Dogs and skids and OCD
I am thrilled that BM ignored court order and is on "vacation" (her mom's shitty timeshare) with the skids. I do not think I would be able to maintain my sanity with new puppy and the skids around me this week. I have another whole week of them not being around...... so happy.
The new pup is not a bad pup... but obviously he is not fully trained yet and he is chewing, whining, etc. Last night I was folding laundry and he decided to hop up on my new sofa and take a long, exaggerated piss.
After that I spent hours cleaning. One thing about me, total OCD neat freak. I need to learn to rein that in because dogs and skids and obsessive cleanliness ain't mixing. I need to try to look at a mess, acknowledge it, and let it go... What is it called, exposure therapy?
I think childless stepmoms have a very specific type of rude awakening when we enter this life. My nights were once full of silence and pinot grigio, clean linens, immaculate floors, a phone full of guys' numbers if I got bored. Now it is puppy urine, arguing skids, pinot grigio (some things don't change) pawprints, dog hair, drool, a useless whore/babymama forever trying to insert herself into the equation. and a partridge in a pear tree.
I guess I can complain about it and get nowhere, or slowly learn to accept the chaos. At the end of the day, I love that damn puppy. And DH does too, I will give him credit... he is a good & dedicated dog owner.
I only wish I had been born to laid back hippies instead of neurotic parents who passed their neurosis onto me. (My father's front lawn was the best in the neighborhood. To this day if you leave a scuff on the floor he springs into action and steam cleans it.) He needs medication and/or a joint in the worst way.
Maybe that is what this life is... learning to ACCEPT THAT IT IS MESSY.
Who else is a clean freak with a messy life?
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Comments
Oh how I understand this.
Oh how I understand this. When I first met my DH I couldn't even leave a dirty cup in the sink. It had to be rinsed and then put in the dishwasher. I vacuumed and dusted daily. I was a total neat freak. I still am to a point but have to learned to not be so rigid. I still try and keep everything neat and organized but with 3 kids (2 SK and my DH) and a dog in the house
I'm fighting a loosing battle.
I also walked into a pig pen
I also walked into a pig pen when I met my husband and the skids. Luckily, DH actually really likes a clean house, but he couldn't handle it when the skids were younger and he was a single parent. Now, we have a fairly clean and organized house because both of us like it that way. It took a while though for us to get on the same page in regards to how clean we expect the house to be.
I had BS last year, so now more I'm accepting of a little chaos. But, honestly, it makes me feel so much better when everything is clean and organized before the next day, so I still clean and put away things after BS goes to bed. The difference is that I'm happy to clean up after BS and it's fun for me to have him help put things away. With BS, it's easy to spend 30 minutes teaching him to put toys away. With skids, it was frustrating to me that it would take them that long.
large breed -- he will be a
large breed -- he will be a big boy. DH thinks he will be small but his paws look huge and the vet estimate 75-80 lbs. My other dog is about 48 lbs. Our place is only a little over 1,000 sq. feet so sometimes I feel suffocated ... generally when the skids are around.
I am working on sticking to my guns with this dog. Trying to get DH to be a little more consistent with him. I am taking him out often and just when he seems to be getting it --- another damn pee accident.
I have a similar problem...
I have a similar problem... my female dog is a diva... I never intended to allow her on furniture but it just sort of happened, she is the cutest thing I have ever laid eyes on, she runs the house. Now she is teaching her soon to be much larger brother this behavior. I am in for a ride...
No, not with this guy. With
No, not with this guy. With my female I tried and she used to chew and swallow the damn pee pads. She was real tough to train but now she's great -- I am trying to get the pup to follow her lead. There is progress, he is definitely intelligent, but obviously still young so I know it will take time for everything to fully sink in.
We used crate training with
We used crate training with our dogs and it works really well. When you are not actively interacting with the puppy (or watching it actively), the puppy is in the crate then when you let them out, the FIRST thing you do is take them outside to do their business. Make these outside visits very regular along with verbal cues and praise when the puppy pees or poos outside.
I know some people think crating a dog is "mean" but honestly, all my dogs have viewed their crates (which are good sized) as their safe den and they willingly go in them to sleep etc. It is a safe place for them and it also allows you a break from constantly monitoring the dog which can honestly be a bit exhausting. It's easier to prevent a habit from forming vs fixing a bad habit.
We didn't want our dogs on the furniture but the small jack russell was "untrainable" to that which made it hard to make the lab understand that HE had a different rule. Now that we just have a lab by himself, it's easiest.
Unfortunately, if you aren't careful your dogs will raise each other...lol!
I crate trained my female and
I crate trained my female and I am crate training this pup as well. Some people have an opinion but it works best for me. I do need to get better about crating him when I cannot have full attention on him. He needs some serious exercise tonight to get all that energy out. He hasn't quite comprehended the game of fetch yet, but once he does I will throw that ball until my arm goes limp and he is all tuckered out!
I view crate training as a
I view crate training as a good way to keep the dog safe too. An un-watched dog could get into trouble chewing electric cords or eating something poisonous etc.. Crates are also a good place for a dog to get a break from rambunctious kids and chaotic stuff.
We let our guy loose in the LR while we are there with him, but he goes to his crate room (laundry room) at night. We leave his crate door open but he still prefers to sleep in it.
crating is by far the
crating is by far the easiest!!! grandpa even lays in his to snooze with the door open. so far dog#2 is getting better about his accidents because hubby has gotten more consistent with him during the day while i'm at work.
grandpa's never been allowed up on the couch, he knows it and hasnt even bothered trying for years. dog#2 however has been spoiled by dh!!! he calls him his 'couch buddy'. i'm glad they're bonding
but he's a little $#!t too, cuz he likes MY spot! i'll come in to sit down and see him there, and say "YOU are in my spot." he then hides his head in dh's shoulder as if to say "if i cant see her, she cant see me..." little $#!t!
they do teach eachother habits too - dog#2 has gotten accustomed to sitting/laying at the door when i step outside for a while, as grandpa has always done. my protectors!!!
I am and it drives me
I am and it drives me flipping nuts to see messes! Last week I walked in to see that one of the skids got glue on the laminate flooring then used a Brillo pad trying to clean it up. The glue stayed, the nice shiny finish on the laminate floor did not. I am medicated for their safety.