Molly Maguire's a S*T*I*N*K*E*R !!

[IrishAyes]

No, she didn't have an indoor accident.

It's worse. She succeeded in making me homebound! Held hostage. All because she must've really hated winter when she did have to be indoors so much, that when the weather warmed up my little monster decided she wasn't coming back in for love or money, not even for real meat. At least not in the daytime. Since I can't leave either dog outdoors when I'm gone - which is usually only twice a week for 2-3 hours - because of the bitchy neighbor who loves any excuse to call in a nuisance complaint, MM had me over a barrel.

I quit feeding her yesterday after 5 pm and delayed breakfast this morning when I wanted to leave, thinking maybe hunger would drive her in. Uh-uh. No dice. Then I tried jealousy, giving Brigid treats in the kitchen where Molly could see her from the porch. That didn't work either. I had to call and cancel my ride.

Finally, when it was too late for me to go for major shopping, at 1 pm after almost 24 hours of no food, Molly finally consented to enter the house. I gave her and Brigid treats, ran out the door myself, jumped on the bike and pedaled 2 blocks to the town square to buy a roll of fencing.

New plan: use the kids swing set frame to make a dog run small enough to catch Molly in so I can put her and sis there when they first go out on a morning when I want to leave later. Molly can't get away playing Gingerbread Man with me in such a small area. And it would only be for the first potty break of the morning two days or so a week. We'll see how that works. How embarrassing to be outwitted for so long by my own dog!

I've decided not to murder her after all, though. When I got back after half an hour this afternoon and let the dogs out again, she followed me around like a shadow. Almost 24 hours uncatchable, and once I don't need to go anywhere, she immediately gets underfoot every step I take. Demands constant petting. While I'm sure spring fever had a lot to do with her earlier behavior, she almost seems apologetic. ?? I also wonder just a bit if her refusal to be caught might've been prompted at least a little by trying to keep me home with her.

You figure it out and tell me. I'm at a loss except to admit that my dog is after all smarter than Mom.

(For any of you unfamiliar with the Gingerbread Man nursery rhyme, it goes: "Run, run, as fast as you can; you can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!" He sprang to life after being removed from the oven and ran away from the cook to escape fate.)

[get the red out]

1. Recall training

Have you worked on any recall training? You could start in the house using treats to call her over to you gradually increasing the distance. Eventually you could start working on this outside.

I have been working long and hard on recall training with our dog, her problem is not being able to hear us when she gets over excited.

[IrishAyes]

2. Molly's not deaf

But I was stupid enough to tell her she's Irish like me, and she was bound and determined to win our battle of wills, that's all. Normally her behavior's commendable, and this episode of lengthy defiance took me by surprise. Her eventual capitulation (after winning) wasn't prompted by hunger either, because I fed the dogs royally when I returned from my short jaunt, and she barely touched a bite. I had to stand right by the bowl before she'd eat anything. Right now as I sit at the desk and type, she's firmly planted between my feet, which she seems to have decided need washing.

[Walk away]

3. Ok, this is a last resort. How does she feel about the hose?

Two of my guys hate it even though they like the pool. Henry will come when called but Robbie gets that "Spring Fling" and hides in bushes and runs me ragged. At least he did...until I discovered the art of chasing him with a jet of water. You don't even have to get them wet, just a bit on the tail and he takes off. I have gotten really good at "water herding" him right in the back door.

If I want to catch Toby (who loves the hose) I just squirt and he comes running.

[mopinko]

4. works on chickens, too.

[IrishAyes]

6. I love chickens too

But can't have any now, of course. Can't even have an outdoor clothesline because Brigid and Molly would rip my laundry to shreds first time it blew in the wind. But that's okay, because:

DOGS RULE !!

[IrishAyes]

5. I hadn't thought of the hose. Thanks.

Neither likes it. I have an idea Brigid may need that for harmless aversion therapy (reversed?) regarding the main yard fence. She's already 13" at the shoulder and only 6 months old. Loves to jump, too much. Built for it, even worse. I never knew a chow to jump much of anything, so really a 3' main fence would've done for them. JRT's another matter.

I'll hose herd either or both dogs then, should it be necessary again. Meanwhile I'll work on the swing set pen. When contractors are here again, at least for interior renovations, it would be helpful to have a place to park the dogs with all those guys coming and going. They must tire of my mantra, "Watch the dogs! Watch the dogs! Don't let 'em out!"

One thing you can count on - I'll never ever tie a dog. Not for a minute. When the chows were alive and we had workers about, I had to block off one room and babysit the dogs. Otherwise they'd bark nonstop until I did.

[Walk away]

8. At this point I just have to pick up the hose and make eye contact...

I just put up $8,000 worth of 6' cedar fence and this morning Robbie dug a hole underneath it. Luckily, my neighbors on all three sides have friendly dogs and fences as well. He steals their tennis balls and squeekies and hides them under our big blue spruce where I can't readily see them. Sometimes, if their doors are open, he goes inside and takes a nap with their dogs. Unbelievable!

