Housebreaking a Dog - Indoors or Out?

Housebreaking me was a challenge for my owners, I am not an easy breed to train...but when I learn something, I really learn it. Even though I wasn't the easiest housebreaking puppy, I do something that a lot of other dogs don't...I'll "go" on command, but it took a long time for us to learn this (my owners and I) together.

Since we didn't have an indoor dog potty, the owners used what they called "wee-wee pads" for a while that were scented in a way that was supposed to make me use the pad...or so they thought. I think the thing that confused me the most was that we didn't do the same thing every time...it was always something different.

First they are trying to get me to go outside, then inside on pads, then outside again. When they were training me either there weren't dog potties, or we didn't know about a dog potty that could be used inside as part of my training.

My owners think that because I'm small, and as long as I go where I'm trained to inside, it's not a bad thing, and they think that for people with small dogs that live in apartments, or in the city, an indoor dog potty may make life easier for all involved, and could be used all the time if it's something that's easy to clean.

Why I Love Aspen

I'm writing as myself today...not for Aspen...but about her.  She has been such a wonderful companion for over 11 years now, and is beginning to show her age.  She recently seems to have difficulty seeing, and other signs that remind me that I need to give her extra loving for all that she has given to me.

She isn't as lively as she used to be, because it is hard for her to see...I just took her out for a walk, and not that far ahead of us was a cat...usually she would have gone crazy with barking and excitement, it took her a while to even notice the cat.

She sleeps more, and is always happy to have a belly rub, a back massage, and her treats, they are a special delight...something my husband gives her each night after we have dinner.

Here are just a few of the pleasures Aspen gives us:

Unconditional love, and devotion.

All that loving is healthy for you, yes, petting your dog, having their companionship, can help calm you...stroking their fur is good for them and good for you...Aspen loves to snuggle and loves her tummy rubs.

Aspen is great company when no one else is around...of course she likes all of us to be there...we are her "pack" after all.

Aspen listens to everything we say, as if she understands...and I think she does understand...a lot more than we may give her credit for. When everyone is out during the day, she is always there with a listening ear.

Aspen gets me outdoors to walk on days when I may want to just stay inside. I love walking, but some days just don't feel like making the effort, her companionship makes it more enjoyable. We both get some exercise when we walk.

Aspen makes me feel safe when my husband has to travel, which is rare, but happens occasionally. She will bark if she hears ANYTHING, and this brings a sense of security...no barking, all is well.

I guess I'm feeling a little sentimental today, realizing that she's an older girl now, and more delicate than she used to be. Just hope I can give her all she deserves for the joy that she has given us over the years since that March day when I watched her birth.

Love your dogs, treat them like part of the family, that's what they are.

Do You Have a Heart for Wild Animals?

We have a lot of wild animals around here, just today my owners and I were out on the deck watching a pair of beavers as they seem to be starting to build a den off our property in the lake. It's interesting to watch, the very first time in 26 years of living here that my owners have seen beavers in our lake.

Then there are the raccoons. They are having their babies now, and are very noisy at night when the babies are being raised. There are also bears around here now, so my owners have to be careful about letting me out at night.

The raccoons like to knock over our garbage cans, so do the bears, and sometimes it's tempting to want to trap the raccoons, but I think you'd be surprised to hear what animals are giving us the most trouble right now....they are Ferrel cats. There are at least 6 of them hanging around. Our animal control in Town makes us catch them and then they will take them, so we need to use a Havahart Easy Set Large Animal Trap to capture them, if they will go into the trap. The only other animals that are sometimes a problem, especially when we start to hear them chewing on the wood of our house like they are trying to get in, are the squirrels, this is when a Havahart Easy Set Small Animal Trap is a handy thing to have around.

We hope we won't have to use any traps, but if we need to find information and help in knowing what to do, we can visit Animal Trapping Tips and read their helpful ideas.

We love animals, and don't want them to be harmed, even if they are a pain sometimes...and I sure do love barking at them, and chasing squirrels whenever I get the chance.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Woodstream. All opinions are 100% mine...and I love this product so much I'd have written this, sponsored or not.

Updated 11/7/13

There Were Other Pets Before Me

I am not the only pet my owners have had...they've had gerbils, ferrets, a cat, box turtles, and other animals while their children were growing up.  One of those "other animals" was pet hamsters.  So this week, when my owner took part in a challenge on Squidoo about pets, she didn't pick me to talk about, but teddy bear hamsters.

She even said that she'd like to get another one...now that is something she's going to have to think about a bit, because it comes natural to us Yorkies to want to catch mice, and hamsters are in the rodent family.

If you want to see what she wrote, visit Cute Fuzzy Teddy Bear Hamsters.