Old Dogs and New Tricks

Whoever said that old dogs can't learn new tricks never met Petey.  He may resist change that he doesn't like but he is quite adaptable in those situations that he likes.  For instance, he adapted quite well when I (Lori) started working from home.  More company=good thing for Pete.  So, he can be a very quick study when he likes the change.

The latest example happened with my mother stayed with us.  She'd been hospitalized and needed to recover here for a few weeks.  The first night she was here, we put Petey in the bed with us so that he would not bother her.  He wasn't so sure about her.  He wasn't aggressive towards her, but she was in his place on the couch.  This required him to pace around the house. We weren't sure how he'd react when she stayed all night.  Let me state now, that closing doors is not an option with Pete.  That is like an engraved invitation to enter.  He will not rest until the door is opened. 

We thought Petey would sleep with us and all would be well.  Petey did sleep with us for a few hours.  Then he got up.  He needed to patrol the house.  He spent the rest of the night, while he wasn't patrolling on a blanket beside the bed.  Mama said he came in an looked at her a time or two but never bothered her, of course we weren't aware of this until the next day.

In the wee hours of the morning he got a very bad itch.  He had to scratch and gnaw repeatedly at the offending area.  I was concerned that he'd wake up the entire household, so I got up and put him back in the bed with us.  That calmed his itch and everyone went back to sleep.

The next night, Petey was happy that the three of us were all in the bed together once again.  And in the wee morning hours when the bad itch started, I put him back in the bed.  That was all it took.  Ever since that time Petey has started the night with us and finished it with us.  Never mind that my mother has gone home.

In fact, Petey pretty much comes and goes as he pleases during the night.  He isn't a bad sleeping companion once he gets settled.  There are two issues associated with this new trick Petey has learned:

• First Petey can't get in the bed by himself.  He has decided that I am the person to get up and put him in the bed.  He's figured out how to get down most of the time without my help.  I often don't even wake up.  This wouldn't be so bad if it was at bedtime and very early in the morning, but it has morphed in to three or four times a night.

• Second, and much worse, I've become night time potty patrol!  I guess he figures since he wakes me up to put him in the bed; he should wake me for bathroom time too.

This has got to stop. I need my rest.  I'll have to teach Petey yet another trick.  Sleeping alone, in the floor.