October 29, 2012 - Something's Missing!


 It looks so bare back there in the corner of the garden.  Like something is missing.......


 Oh, I guess it would be the kennel garden!  Where did it go?


 Aha!  There it is, over by the patio.


 Annie and Otto can come out of the house through their pet door.  This thing is great.  It has double flaps that really keep the cold air out of the house.  I had to remove one of the flaps until they got used to using it.  Their old pet door was an insert into the sliding glass door, and the depth of this in-the-wall unit took a bit of getting used to.  I put the second flap on after about two weeks, when they were completely comfortable with the door.  Now they think nothing of going through both flaps.


It's almost a straight shot to the  opening in the patio railing, so they can enter their new winter outhouse.  Yes, my dogs refuse to go out in the rain or snow to "do their business".  We've always had to take them out to the front yard, under the pine trees in bad weather.  I don't like to do that, as it's very close to our rather busy street.  I'm always afraid they might run out after a squirrel and get hit by a car.  I thought the kennel, with a heavy tarp cover, would give them a nice patch of dry grass for the winter, and be easily accessible by us for cleanup.  I left the sides uncovered, thinking maybe I'll add some clear plastic before we get snow that could blow in.  I also didn't put in gates.  They can go in and out from the patio or from the yard.  I put some boards across the top  to keep the tarp from drooping, and hooked one end of the tarp up under the patio roof so rainwater would run off.  It got the ultimate test last night, and this morning we had big sagging pockets of rainwater all over the top!  Thus the odd poles sitting on whatever we could find to raise the center of the tarp up.  Looks kinda dorky, but if it works.....

But.  Isn't there always a but?  Annie and Otto are afraid to go in the covered kennel.  They weren't afraid of it when it didn't have the tarp on it, but now they are scared.  I even got down on my hands and knees and crawled through that little opening, trying to get them to follow me.  The ran through the rain and met me at the gate opening on the other side!  Thankfully Mr. Granny didn't have a camera on him when I got stuck halfway through the little hole.  I had to drop down on my belly and pull my way through with my elbows! 

Last night, when it was time for them to go out and it was really pouring rain, both dogs went to the front door.  I refused to take them out, and opened the back door and called them out to the patio. I stood there yelling "go pee!" over and over, as they sat and rolled their eyes at me.  I didn't give in.  I stood by the small opening to the kennel and continued to demand a pee.  I'm sure my neighbors think I've lost my mind.  Let me tell you, dachshunds are stubborn little creatures.  Annie finally turned around and walked over to the patio entrance and out into the pouring rain....and she squatted.  Otto watched, then he followed her out into the rain and he squatted (that's my boy!).  Then they both ran as fast as they could, back to the patio and through the doggy door.  That pouring rain was less frightening than the monster kennel.


If the weather is nice tomorrow, I think I'll take a lawn chair and a book out there and just sit in the kennel.  Maybe the dogs will brave up and join me.


16 comments:

  1. nice little story of pets... yes they are very much part of our life. Huh, pee in the rain... has some frightening resemblance to Adele's Set Fire to the Rain.

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  2. I almost spit my coffee across the room when I got to the part of you getting stuck in the dog door. I'm glad you were able to extricate yourself!

    Thank you for the great laugh! After a nerve wracking day and night, I needed it!

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  3. Oh my! Thanks for the laugh first thing in the morning!

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  4. I remember you saying when you first got the kennel the dogs were too afraid to use it. So I guess it isn't too surprising. My daughter's dog is scared of flapping things. I would think a tarp would match that description. I hope they get over it soon. Maybe a steak dinner inside the tarp would help.

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    1. I wouldn't even feed Mr. Granny a steak dinner at $6.99 lb, LOL! However, some lovely cheese slices, beginning at the gate entrance and working backwards to the center of the structure just might work!

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  5. The things we do for our pets... ;-)

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  6. oh my! I can't believe how much you love your dogs. They're so lucky!!

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  7. How funny! I'm sure they'll eventually get the hang of it. I'm glad you stood your ground last night.

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  8. Maybe it was the noise of the rain, and they will go out with you when it dries up a bit? Once they get used to it dry I'm sure they will appreciate it!

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    1. Barbie, it was calm and dry when I put it up, and they wouldn't come near it. Mr. Granny wanted a tarp that came all the way down the sides. Can you imagine how fearful they would have been of that? I insisted on clear plastic, so they won't feel like they are enclosed in a box! Of course I have to get them unfearful of what we already have before I add more wrapping to it!

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  9. So funny! Guess we would do anything for our dogs! We have stood out there and told Coco, hurry up, go potty! I wish you success! Nancy

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  10. The things we do for our beloved pets and they don't even appreciate it :) I hope they both adjust soon before the snow flies.

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  11. That is awesome and i love your butternut halloweenies. They're cute! Now then, I'm thinking your doggies think it's ackward looking and are Divas who need an awning in the style of the Ritz Carleton or the Plaza in NYC. They might have a sense that it's not stable and are afraid it'll fall on them. lol! They're gonna make you do it first. lol Smart little buggers!

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  12. ps. maybe some plants in there to disguise the cage feeling of it. ;)

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  13. Thank you for that story. Restores my faith in dog ownership.
    Yep, you never know what will spook them. Mikey is deathly frightened of *feathers*. We have many silly experiments to back this up. Where/how, we have no idea. On the upside, they'll pee in rain -- maybe take the tarp off and stay stubborn?

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  14. The thought of you getting stuck in the patio opening was just too funny. Do please re-enact that with a camera present. Haha. Yeah, like that will happen.

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