I discovered something yesterday.
I had taken the day off to attend a memorial service for a beloved uncle of one of my SIL’s. The service was about an hour’s travel time from where I live and I knew when I got back I had errands to run to get ready for today’s cookout. I decided to walk the dogs early.
Like First Thing In The Morning Early.
I rolled out of bed after another night of tossing and turning and pulled on my hiking clothes, gathered up my equipment (treat bag, pepper blaster, poop bags, camera, cell phone and keys) and off we went.
We kept the walk at just about a half an hour, which put us back at the house right around 7:20 am. Twenty minutes after the dog’s scheduled feeding time. But I didn’t feed them. Oh no.
Because they are big dogs and both deep-chested, I worry about bloat. So I waited. Wondering how this was going to work with the food obsessed chocolate lab?
I added warm water to their necks and set them in the microwave to warm up. I made a pot of coffee, then I took a shower. When I came out of the bathroom Delilah was curled up on the bed.
Sleeping.
I got dressed, and walked out of the bedroom. Delilah followed me. I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down to check out blogville.
Delilah curled up on the couch and went to sleep.
I got up, went into the kitchen and pulled the necks out of the microwave.
Nothing.
It wasn’t until I opened the pantry to get the Salmon Oil out that she meandered her way into the kitchen.
We played the ‘one strike, you’re out’ game (which she lost) and I put her in the crate.
By the time they actually got their breakfast is was almost an hour and a half late. And she had not bugged me the entire time.
My thought is this, if you have an active dog and typically take her out when you get home from work, consider changing it up and trying to get her out for a quick walk in the morning.
I’m thinking by changing it up, you’ve given them something else to think about.
What about your dogs, are they scheduled? Is there any way to incorporate some change into their routine?
Tomorrow I will share just what Delilah DID on our early morning walk. It’s a doozy.
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