January 31, 2003
7:00 p.m.
We had a quiet day. We didn't go anywhere and Dusty slept a lot.
Today's photo is of playtime - Dusty knows how to fetch and likes to fetch...sometimes. I don't think she's being stubborn, she just has a *very* short attention span. I throw the ball, she goes to get the ball, but by the time she gets there, she's forgotten why she was going. This time, she got the ball.
Housetraining continues to go well. We haven't had any more accidents, but I've been maintaining our grueling potty schedule. Getting up at 1:00 a.m. for puppy-potty-time is definitely not my favourite part of dog ownership.
Dusty is quick to pee, but going poo is an art that she is still developing and refining. She devotes a lot of time and thought to this process.
The main aspect of the activity is finding the Perfect Spot. It doesn't matter how cold it is, Dusty doesn't even shiver. That's how intent she is on finding the Spot. This is important work!
She snuffles into the snow with determination and plows forward steadily. When she finds it, you can almost see a canine thought balloon appear over her head: "A HA! This Spot smells perfect!"
Often, it takes a few minutes to find the Spot and I stand shivering or stumble along, wishing I was in my warm bed. Dusty, who shivers like a wuss when I first put her down, doesn't shiver at all when she's searching for the Spot. Her full concentration is devoted to the task.
One night, Dusty found the Spot in a snow drift that was bigger than she was. That didn't deter her. Lifting her small feet, she delicately planted herself in the drift, then fell forward on her face, her nose buried in snow. She remained in this position until she had pooed on the Spot, then climbed out of the drift.
She looked up at me with what looked like satisfaction. The canine thought balloon said: "Such sacrafices I must make for my art!"