Rain….humans find it cleansing. Dogs find it akin to acid. That’s the only reason I can find why normally stalwart, tough dogs melt at the prospect of doing their business when it’s raining.
This became apparent Tuesday when the morning routine of poop, pee and feed was interrupted by my Jack Russell Terrier “Vespa” telling me she had no plans to go outside. I looked at her and said, “Yeah…it’s water. Go make some.” To which her glare at me said, “And go get the huge rainbow-colored umbrella and hold it over me while I make water.”
When teaching puppy classes, I am a good one for encouraging people to get their dogs socialized to the world around them. I remind them it also means if your puppy was born during the summer, they likely had never seen rain. We have to get them used to rain, wind and snow, if that’s part of the landscape. (My sister had a cat who didn’t flinch at burying business in three feet of snow.)
I was reminded of the “use this as a training moment” edict Tuesday.
No…the umbrella did not come out to shelter the tender little JRT, who by the way is also a big baby at the veterinarian. She essentially was told, no pee…no breakfast. This JRT is known for her great appetite overruling the fear of being pelted by acid rain, apparently.
When my JRT did come in, not only was a warm breakfast waiting for her, but so too was a warm towel and fleece blanket.
It makes one almost not mind a drought.
Hmmmm, who is training whom?
