Madison doesn't go into her kennel anymore. She hasn't for weeks. And she hasn't been put in her kennel for almost two months.
She is a quiet sofa-sleeper. She gets up very elegantly, stretches out and snoozes gently. She is not a rowdy house dog. She is on the charm school, sweet behaviour plan.
She has grown up markedly, no longer chewing and behaving very well. She understands "place" which is a leopard spotted cushion in the living room.
Besides, the humans are condo dwellers. Square footage comes at a premium, notes H-Mom. And the four of us are living in just under 1200 square feet. There is no wonderful place for the kennel, which is the largest size kennel they make, of course.
And now it is folded up, leaning against the bar, waiting to be put away, indefinately.
H-mom feels kind of like it's putting away a crib. Kind of sad. Kind of risky. And certainly a sign that real puppy days are waning.
So it looks like the kennel is going to the storage space.
12 comments:
When you are a very very good dog -- like we are -- then the crate/kennel can be irrelevant. Our two crates (cubicles, Dogdad calls them) still sit side by side under the stairs. JH, out of habit, gets his breakfast and dinner in his and sometimes he likes to go into mine just to snooze. I only go into mine -- and then only on the edge -- to get my bedtime snack (ditto for JH in his).
But other than that -- we roam, we find a comfy snoozing spot whereever, and we sleep in our beds in the bedroom upstairs with the folks.
If panic erupts when someone comes to the door, one of us (usually me) gets bodily lifted into the guest bathroom. (Tough to do with Madison!!)
So the moral, from our perspective, is, once you've learned your manners and can be trusted perhaps 95% of the time to remember them, then a crate/kennel can be a purely voluntary place to go if you so choose.
We're happy for you, Madison, and are very proud of your accomplishments -- especially since "going outside" for a condo dweller is not just a matter of opening the door and stepping out!!
Wirey love,
Jake
We too are proud of you. Our huMOm knows your peeps are glad to get that humongous crate out of the way too. It's the same size as Java's and it takes up a big part of one room. He hasn't been in his in years and it is stored in our barn. We do get it out and use 1/2 of it when puppies come.
XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Java
who says good things come in small packages?... not true eh madison!
I never did the kennel thing at all. I explained to #1 the second day I was here that I was a good boy and would sleep at the foot of her bed, never making a sound. She trusted me and I have lived up to that trust. Way to go , Madison!
Woofs,
Tommy
What a good girl your are Madison. I bet you don't get into your mom's granola, either? Don't worry, I'll be bad for both of us.
Roxy
Congratulations. Our crates act as tables mostly. Essex will get in hers if things are hectic, but that is about it.
Essex & Deacon
Sigh. I kind of miss my crate because it was so cozy and safe, but we have the same space issues so once I got grown it had to be put away.
Slobbers,
Mango
Congratulations, Madison, on not needing your crate any more! You're growing up!
See ya!
Joey
That is like totally pawtastic!!!
I am so proud of you. I wish you could have met Booker. I still have a pic of him laying on a couch too. You do him proud, Madison!
Deetzy
Congratulations, Madison! You made it! Mitch's crate has been stored in the attic too! It's a wonderful feeling to be totally trusted, isn't it?!
Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
I know exactly how you feel. It's surprisingly bittersweet to watch a puppy grow up. We've had so much fun watching Madison's growth from little to large package-ness. Can't wait to see what's next!
PS- Thanks a ton for the book shout out. We're particularly honored to be sharing the list with -Flush-. Virigina Woolf is my very favorite author!
You'll like our post tomorrow. It's similar to this one. :)
Wuv,
gus and Waldo
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