Pondering the coming winter (part 2)

We do not have a fenced yard. Instead, the way the dogs go out to do their business is that they get put on extendable leashes and let in to the back yard. Especially in the winter when it is very wet, we can stand inside the back sliding glass door holding the leashes and staying warm and dry. At least, that’s they way it’s always worked before.

When we got Larry, he refused to do his business in the area right outside our back door. We figured that was because it still probably smelled very strongly of Smokey. So, we got in the habit of throwing on slippers and a sweatshirt (if needed) and walking over to the side yard.

But it’s been almost 5 months that we’ve had Larry now. 6 since we lost Smokey, and some of those first ones were very wet. The back yard has been picked up and mowed multiple times. Larry still won’t poop in the area the leashes can reach when we’re standing inside. He’ll piddle on the ivy in the back, but no more.

Now, we still have a couple months before the cold wet arrives, so we have time. But I need to figure out a way to get Larry to do his business in the immediate back yard. I know its mean and selfish of me, but come 10pm in December, I don’t want to have to be dressed enough to take him over to the side yard, especially since our back porch light doesn’t really reach that far.

So I’m thinking that what I need to do, is on times when I know Larry needs to poop (like our morning out) to start going not so far away from the step and over the months, slowly work him back to where I don’t have to leave the porch, and then I don’t have to leave the house.

Here’s hoping the plan works.