The saga of "The Doggie Outhouse" continues.
When we last saw the relocated kennel, from the garden to the patio, it looked like this:
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There was an opening in the railing that allowed the dogs to enter into a nice, dry area to do their "business", as they are little sissies about going out in the rain or snow. Of course, they were afraid of the new enclosure, even though I left all four sides open so they could see out, and there is a human sized opening at the other end for quick escapes from monsters or zombies if needed.
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Mmmmm, a tray of sirloin steak trimmings might tempt them!
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They're curious.
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Will Annie be brave enough to go get it? Will Otto follow her in? Come on, you know you want it!
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Nope, even that yummy steak can't get them to go into the kennel. One of them did, however, go in later and eat the meat when I wasn't looking. I have no idea which one.
That was five days ago. No amount of coaxing would get them back into that kennel. Today we decided to make some modifications. We turned the kennel around so the human sized opening was against the patio, and we removed an entire section of deck railing.
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I put a chair in the corner, and sat there with some fried chicken in my hand. Annie came about half way in, then turned around and ran back out. Bummer! I went back inside and got a nice big handful of lean, raw ground beef. That is their absolute favorite thing in the whole wide world. I gave them each a sniff, then retreated back to the chair in the corner. It was too tempting to resist. Both dogs came right in for their share of the beef! Once the meat was gone they didn't linger, but at least they spent a couple of minutes inside. Baby steps!
We might remove all the chain link fencing from the patio side of the kennel. We can just fold it back and secure it to the other side. Eventually I'll get to Lowe's to buy more of the 2" PVC and replace the smaller ones, as they have a tendency to bend under the weight of the tarp. I'll also wrap the bottom of the kennel with clear plastic once the dogs get used to being in there, which will keep out any snow that might otherwise blow in.
Snow? Did I say snow? I picked vine ripened Victor tomatoes today!
And....here it is November, and Victor is blossoming and setting fruit! We've had highs in the 50s and low 60s, with night time temperatures in the 30s and 40s. I guess I'd better cover him and see just how long it will continue fruiting.
That is an amazing tomato.
ReplyDeleteToo funny on the outhouse kennel. One step at a time.
Gardener, now they probably think it's their dining room LOL!
DeleteThat was funny. My dog will not go out in the rain.. She expects me to carry her out.she don't like her paws wet.........too funny!
ReplyDeleteKatel, we always have to take ours out under the pine trees in the front yard. I've decided I'm not going to do that any more, so they will have to use the kennel or go in the rain.
DeleteMight be worth saving those tomato seeds! Seems like some durable genetic stock, ha.
ReplyDeleteGreat story about the doggies and their first "puppy steps".
1st. Man, definitely worth saving. They are also one of my earliest tomatoes. Too bad they aren't full sized slicers, but this time of the year any size is welcome. I'm also getting ripe Black Cherry tomatoes.
DeleteYour story reminds me of my daughter-in-law's dog, George, a black lab. George (Georgia, really, but she's called George) came visiting this weekend and was so determined not to be left behind that she stayed in the car all afternoon. Nothing would coax her out. It was a fine day, cool enough that she was completely comfortable with windows down, so we let her settle her nerves in the way she wanted to.
ReplyDeleteDianefaith, these animals can have some funny/odd behaviors! Annie loves nothing more than to go bye-bye, but she promptly lays down on the back seat and sleeps throughout the entire ride. She could stay home and do that in a comfortable bed!
DeleteDogs are so funny! I love them! I am sure they will get used to the new setting before too long, especially the brave Annie! And those tomatoes in November??!!?? Now, that is just amazing! I'll be waiting for your follow up posts about them!
ReplyDeleteTS, Mr. Granny said he saw Annie in the kennel so I think the answer to the problem was just getting the entrance opened up wider for them. Also, they can walk in from the patio and right back out to the yard in about five steps.
DeleteI agree, I've never had vine ripened tomatoes in November!
Your dogs are too funny! Spoiled? Lucky you to have those lovely tomatoes!! Nancy
ReplyDeleteNancy, spoiled? Maybe just a little. Much loved? Most definitely!
DeleteHave you thought about removing the tarp to get them use to going in the kennel, and the slowly and gradually put it back on? Pulling it forward just a few inches at a time will get them use to it.
ReplyDeleteSusan, they have been going into it "tarpless" for four years!
Deletebut have they been going into it tarpless in that location? you moved it, right? that alone is cause for great canine consternation.
