1. The people who live around us really enjoy setting off fireworks. And not just on holidays. Any period of darkness will suffice. I believe this to be a phenomenon of living close to Pickaway County.
2. I have a German Shepherd who teeters on the edge of needing medication for anxiety.
Thunderstorms, loud vehicles, the voice from the ice cream truck, all are suspects in Lola's world of Somethingisgoingtogetme.
So imagine my delight when I took the dogs outside this evening, only to realize that it was lightning AND someone felt the need to celebrate with firecrackers.
Lola, being the reasonable being that she is, did a quick survey of the scene and fled to the step leading to the back door.
I, being the calm and assertive pack leader that I am, sat down on the patio and told her to go potty.
After repeating the command 43 times, Lola takes one step off the patio and does what I've asked her to do. She was so close to the patio, she might as well have peed on the concrete.
But, she did go and that is a big change from years before in which there would be outright refusal and end up with me pulling her on a leash in the back yard because she hasn't gone potty in 72 hours.
A small victory, yes?
