Who Let the Dog Out?

In our home, we currently have one dog - a Papillion/terrier mix named Trixie.  I will write in another post about how she came to our home, got her name, her traits, etc.   We had another dog named Opal.  Her nickname was momma dog, she was a Border Collie, very smart, and trained Trixie in the ways of going potty, playing, eating, and how to beg for treats.  After Opal’s passing last September, Trixie went through a time of mourning.  She would still come if we called Opal’s name and did not want to go outside alone.  Opal had always, always gone with her.  But with time, she realized that Opal was not coming and she soon became her own dog.

One of the two things she has developed in the last ten months is the joy of car rides.  I put on my shoes, grab the keys and she is begging to go.  The words “car ride” or “go” cause her to spring from the couch like Tigger.   She travels well so we take her as often as possible.  The other thing is that she is now very particular about which human takes her outside.  My son can forget about it.  Not going to happen.  She will hide from him before he can get her out the door.  Me?  Well, only if she really, really, has to go or if the favored ones are not home.   My daughter is successful.  She is one of Trixie’s favorite people, they have a great relationship and she will potty for my girl.  The one person in the house though that has a 100% success rate for getting the pampered pooch to pee is my husband.  I think he might actually be a dog whisper and not a horticulturalist.  He has spoiled her though.  He takes her down the inside stairs to the basement door so she can walk oh, so casually to the back yard.  Or he gives in and lets her go out to the front yard – only a few stairs to the grass.

Last night I heard a storm approaching.  I looked right at Trixie and said the following. “Little girl, if you need to potty you had better go now.  A storm is coming.  So let’s go!  Go potty!  Come on!” and I opened the back door.  She stayed on the deck.  I relented and took her to the front yard.  She stood on the grass and looked at me like I was crazy.  I announced to the rest of the family that it was a ‘no go’ for Trix and to be prepared for an accident.  My husband then said, “I’ll take care of it.”  Five minutes later, she joyfully went potty for the hubsters.

So in our house, my husband is the one who lets the dog out.  It is not because I don’t try.  It is because he is the favored one in the eyes of the canine.  This includes the early morning wake-up calls.  Being un-favored for potty time has its privileges.   I am favored for treats and car rides!

Do your pets have favorites?  Who lets the dog out in your house?  Or would it be more applicable to ask who does the dog walk first thing in the morning?