spend more time with my dogs

All of that, and here I am adding another dog to the mix.

Cosmo is a 7 year old Aussie, just like Holley, but he’s a black tri. He came from a neglected home. I found him for free on Craigslist. He came with breeders’ papers and testicles…and heartworms.

He’s fitting into our home quite well. Holley’s been very good at teaching the newcomer good manners. The pissing in the house has stopped, although Cosmo did perpetuate it by marking for a few days.

We (I say “we” because I really got Cosmo for Tom) got him Father’s Day week. At first, all he would do was hide in my powder room under the stairs. He was scared of us, of the other two dogs, and he wouldn’t go outside to go potty because he was afraid we’d leave him out there like his previous owner.

Now look at him: spooning with Mommy on the couch!

I guess I need to spend more time with my dogs. Holley, my 8-year old Australian Shepherd, has begun peeing in the house under the dining room table. She doesn’t have any health problems; she’s jealous of my boyfriend.

This problem is two-fold: Holley pees, then my 13+ year old toy Terrier, Sugar, comes over and pees on top of that! Damned marking behavior! Holley’s urine is very pungent and there’s always a lot of it; Sugar’s doesn’t smell and there’s just a bit. But either way, it’s gross and bothersome.

I have laminate flooring which has already been ruined in that spot. It’s peeling up around the edges of the boards. I’m sure the odor has soaked all the way through the laminates and down into my subfloor. Whee!

To solve this problem, I’ve begun crating them any time I leave the house and at night. That sucks for them during the school year, because I crate them at night, get up at 5:30 to let them out, then crate them right back up after I’m ready to go to work at 6:30. There they sit until I get home until about 3.

After all the research and vet visits, the only thing I can conclude is that they’re still adjusting from my separation and subsequent divorce, and having a new man around the house so often. shrugs Wish they would realize how much better this one is! He even treats them better!