Who did that?”

I demand of the three guilty faces looking up at me from behind a puddle of yellow liquid I almost stepped in on the kitchen floor…

Ana, my German Shepherd watches in disgust as I reel off another armful of paper towel and spray the tiles with bleach.

It could have been our current chihuahua -in-training…the Pomsky puppy staying for early puppy program or an over-excited Boykin adolescent, happy to greet me…

Ana, my German Shepherd watches in disgust as I reel off another armful of paper towel and spray the tiles with bleach.

I put all miscreants out of the kitchen door and hope they will get off the porch before peeing again…

I only turned my back for a minute to negotiate the baby gate and did not witness the crime…I should have known better…Don’t take your eyes off the Rookies!

The phone dings…

I put all miscreants out of the kitchen door and hope they will get off the porch before peeing again, while I attempt to get washed and dressed before feeding everyone.

List of to-do’s… Puppy out. Walk dogs. Puppy out.

The phone dings again…don’t look, don’t look…tea first.
Breakfast…Ana-special fish meal and canned meat
Marie- got to mix all the canned meat in or she will just eat meat
Careful not to give Lizzie more than a measured scoop or she will turn into a blimp
New Client’s dog only eats home-prepared food (wish I had time to home prepare my breakfast)
Puppy has to have meds on full tummy of special puppy kibble
OK everyone done! Everyone outside, almost missed the puppy getting ready to pee on the kitchen rug..phone dings.
10 minutes of blessed peace before gearing up for morning walk…
Attach headphones. Answer phone.
Welcome to my world- on a good morning!
No diarrhea or vomit
No one trying to bite anyone
No emergency (define emergency) phone messages
No client meetings or demonstrations
Or RAIN!!!
List of to-do’s..
Puppy out
Walk dogs
Puppy out
Work with trainee
Get Groceries
Puppy out
Make puppy lunch/meds
Return calls
Puppy out
Afternoon obedience work
Puppy out
Write book
Puppy out
Pay bills
Write article
Clean up puppy pee(missed that one)
Start report for client’s dog
Clean up puppy poo in bathroom (and that one)
Think about dinner
Check appointments
Puppy out…
And now for the evening…

My day begins with a dog and ends with a dog.

My day begins with a dog and ends with a dog. My journey through the day weaves in and out of my dogs’ needs and my own. My dogs can alter my mood and my fiscal security. I am the center of their Universe but they are integral to mine.

My life with my dogs is not always pretty or easy but never fails to provide me with insight… thank you all, friends and clients for giving me the trust and support that allows me to do a job I love even when it means cleaning up puppy poo!!

– Janine Lazarus, HashtagWV #134. August 2021. For more dog training tips, follow Janine at Goodladd.net and on facebook @goodladddogtraining.