when good pets go bad...

Well, I don't know if "bad" is the proper word, but it is pretty obvious to us that the move has been harder on them than we would have thought. Our dogs are highly socialized and well trained... I have had them in many situations, and I never thought that the move would have bothered them.

The thing is, we have actually moved twice in the past couple of weeks. See, our house is being built and won't be ready for us to move into until next spring.... so, we have been living in our camp for the past couple of weeks. There is another camp beside us that is "owned by the family"... it's really a regular house (cape style) that Ed and my brother in law, John built almost 20 years ago. The idea of the big camp, was that Ed's parents would retire and live there the better part of the year... but sadly, Ed's Dad passed before that could ever happen and his Mom passed last summer. We decided to try renting it out this past summer, and I am happy to say, that was done with pretty good success.

I was all for living in our little camp for the winter, but Ed had said all along that it would be better for use to move into the big camp. Well, once we had some of our personal things brought into the little camp, I quickly agreed, it would be just too small to spend the entire winter in.... so, once we were done renting the big camp..... we moved into it.

The poor dogs... all summer long I have taught them "not to come over this way" (so not to bother the renters) and now I call for them the moment they leave the property!!!!! If I "can't" find them, I usually walk over to the small camp and find them sitting on the door stoop wondering why I am not there to let them in.

I have also discovered that they really aren't "housebroken"..... they are "doggie door" trained, and with no doggie door to scoot out of whenever they need to... we have found several "presents" in the basement of this camp...they also don't know "where" to go.... so I find myself going outside with them, and encouraging them to "go", but to stay on this property. I know in time they will figure it out... but I just wish I could explain all of this to them. They seem pretty happy here, just confused....

The cats on the other hand, are having a grand time.... technically they have three floors to "play" in... the basement (which I have gated off from the dogs) the first floor and then the second floor. The ceilings in the first floor are part cathedral, and it didn't take Mona too long to make a "look out" on the beams that run across the living room. Dancer soon joined her, and they have great fun, hanging out on the beams and looking down on the "people" below. I dare say, one day they will attempt jumping down.... but so far they are pretty happy just to hang out there.

It's kind of strange to be sitting and just relaxing and feeling like you are being watched... especially when you look up over your head and find out that you ARE being watched!!!

But, it is finally feeling alittle like home, we have our favorite chairs here, and our own bed. The dogs are beginning to get into the routine, and I have figured out what is going on with them... another couple of weeks, and we should have it down pat......

now just get thru jury duty....................