Here are some highlights of the last few months. After Ginger made quick work of chewing up shoes (only one really important one), coasters, pencils, toys, drinking glasses, and many other things, after twice eating her own droppings and refunding them on the carpet (worst smell ever), and after she jumped up on us one too many times, we called a trainer. He came over for a day and showed us how to use a pinch collar. It's amazing how well it worked in teaching her to not jump, and particularly, how to walk without tearing our arms out of their sockets. We saw marked improvements in her behavior within days, though she still had some challenges.
Once the mounds of snow melted in our back yard, Ginger discovered that in some places, the fence doesn't reach the ground. And knowing that there's a whole wonderful world outside the fence, she dug out several times, to go visit neighbors, who kindly brought her back. Soon after that, we installed a long leash, so if she's out there for a long time without supervision, she can't even reach the fence. Needless to say, this didn't make for a happy puppy.
The other major challenge is an indelicate topic. But as new parents discover that they can have whole conversations about their baby's poop, puppy-owners find themselves in similar conversations. Ours weren't so much about frequency or consistency as location. Long story short, Ginger absolutely refused to do her business while on a leash. Didn't matter if she'd been walking for an hour or tied up in the back yard in total privacy. She just wouldn't do it. Ever. Several times, we had her on the long leash in the back yard, knowing she needed to go. And as soon as we'd give up and let her in the house, she'd immediately poop on the carpet. This does not make for joyful puppy-owners.
The good news is that after a few weeks of morning walks with Erik this spring, it seems that she's getting the hang of leash-relief. She gets richly rewarded for her new skill. But as she trots along, happily chomping her treat, I wonder if she thinks, "I thought I was being thoughtful by pooping in the yard. But if carrying my poop in a bag on our walks is that important to you, who am I to question it?"
