So, we’ve had no potty accidents in what, a week? Maybe more. I think she’s got it now. How very… relieving.

She’s also developed a schedule - she pees about ten million times a day, but only poops three times: first thing in the morning, after breakfast, and after dinner. So those three times I pull on my boots and coat and gloves and whatever else I need to fare the weather, and take her out into the side yard. But the rest of the time I just open the front door, let her out, then close it almost all the way, leaving my hand (holding the flexi-leash) sticking out. She knows “go potty” and “inside,” so I can actually just control her by voice most of the time - the leash is for safety, of course. No ironclad recall on this pup yet, but she’s getting good. So anyways, she goes out, piddles, and comes in when I say “inside.” But one problem: the railing on the stairs. She has this habit of going out, right, then coming in at such a steep angle that the flexi gets caught over the end of the railing, and she can’t make it in the door. Being that I’m only half-dressed and it’s wet outside, I can’t exactly just step out to unhook it. So I say to her, “Go potty!” She gave me a confused look, went out onto the lawn. I shook the leash loose, then said, “Inside!” and in she ran.

I can’t believe I’m already developing voice control over her. I mean, it’s along the lines of what Oreo and I have (though of course Oreo’s 10 years ahead!). She needs such a light touch, it’s wonderful. I almost never raise my voice to her (only once or twice when I caught her in the middle of doing something REALLY bad) - and that was just a “NO, BAD,” in the disappointed, deep mommy-voice. That’s it. Everything else I say “Uh-uh,” and redirect her. On leash in the yard I am trying to not use leash control at all - I do give little tugs when she hits the end (she’s not allowed to pull, that’s her warning that she’s at the end and can’t go further), but I try to direct her in other ways - by calling her, using the command “this way.” The leash is there if I need it. But it’s not my main means of control.

She is just an awesome little dog.