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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Well, it's been raining here a lot lately.  That makes it pretty hard to get out and do a lot with the girls.  Most of our forays outside have been quick dashes to the turn out pen.  Sadly, that's not terribly exciting to write about.  It did remind me of another rainy season and an experience we had with our first greyhound, Treat.

To say that Treat was a diva would be an understatement akin to saying that Mount Everest is a hill.  She brought being a diva to an artform heretofore unrivaled in dogdom.  I could give a long list of all the ways that she was spoiled, but I'll spare you that.  There were a lot of things that Treat loved -- Strawberry Cheesequake Blizzards, going anywhere in the car, running on the beach, taking long walks and being treated like a princess were all on her list.

However, there was one thing that she definitely did NOT like and that was rain.  She would get in wading pools, lakes, oceans and any other body but she did not like taking baths or getting rained on.  She hated it so much that I bought her a raincoat to try to help her to hate it less, but it didn't make things much better for her.

One October we had an unusual amount of rain.  It was the sort of deluge that made people consider building arks.  The rain just didn't let up.  Treat had one way of dealing with the rain.  She went out into the turn out pen, scrunched her eyes closed and stood like a statue.  She refused to go to the bathroom when it was raining.  Normally, it wouldn't be a problem if she skipped a turn out.  She might just ask to go out a little earlier the next time. 

The rain started on Tuesday and she refused to go.  I could actually see the wheels turning in that little needlenose head of hers.  The people have a place to go in the house.  The cats have a place to go in the house.  Why should I the superior life-force, be expected to go outside in the rain?  I will not stand for this outrage!  I am a princesse!

The week went on, and Treat refused to go.  Her protest against the forces of nature were worrying us, but no amount of waiting her out would convince her to go.  Finally, on Friday, Mr. Taleteller and I decided to go out to a movie.  We took Treat, Hawk and our current foster dog out to the dog pens and gave them time to do their business.  I should have seen the gleam in her eye when they came back in, but I guess I was thinking about our night out.

When we got home from the movie, a much happier Treat came prancing up the basement stairs.  I was in shock at just that alone.  We'd taught both of them to do the stairs because we often have to retreat down there for storms, but neither of them had shown any interest in being down there.  We kept the cat food and litter box down there because the dogs never had an interest in going down those steps.

 However, that night, Treat decided to venture down the stairs.  She decided that since things weren't to her standards outside that she would use the cat facilities.  It was a grand plan, except that after holding it for several days, she peed enough to completely flood the litter box.  I can't even relate to you the looks of disgust and horror that were on the cats' faces as they saw how their box had been contaminated by dog urine.  I wish I'd had a camera for the whole scene.  It's one of my big regrets.  I couldn't even be mad at her!  It was on a concrete floor, not upstairs on the carpet.  It was a much easier clean up down there.

I can still see the look on her face in my mind, too.  She was so very pleased with herself that she'd solved the whole problem.  I can only say that I'm thankful that we kept a baby gate up so that she couldn't go into our bathroom.  Of course, the rain let up on Saturday, too.  Some dogs really are too smart for their people's own good!

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30 comments:

  1. Ha!

    Thanks fur sharing that!

    I'm glad some khanine knew how to put khats in their place!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra
    PeeEssWoo: Mom says one of her other Sibes - Banshey - hates having to step on wet mulch/etc - she makes a face and woo khan almost hear her disgust as she has to put her paws on it - all the time blinking like if I don't see it, it khan't really be happening!

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  2. Yes, that was a very smart move by Treat and so much more acceptable than peeing on the carpet!
    The poor cats would have been most unhappy.
    Our last basset Harry was a bit of a fairweather dog and would often refuse to go out if the weather wasn't to his liking.
    Like Treat he was very good in the house - we remember once when we were away in our caravan and the rain hadn't let up ............he waited and waited.........finally went out and pee'd forever! We have never seen a dog pee so much - guess that is what happened to the litter tray!!!
    xxx

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  3. Seems to me she was one smart dog. I'm going to have to take that into consideration next time we have days and days of rain. I try to hold out til it's over, too, but up to now I'll give in and go out and get soaked after a day or so. Maybe not anymore.

    wags, Lola

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  4. Haha what a funny story!!! We had the same problem with Ace about a week and a half ago!!! It has been pretty rainy here and Ace refuses to go into the rain to do his business. It was the first time he went to bed without going actually. Well after a day and a half I started to get really concerned and we were calling the vet and everything (I thought it was intestinal blockage) *sigh* Im such a worrier....
    Well we realized it was just the butthead holding it in when he was sitting in our living room and literally just couldn't hold it anymore having the worst gas ever...we opened the door and he ran out and finally went...rain and all...lol I suppose 5 month old puppies can only hold out for so long haha

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  5. Lilly only wishes we had a litterbox - we don't know what she hates the worst - rain or the umbrella or putting on her raincoat!