This week I bought a bunch of rebar to pound into the perimeter. It will probably take until August to do the whole yard.

Here is my Stinker...
<a href=".html" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt=" photo 77ea5ffc-8ee0-4d5e-887e-38a92e57a2b0_zps5c84b5f2.jpg"/></a>

[IrishAyes]

10. Cute, but that look in his eyes does reflect a certain criminal tendency.

This solution to digging under the fence might be less appealing than rebar, but I've stopped every digging dog I've ever had by placing his stools where he dug before filling over with dirt.

I feel like I owe you.

[Walk away]

13. I'll try it but Robbie is Peck's Bad Boy!

He'll probably think it's part of the fun. If it works I'll make a special post for you!

[IrishAyes]

16. Maybe my online moniker should be 'Stinky' instead of IA!

[Phentex]

14. There's no way to be upset with that little stinker...

just showing you his skills I'd say.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. Instead of a roll of fencing,

you should invest in a leash. Then, when you have to go out, you do not let her out off-leash. She still has her potty break, but she is not dominating you.

[IrishAyes]

11. It could come to that.

Only problem is, she wouldn't get her exercise.

Then again, how much exercise would she get in a swing set sized enclosure?

Then again, I remember how some dogs will 'hold it' to extend the length of a walk. With such a stubborn little cuss, we could be out there for hours.

Actually, she seems to have repented somewhat. After relenting early yesterday afternoon, she's stuck to me like glue. For now at least all I need to do is step out on the porch and she comes running. Of course I pick her up and cuddle her as I always did.

Brigid doesn't understand why I no longer try to carry both of them at once, but then she's doubled in size and tripled in weight since arriving. When she fills out properly, I expect her to weigh around 25 lbs. I'm strong but not that strong. When Brigid matures enough to actually snuggle instead of spinning and jumping like a ball of live electricity, neither one will get to monopolize Mom's lap on the sofa. They'll have to settle down on either side of me and just lay their sweet little heads together. Joy and Freedom, the chows, used to do that but it always turned into a jealous growling match.

[Curmudgeoness]

17. I don't think that you would have a huge problem

with using a leash at times when you have to go somewhere. The exercise can come at all the other times when you are home with no plans. It should not be too much of an inconvenience to MM. The stinker! I still can't believe that you had to cancel your plans.

I can imagine how it is getting more and more difficult to carry those bundles of joy. I am sure you will find a way to show love to both of them without picking them up.

[IrishAyes]

19. What I wound up doing with the Chows

By the time we moved here, they weren't spry enough to jump on the sofa. So I had to sit leaned back like a teenager with my feet on the floor, about 6 or 8" apart; Joy and Freedom would each lay across one foot and dare her sister to even think about touching the other one.

Oh, it wasn't half as bad as the actual trip up here. Took a few days driving alone, and I hauled the Dodge Grand Caravan behind the moving van on a transport. Since I'd removed the two rows of back seats on the Dodge, that made a dandy crash pad for us.

But the dogs had never been traveling, they didn't know what the hell was happening to their world, and all they had to cling to besides each other was me. The first time I crawled in to sleep, they were already almost at each other's throat. In total exhaustion I flopped on my back and closed my eyes. At least it occurred to me to throw my arms out on either side so Joy and Freedom would have a hand to claim. When I fell asleep (or passed out) they were almost nose to nose over my chest, raising bloody hell between them. I remember thinking at that point that I didn't really care if they killed each other AND me, my world had been turned upside down too. Turns out a drug dealer from Phoenix had bought my ranch - he arrived two days early and kept trying to run me off with a gun. I hadn't slept for days before that, and his behavior didn't bring the sandman either.

Anyway, next thing I knew it was morning of the second day and the dogs and I were still alive. Absolute miracle we got here w/o vehicular manslaughter too, because I was really unfit to drive. But when you're in that condition, you don't realize it.

But Brigid and Molly can both jump on the sofa and settle on either side of me, plus when they get too old to jump, I'll buy them little steps.

[Granny M]

9. I'm not the one to give advice on getting dogs to behave.

Sam is spoiled rotten. He doesn't do as many bad things now that he's 15 and slowing down, but before, puleeeze.....

I like the idea of the frame. Let us know how that works. My only other thought would be to take them out on their leashes for a short walk before you go.

[IrishAyes]

12. BTW, everyone:

Dr. Bruce Fogle, the author/veterinarian/tv host finally answered my email about the error he made in describing Chows. He was very gracious, as I had tried to be. It really is a beautiful and scholarly book.

[Phentex]

15. That's good to hear!

We Chow Lovers gotta stick together!

[Walk away]

18. I love Chows! Soulful and fluffy. Two of my favorite things. nt