So Katie has become even more crazy.  She has started to ask to go outside constantly, last night in the driving rain turned to sleet over and over again out we went.  Each time I was thinking that her incessent whining and barking at me must mean she has to go out “RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE AND CAN’T HOLD IT A SECOND LONGER!”  But when we get out there (I don’t have a fenced yard so we have to go out together) we end up wandering around the yard sniffing stuff.  She seems especially interested in the #2 deposits of previous trips.  So I am constantly saying “NO!” and pulling her away.  This is new behavior for her, and it’s wearing on me.  This morning after being outside in the freezing cold four times in a couple of hours, with no apparent reason I left her with my husband for the day and went shopping!  When I got home he said “She’s crazy!”  We can’t decide if it’s a reaction to me being gone a lot, to having less practice time, and thus less treats, or just less fun, so she’s bored.

The good news is that to my surprise she was pretty good tonight in week 7 of advanced dog obedience.  She even stayed down when I left the room during one exercise.  So I guess any fairy tale about a princess that ends on a happy note is a good story.  Right?  Now I have to go.  She wants to go out.  Again.