Chester had a very good day today — almost.

He was nice and calm this morning, and curled up with Daddy on the bed while we read the newspaper. Of course, the fact that he got to play with his doggy buddies yesterday helped to mellow him today.

While I would say that he is now housetrained when it comes to pee, the same can’t be said for poop. He seems to understand to ring the bells when it comes to pee, but not for poop — although today he did do it expressly for pooping (yes, cat and dog people do obssess about poop like “real” parents do).

I also hit on the bright idea of putting his crate pad in his crate during the day, as well as covering the top with something. Some dogs like to have their crates covered; it’s more den-like.

And lo and behold, he actually went in there and laid down for maybe half a minute, a couple of times — on his own. What gave me the idea was when he went into his sleeping crate when I had it out for the lady we board him with. We were waiting for her to pick him up, and he just went in there and laid down for a few minutes.

The bad: he has suddenly zoned in on the litter boxes. No, he’s not eating the poop (yes, dogs like to do that), as I keep the box very clean. He’s eating the litter. It’s made from wheat. It’s only been in the last week that he’s seemingly become obssessed with the litter.

I’ve of two minds on what to do. It would be fantastic if we could actually train him to use it, although I’ve read that dogs don’t share litter boxes with cats. Or I can discourage him permanently: I could squirt him with water when he goes in there, or simple put a baby gate in the door entrance. But I hate to make the boys work to get to their litter boxes, it’s really not fair to them. And that won’t help with the litter box that’s out in the garage, either.

Today’s funny: kind of funny, kind of sad. Chester has poochie bells that he rings when he wants to go outside, since we can’t put in a doggy door due to the boys.

Today Simba walked over to the bells, touched them with his nose, then sat down next to the back door. I think he was trying to tell me that he wants to go for a walk in our backyard, too. I already feel so guilty because I want to take him for a walk out there, but it’s so hard to juggle him, Gizmo, and Chester.

My husband doesn’t think Simba connected the bells with getting to go outside. Simba isn’t dumb; I think he does. He has taken to laying at the back door often.

Technorati Tags: housetrained, ring the bells, crate pad, den, litter, poochie bells

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