5 is the magic number for indoor doodle naughtiness in this house

[Adina P]

Rosco didn't learn to countersurf until he turned 5.

Boca didn't learn prison escape until she was 5.

Last summer we were gone during the fireworks and we returned to find that Boca had escaped her wire crate.  She did some serious bending of wires.  Pretty amazing and pretty scary. 

Clark managed to fix the crate and added zip tie reinforcement. 

All was fine until earlier this year when she randomly started attempting escapes again.  Last month I would come home after work on days Clark was away and find that she'd managed to push her crate floor out *and* pop zip ties. 

So I finally decided the crate was done.  Time to just Boca-proof the mudroom and leave here there with Rosco, uncrated.  The mudroom is only separated from the kitchen by a baby gate and counters.  I cleared the counters of things that would be intriguing and that was that. 

Until a week or two ago when I'd come home only to find her on the wrong side of the gate.  No damage really, just a few kid paper items destroyed.  So again I determined that I'd just work harder at keeping the main house clear of stuff (which I'm *horrible* at--I can't organize physical matter for the life of me).  Today I left a VERY uncluttered living room behind (all other doors closed). 

Clark came home and found the kitchen trash can emptied all over the kitchen and dining room floor.  So he put the crate back together and gave it extra, super duper, strong, manly reinforcements.  I came home and she was still in there. 

The prisoner was quite happy when I came home.


Crossing my fingers she doesn't get creative again. 

She turned 6 yesterday (per our made up birthday) and got a bath and grooming session and is so fluffy and clean...minus drinking from the toilet and rummaging through kitchen trash

.

[Adina P]

I should clarify that our kitchen trash can is behind a low door, a door just like the doors of the cupboard.  It doesn't latch and doesn't have a lock on it, but it has never been disturbed by our dogs ever.  She probably pawed and pawed at the door until it flew open.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Baby latches. :)

[Adina P]

Yeah but I don't trust her.  She works too hard to figure things out.  If it's not the trash door, it will be something else she learns to reach for.  There is a limit to how perfect I can keep my house on a long term basis. 

[Adina P]

Sometimes I have to leave in a hurry right after the kids have had a craft session or built a fort out of every pillow and blanket.  I do my best, but I can't do my best at everything at all times.  Something always slips.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That's why I love the security of crates when I'm not home.

[Adina P]

Same here. When I took the crate away it was because she was attempting escape again because I'd come home to her having kicked out the crate pan/tray completely and bent wires. I was worried she'd hurt herself and Clark was away for a few days. I couldn't have fixed and resecured it like he did. Really didn't think she would jump the gate.

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

HA HA HA LOL LOL that's hysterical!  poor baby!  These kids...are they worth the trouble?  HA. Our re-homed  Elli learned the Houdini act when I had her crated at our up north cottage(far away from our residence)...so not only did she get out of the crate...a zippered crate...she opened the back door of the cottage and had a "great" afternoon!  Between that,  jumping our 4 1/2 fence, (spent the day with the deer & turkeys) and sneaking out the door when company is running in and out, I feel all your pain!  Lucky they are the most adorable furbabies I've ever seen.  

Good luck with that counter surfing...so far Elli hasn't helped herself!  BTW, the prison looks pretty secure.

[Adina P]

Rosco doesn't do it often.  It has to be really easy to access...he doesn't work hard.

[Rhoni Ann]

LOL, it's amazing that they continually out smart us.  I have a 3 yr old and a 7 month old.  They get put in their plastic crates when I have to leave the house. The 3 yr old, Cash, I never had to lock up but since getting the now 7 month old Carter, it is a must. Cash doesn't get into things but Carter can tear up anything, plants, reading glasses, paper the list can go on and on. It is hilarious when you walk in and say who did this, if Cash is guilty he goes to his crate. If Carter is guilty Cash just sits there, either way I swear Carter just looks at me and smiles.  

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh dear, you do have a Houdini on your hands. What's funny is at 5, my Bella, finally stopped eating poop and I have found the garbage pull out cabinet slightly open and she hasn't attacked the garbage. HUGE plus's here, so there's hope they do grow out of it???? 

Good luck with trying to keep everything put away, I don't know how you can with two little ones.  

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

This makes me very nervous considering Rooney is 4 1/2. What new tricks will he learn in year 5?!? :) 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It amazes me how smart and persistent she is.  My guys are gated in our room when we're gone and their "treat" is to jump up on our bed (which they normally aren't allowed on).  I think they feel like they're being such rebels by getting up on the bed that they don't try anything else.  Murph would not be smart enough to figure our how to open crates or doors and Guinness is too small.  Murph could easily jump the gate but the "big guy" is scared to death or it.