Vern, GO POTTY!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think our dogs and their potty idiosyncrasies must be on a lot of our minds, because there have been lots of discussions and posts lately about this subject. I have been thinking about writing something about Vern for a long time, and then today I saw Lucy and Sophie's mom's discussion, about how long Lucy can hold it. Vern can hold it for a long time too, but my problem is more that Vern has to have an Oprah "Aha" moment before he goes. It is almost like he is just walking along and all of a sudden has an epiphany.

 

I am starting to think Vern thinks his name is Go Potty, Vern!  When we take the dogs out to do their business, Fudge gets right to the point, but not Vern. Vern likes to take his time, smell the air, walk around, sniff a little, tackle Fudge, smell the air, chew a stick, and then sniff some more. All the while, he is walking around I am saying, “Vern, go potty….Vern, Go Potty……VERN, GO POTTY!”

 

Imagine it is pouring outside. Here is Vern out to do his business:

Now, it is snowing. Here is Vern out to do his business:

 

Here he is thinking about going potty....oh wait a minute, never mind, false alarm:

So much to sniff, so little time.....Hey, Fudge, who keeps yelling, "Go Potty, Vern?:

Hmmmn, I am out here for something, but I can't remember what:

Isn't that a pretty birdie?

 

I swear when he finally goes, it reminds me of that scene in the movie, Helen Keller, when Helen finally realizes what the letters w-a-t-e-r mean that her teacher has been signing on her hand.  After I say, “Vern, Go Potty!” a few too many times, he looks at me like it finally dawns on him that “Go Potty” means make water or something more solid than water.

 

 

If I thought it would speed him up to hand him a newspaper or a magazine as he goes out the door, I would try it. I swear I would.

He does finally go and it looks something like this when he does:

or this:

No matter how long it takes him to go, Vern never has any accidents EVER in the house, so I guess I should count my blessings. It could be worse.

Someday, I hope he will get down to business sooner and if he can get to this point, we would be the happiest dog owners ever.

Who else wants to join Vern in the Slow to Go Group?

 

PS Please note....all landscaping (no grass) done by Vern too :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

My two love to go out in the rain and the high winds don't bother them either. I do like that they are not afraid of the storms. Gosh, mine are digging too everywhere. We have chipmunks and they go in search of them. Stay safe in this storm.

[F, Calla & Luca]

You too!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Laurie --- Lady, you have way too much time on your hands to think up all this "carp", no pun intended!  And then finding the appropriate pictures!  Lucy could easily join Vern's take your time group.  That is sort of how she approaches life in general though .... her own time, her own way.  However, she isn't a tackler ...... she would just as soon Sophie leave her alone and she leave Sophie alone.  Sophie on the other hand is no nonsense.  If they are both outside Sophie gets her business finished and then tackles Lucy while we are still trying to get Lucy to go.  I always hand Lucy to DH when we are taking them both out, particularly if it is raining, because I know how long it is going to take her.  Like you though, never ever an accident so I'm not complaining, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.  Lucy is also very insistent about where she is going to potty.  Sophie will go anywhere, but Lucy usually has to pee within inches of the house foundation, but to poo we have to go all the way to the back corner of the yard (if I let her).  I say that because in the winter there is no way that I am trudging through a foot of snow so she can poo in the back corner so I start pulling her closer to the house.  She will fight me like crazy by pulling to get to the back corner.  I ALWAYS win though!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

LOL....It is funny how these dogs come with their own personalities and no two are alike. Fudge and Vern are as different as night and day too. I actually do get other stuff done :)

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh my gosh, I cannot breathe I am laughing so hard I'm crying! Laurie I am so so grateful for your blogs. Every single one. Honestly we all need to laugh more and you are fulfilling that need in me! Lots and lots of love for you, Fudge and the slow to go Vern!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you, Bonnie, for you wonderful comment. I am glad you had a good laugh :)

[Bonnie and Kona]

I count you as a gift to my life, Laurie. I have read your story to both my DH and DD. You produced guffaws and belly laughs for all of us!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Bonnie, That is truly nice to hear. Thank you!!!

[Janel and Sophia]

Made my day!!   LOL LOL

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Janel!

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

OMG he is so cute! 

 

I am constantly telling Dex "GO POTTY".  He will beg to go out and then gets distracted by the grass or the tree or whatever. 

 

Kirby is a million times worse, however he has a bladder of steel and seems perfectly fine holding it for long periods of time.  I swear it can't be good for him, but you can't force a doodle to pee :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Leslie, Yep...you sure can't force them to go, can you? Thank you!!