Relapse Day, Take two...but then an improvement!

Sigh.
I got up at 5:30, and just missed Reilly getting up and using his paper.  He'd peed and pooped, both on the paper.  Okay, that's what it's for.  We went out anyway.  He peed again when he hit the grass, and got praised as always.  Since the poo had been fresh, and I had guests in the house, we didn't stay out very long.  We came back in, and I cleaned up Reilly's room.  He came and peed on the paper while I was picking it up.  Hmmmmm.  Then I went to get the pancake batter made up.  While I did that, he went in the dining room and pooped on one of the dog beds.  Hmmmm.  I took him back outside, and we went and fed the rabbits and poultry.  We came back in.  He pooped beside the same dog bed.  What's with all the poop, Reilly?  Did you hold it all night long?  Yes, actually, he had, and now it all wanted to come out at once.

I think part of the problem is that outside is just so doggone interesting and distracting.  There's other things to do out there besides poop.  But now all guests are gone away, and it's just us, so we can find a better schedule to work with.  Not that my guests would have minded me dealing with Reilly, it's my own mindset that does this, but I'll be more comfortable spending more time outside without guests in my house.

So, today we start on new things.  We'll see what we can find to get into.

4:37 pm:

After a morning of chasing puppy who just wanted to sleep in the outside heat, and use the bathroom inside, we had a great success!  I was about to fix an early supper, and wanted fresh Roma tomatoes from the garden to top off a couple homemade pizzas. Knowing I'd be occupied for a bit, I opted to wake up Reilly and have him come out with me, even though he was sound asleep.  He, Murphy and I went to the garden.  I was picking tomatoes rather than paying Reilly close attention, and Murphy opened the gate, took Reilly through the chicken moat (The chicken yard surrounds the garden to help with insect control), and then out through the other gate I had left open into the yard.  There they sat waiting for me, side by side.  When I followed, Reilly yipped at me like I had kept him waiting, and headed back to the house.  I had no idea if he'd pottied, as I had been busy.  We went inside, and I started cutting up pizza toppings.  Then Reilly came into the kitchen, whining and looking at me.  It took me a minute to get it, but I told him to come on, let's go outside, and he came.  He paused once, and I think would have gone on the floor, but I hurried him up.  When I opened the door, he scooted out, went to the grass to pee, then returned and wanted back inside.  He had asked to go out, and been understood.  At 9 weeks.  And he went straight back to bed.

It's the little successes we celebrate at the moment, isn't it?  I've filled a week with potty training a puppy.  Ah, but what a puppy!

Meg and Reilly