DeleteDonna, it's back in its original location. Yes, it has been in the garden for the past three years, tarpless but covered in bean and morning glory vines. It's lovely out today, so we'll be having some tarped kennel sessions together. I'd better thaw out another package of ground beef :-)
DeleteI'm glad that Victor is still producing for you. It s one of the few tomatoes that i'm going to grow next year.
ReplyDeleteI hope the dogs adapt soon, but then again, I love reading about their antics.
Ed, I saved the seeds from a Victor, so I will definitely grow it again next year. We're expecting temps to plunge Wednesday night, so I'll be covering Victor up soon. I can't imagine those young fruits would ever ripen, but I'll give it the good old college try ;-)
DeleteI can't believe your still getting tomatoes-- How fortunate!!
ReplyDeleteWe've had nighttime temps in the mid 20's here and highs only in the 40's.
I wouldn't mind that at all---if it would just SNOW. (Yea, I'm one of THOSE people)
Sue, since this is my first year to see how the tomatoes do after October 15, I have no other years for comparison. Victor and Black Cherry certainly have held up well.
DeleteI always have to laugh at the dogs when they are crazy like that. I guess I was lucky that my dogs loved the snow. I had one that hated the rain, but the other never noticed.
ReplyDeleteDaphne, because of our trips to AZ, these dogs have only experienced one winter in their four years of life. We spent a lot of time out under the pine trees last year!
DeleteOh my goodness, those dogs are tooooo cute! Great tomatoes in November!
ReplyDeleteNutmeg, they're just the best! Except they are a stubborn breed.
DeleteGiven they don't like to go out in falling weather to do their business, I expect with time they will come to appreciate their great little enclosure. We cover our hen's covered run with a clear plastic tarp and they like the protection but the sensation of sky above them too.
ReplyDeleteKitsap, I wouldn't think the silver tarp would be a problem, as it's hooked to, and basically an extension of, the patio roof. I think they'll take better to it now that we've opened up their entry, although they were very used to using that little exit through the patio railing. Who knows what goes on in those little brains, LOL!
DeleteYou must truly love them! They are lucky! Steak tartar on a covered veranda!
ReplyDeleteDavid, we love them unconditionally, as they love us. Sometimes it just takes a little effort to keep it unconditional, LOL!
DeleteMaybe if you starved those chubby little pups a bit, they would be more eager for food! Those are some chunky dogs you've got, Granny! I DO love that one snuck in when you weren't looking to eat the steak. They are just playing you, you know.
ReplyDeleteShhh, Langela, you'll hurt their little feelings! Yes, weight is a problem with them, especially Annie. That's what happens when they are couch potatoes. It's not their diet, which consists of 4 ounces of boiled chicken thighs and 1 cup of weight control dry dog food each day for each dog. They get half in the morning and half in the evening, snacks are all the green beans (raw or steamed, no butter!) they want and an occasional raw carrot to munch on. An occasional bite or two of raw lean raw beef or reduced fat cheese is a real treat. Mr. Granny sneaks them a bite of food from his plate now and then, but he gets a tongue lashing from me when that happens, so he doesn't do it often. Annie got fat right after she was spayed, and nothing seems to take weight off of her. She needs a treadmill! Otto isn't really fat, but he's definitely not a mini! He's a lot more active than Annie.
DeleteYou should employ a neighborhood kid to walk them. I can totally see how they can be couch potatoes, though. Someone dropped one of those cuties (with long hair) at our farm last year. He was such a sweetheart and loved my lap. It's easier to cuddle a little dog and allow them couch time because they are so stinking cute and snuggly. On the flip side, we have to feed Buddy high energy, sporting dog food because he runs so much. He loves when we take him out for a run with our atvs. He runs and sustains 25 mph! He can run faster, but keeps that pace for the long haul.
DeleteLangela, we have no kids in this neighborhood! We've been here for 23 years, as have most of our neighbors, and all the kids have grown up. I would walk them myself, but it's not safe on our busy street with no sidewalks. That's why we are trying to train them to go in the kennel, as the pine trees out front are just too close to the street and the idiot drivers who go over the 35 MPH speed limit. I used to have a treadmill, but I got tired of looking at it in the middle of the bedroom and gave it back to my daughter. Now I wish I had it back, but I think they got rid of it. I could probably have trained the dogs to walk on it. Oh, forget that....they'd have been scared to death of that thing, LOL!
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