I always feel bad in the morning when it's time for us to go to work and put Grady in his crate. From the time we got Grady last July until the first heavy snow in late December, I walked him every morning before work, rain or shine. It made it so much easier leaving him for the day knowing he had a chance to release some of his energy.
By the time spring came, I had a new job, an earlier start time and a longer commute. Excuses, excuses, I know. Needless to say, the morning walks haven't continued since then.
I know it would do Grady and I both some good if I started that morning routine again. And if I got up at 6 instead of 6:30, I could make it happen pretty easily. I guess I'm putting this out there as a way to motivate me to actually do it. I'm trying to hold myself accountable and thought maybe putting it in writing, for all to see, would help.
In the meantime, this is what I deal with each and every morning when it's time for Grady to go in his crate. As soon as he sees me getting one of his treats, he goes into this submissive mode. Actually, he does it every time we walk by him in the morning.
It's very hard to get a 60 lbs. dog up off the ground when they're in this submissive position. Sometimes I have to drag him by his collar just to get him moving. Not to mention the fact that he just looks so darn cute and it makes it that much harder to put him in the crate.
I have a routine and I give him his nylabone and a treat each morning and say "Good crate, Grady. Here's your bone and your treat." He refuses to eat the treat until I leave the room (no matter how long I'm in there). Maybe he thinks if by chance I change my mind that I would only take him out of the crate if he didn't eat the treat? Who knows what goes on in that brain of his. If I did, I would have a lot more underwear and socks and a lot less to blog about.
By the time spring came, I had a new job, an earlier start time and a longer commute. Excuses, excuses, I know. Needless to say, the morning walks haven't continued since then.
I know it would do Grady and I both some good if I started that morning routine again. And if I got up at 6 instead of 6:30, I could make it happen pretty easily. I guess I'm putting this out there as a way to motivate me to actually do it. I'm trying to hold myself accountable and thought maybe putting it in writing, for all to see, would help.
In the meantime, this is what I deal with each and every morning when it's time for Grady to go in his crate. As soon as he sees me getting one of his treats, he goes into this submissive mode. Actually, he does it every time we walk by him in the morning.
It's very hard to get a 60 lbs. dog up off the ground when they're in this submissive position. Sometimes I have to drag him by his collar just to get him moving. Not to mention the fact that he just looks so darn cute and it makes it that much harder to put him in the crate.
I have a routine and I give him his nylabone and a treat each morning and say "Good crate, Grady. Here's your bone and your treat." He refuses to eat the treat until I leave the room (no matter how long I'm in there). Maybe he thinks if by chance I change my mind that I would only take him out of the crate if he didn't eat the treat? Who knows what goes on in that brain of his. If I did, I would have a lot more underwear and socks and a lot less to blog about.
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