rant...not sure anymore. I'm so tired. I just put Noel in the crate and she has settled down. I'm going to bed knowing I have another full day again tomorrow. When you write down what happens every minute of the day...the day really does seem longer. Off to bed to pray that this sacrifice is not for nothing...that this sweet, normal dog finds a place to call home and that I can be proud to have helped her, rather than feel responsible for returning her to a kennel.