THE CHOCOLATE DOG BLOG: Routines

Routines

I am sure all of the dog owners out there know all about routines and how important they are for dogs. Once a solid routine is set, there is not a lot of work to be done as long as things go how they are supposed to go. I know my days with Bosco get much easier when a new routine gets put in place and we both can function on autopilot.

Here is one that I really enjoy. When I moved here last October there was the whole everything is new thing and every little act of the day had to be relearned for Bosco, where he went outside etc.

In Toronto (his first place) we always went out back of the apartment and he knew it well so I could trust him to just go out and do his thing. He knew the rules and stuck to them.

But the new place in Halifax, despite having a backyard, had to be entered and exited from the from of the house. Of course the sidewalk and road are right there although it is a very quiet street with not a lot of practice.

In the beginning when you let Bosco out, you had to go out with him even on those cold fall mornings. After awhile I started just letting him out and coaching him to go to the backyard. There was the occasional slip up when he wanted to explore or if there were people going by to visit. It was a work in process that is for sure.

But now 11 months later I think it is about as set in stone as it is going to get. I open the door, he goes to the yard and comes back whenever he feels like it. There have been a few times where I forget he is even out there and he doesn't go anywhere. Usually he sits at the door and waits. The trick is that he knows he gets a treat when he comes in so I know thats what the payoff is for him.

This makes life easy at the end of the day or early in the morning when you just do not want to go outside with him. I love routines!