Rye Dog Update

Rye Dog,
We are crazy about you.  Lots of family have asked how you're doing, so I thought I'd give a little recap here.

• You are housetrained!  Thank heavens.  We appreciate this more than you know.  You don't like going to "do your business" when it's dark outside.  We think it's because you're afraid we'll leave you to sleep out there, so we have to go with you.  Silly boy.
• You have learned to Sit, Stay, Shake and "Leave it" (which is where we leave food or treats in front of you and make you wait for it.)

• You love to play fetch, and will go to your toy basket and bring us your rope toy or big blue bone to throw.  We are working on the "drop it" part of your traning. You just like to hold on to your toys!  You also like to bring us your leash every once in a while.  It's so cute that it's really hard to say no to that one.

• The purple couch is your domain.  We've now put a blanket over it so your fur won't totally ruin it.  We left you inside the kitchen and sun room with baby gates while we went to the lake, and Patriot's People were so great to come over and play with you, feed you and let you outside.  I couldn't bear to leave you in your crate that long...so baby gates it is.

• Sometimes if we're gone for just an hour or two, we won't put the gates up.  This has worked out fine, except last night you greeted me with some undergarments on your face.  Lovely.
• We were warned about the fur, but seriously.  OH THE FUR.  Adam has to get the ShopVac out to get all the brown fur you leave on the floor.  Regular vacuums just don't cut it.  I think a Furrminator is definitely on our wishlist!
• You sleep in our room on a blanket most nights now.  You've been waking up at around 2 or 4 a.m. and shaking your collar and pacing the floor.  At first we thought you were telling us you needed to go outside.  But last night I decided to risk it and just told you to be quiet (you respond very well to Shh!), and you laid back down to sleep.  The other alternative is your crate, mister, so I think it's to your benefit that you behave!

• We recently started looking into Therapy Dog trainings and certification.  How cool would it be if you could make even more people's day better?  We think that would be pretty great.  We shall see, though...

We love you, Pink Nose Rye!