    XOXO
    Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Ruairi

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  6. BOL! I'll have to read this to my sister Phoenix. She'll have a new hero! She HATES the rain - despite her raincoat. Thanks for sharing!

    Hope the rain lets up!

    Wags,
    Zona

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  7. What a wonderful story. And just remember that two leggers say we dawgs are not able to think or problem solve. I guess Treat proves them wrong... again!!!

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  8. That's a really smart dog! What an amazing story. I don't think I've ever heard of a dog that hated the rain that much.

    I bet she would have been way happier living in Arizona....

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  9. I'm not letting Bella read this story - she doesn't much like rain, either :) Too funny - clever Treat!

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  10. OMG, what a brilliant story!! And what a smart diva Treat was to use the kitty litterbox. Of course you couldn't be upset with her; of course she was totally happy afterwards. I just hope the cats got something special for having their bathroom tainted!

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  11. oh, princess treat was so full of the smartness!! i'm giggling just thinkin' about the cats' reaction to their litter box being flooded. teeheehee!
    *woof*
    the booker man

    pee s -- i'm so excited for miss bunny's friday post!! :)

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  12. BOL BOL BOL! Ohmidogness! That was prolly one of the best stories I've ever heard in my WHOLE entire life! Gosh, what a Most Brilliant dog Treat was! And I think it was Most Considerate of her not to do her business on the carpet.

    Oh, and that very first picture of her is absolutely DEE-vine! Her diva-ness is most truly something to behold!

    Wiggles & Wags
    Mayzie

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  13. That was such a great story!!!!

    And I love the pink toenails! :)

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  14. What a smart girl she was! We don't mind the rain at all. However, the Duchess HATES it! (It is raining again today) :(

    Kisses,
    Emma Rose

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  15. That was a FUNNY story!! We've never thought about using the cat box. It could be a possibility though!! BTW, it's raining here right now!

    Woofs and Kisses!
    The Fiesty Three

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  16. And ya'll thought da Puddles Pro 1000 was a crazy idea....see, I knew what I was doing when I invented that. So, If Treat was a Princess does that make me a Princess too? I mean we both REFUSE to go out so I thinks that makes me a Princess. I jus can nnots beve her used da litter box, her was definately one smart cookie.
    Now, I adored that story and those piktures of Treat. Her was ver much beautiful and I know her is still missed everyday.

    puddles

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  17. So, did you buy her a huge box of her own so that she didn't have to go out in the rain after that? She was a very smart girl and I love the outfits.

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  18. Thanks for sharing that great memory...I love the photo of Treat and the bun...I've had two lops!
    Hugs and belly rubs to pups,
    Kit

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  19. Thanks for sharing your special memories of a very special lady!

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  20. Treat - we say that that was a most creative solution to your problem.

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  21. Oh that is TOO funny! I would love to see a greyhound-sized litter box! Tucker hates rain too and back in New York, our house had like a half-dozen doors to the outside, and when it was raining he would check every single one of them in hopes of finding one where it wasn't raining on the other side.

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  22. Woof! Woof! GREAT n Funny. I Like it, Smartie ... Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  23. If only we could train them to do that when it's twenty below!

    Love seeing a Grey with a rabbit. I thought Nigel was the only one...

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  24. That was the act of a Diva!
    Thanks for sharing it!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  25. BOL! I would have loved to see the catsess faces! BOL! I hate rain in my ears too. And the raincoat. And the brelly. It makes a big WHHOOSH and it's usually wet with water droppies flinging everywhere. And I'm soooo short and SHE's soooo tall, I really don't see the point in the dang thing. It's not keeping ME dry. What? It's for HER? Why does she need to be dry, her ears are flat against the side of her head...not pointy on top. She has skin that can be wiped dry...not fur. Surely she doesn't need a brelly. It's got to be for me. She just needs to scrunch down so it keeps me dry!

    humph!
    Bonnie

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  26. I was browsing through Facebook and when I saw the picture of Treat wearing that bright pink boa I just HAD TO click over to see what was going on! I just loved your description on little Miss Treat and I can tell just by reading this story that she was a favorite of yours! She sure was a Princess to refuse to go outdoors to relieve herself and a smart one too! I laughed when I read that she used the litter box and I laughed even more when I tried to picture the horrified looks on the cat's faces...and yours! Great story! Very sweet way to honor your precious greyhound!

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  27. What a clever girl. That was a very tidy solution to her issues what with her bad humans not providing a tent for her rainy day business. Hehehe.

    I can just imagine the frustration of watching her clench her cheeks rather than let go in the evil rain.

    Mango Momma

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  28. Poor (very smart very resourceful) Treat!

    Smileys and Snuggles!
    Dory, Bilbo and Jacob

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  29. Love the photo with the glasses and boa. Fantastic!

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