Lilly and the Etiquette of Poop

I don't know how the rivalry started, but I remember how it ended.

Late one night I took Charlotte out to pee. In the dark a black lab stealthily creeped up to us like a panther ready to pounce. I grabbed Charlotte and held her close. I was ready for an attack. This dog sniffed a little, pooped near my feet and took off. Her mom called out, "Don't worry, it's just Lilly."

Lilly lives across the street and walks around the neighborhood off leash. A lot. Without her owners. Big dog off leash around my little dog equals nervous owner!

Charlotte would lead us across the street to eliminate. Most of the time it was near the side of the road on no ones particular property. Other times it was at Lilly's house. One time she even dropped off a pine cone near a rock, so Lilly could see it from behind her fence. It felt mocking. Or at least that's how my husband and I would talk about it.

Way to go Charlotte. You really showed her! (And then I would tell myself to get a life.)

One day I took Charlotte out to pee and she led me to Lilly's house again. In the middle of a poop Lilly's mom came out.

"Are you letting her poop right there?"

Letting her? I didn't think I had a choice. A dog's gotta go when she goes.

"I'll clean it up." Ugh. Why did I say that? Lilly comes up to our yard which is no where near the street just to poop.

"It's just that we're trying to do something with this area." What? Grow grass? We live in the forest.

I walked Charlotte home and grabbed a plastic bag. I walked back over and picked up her poop. Lilly's mom started to back down.

"Oh, you don't have to do that. It's so small, it's really not a big deal."

"No, I understand," I said. "We're trying to do something with our yard too and Lilly walks up there to poop sometimes."

"Oh. I didn't know. I'll try to keep her from doing that."

Charlotte and I walked away. I felt bad. I've lived in this neighborhood nine years and the first time I talk to this neighbor is about our dog's poop. Nice.

I took Charlotte around the block to clear my head. I need to make this right. I don't want to be that neighbor that lets her dog poop anywhere and isn't friendly.

We made our way back to Lilly's house where my neighbors sat on their porch.

"Hey, I think we got off to a bad start talking about our dog's poop. I'm Julia and this Charlotte."

We must have talked for 15 minutes about our pups, work, and her husband's terminal illness. They're no longer just Lilly's parents. They have names and stories.

And I'm no longer imagining a rivalry. I also pick up  my dog's poop.

Nightmare Dog?

Charlotte learning to sit

Training Charlotte to pee and poop outside, or as it's officially called "eliminate", seemed like the most daunting challenge. How was I supposed to get a dog to tell me she had to go to the bathroom?

I spent the first weekend trying to anticipate her every move, analyze every squat and spraying A LOT of Nature's Miracle on the carpet. Charlotte's bladder must be the size of a grape! Maybe smaller. I knew I had to get this potty training thing down...fast!

I went to PetSmart to buy a pee pad and ended up talking to one of the employees. After getting some advice, I enrolled Charlotte into Puppy Training School. I knew about puppy training from my friend, Hillary, who took her dog Colt. After he was trained I heard her sternly yell "Leave it" many times. I vaguely knew what that meant and wanted to learn more. I can't have a "nightmare dog!" This term was how I got my husband on board with this six week course. Operation "No Nightmare Dog" was about to begin.

Disclaimer: I don't work for PetSmart. I'm sure other places train dogs well. Don't take my advice. Seek the advice of a professional. :)

We walked into Puppy School on that first night with no idea what to expect. We were met by five other families. I only know them by the names of their dogs because that's what happens. There was Gibs, a huge wolf-like dog with a bit of a temper who tried to attack every dog that walked by. Charlotte looked like a tiny bunny compared to his immense size. If he hadn't been on a leash she would have been dinner. Rio, a little black mutt with matted hair and a lot of energy. He was only a couple pounds bigger than my pup and the best opportunity for a playmate. Katie, a lethargic English Bulldog who was just flown in from another location. She slept through that first class and gained about 10 pounds every week. Lilly, a carmel colored Boxer with a sweet face, wore a pink diamond studded collar. Mello, a sweet natured mutt who lives up to her name. I found myself wishing Charlotte had her disposition. And Charlotte, the smallest of the bunch. They looked like some rag tag group of canines ready to play an unconventional gang in a hollywood movie where they befriend an orphan.

Our first order of business was...Get your puppy to learn her name. What?! That's not why I came here! How do I potty train? How do I get her to sleep through the night?

But if Charlotte didn't know her name I wouldn't be able to teach her anything. We had to start at the very beginning. I would say her name and give her a treat every time she looked at me.

The other bit of wisdom that has stayed with me: Your will has to be stronger than her will. This consistency thing was going to kill me if I didn't embrace it. It was time for me to grow up and take care of this pup.

Have you ever had a nightmare dog? Tell me about it.

First Time Dog Owner

I'd really like to get you a puppy for your birthday.

Really?

My sweet husband of almost nine years said this to me after many years of thinking of all the reasons NOT to get a dog. I started looking for my pup right away. Two day days later I came across an ad for a Maltese puppy. I was sent this picture via text.




Baby Charlotte



How could I not visit this sweet baby girl? I knew I would take this tiny two pound bundle of cuteness home. Thus began our adventures in raising Charlotte, the sweet pup that has changed my life.

This blog is dedicated to my family. For the next year I will share about Charlotte and new beginnings. I hope you will join me.