From the trenches

 Yes, sad to say but we're still battling the Elimination Wars.  Or maybe I say, the Pee Wars. During the past week, we had three days with not a single accident. But on four days, "toileting errors" were made (one per day).

I can say this with precision because I've created a log, which lives on the refrigerator. On it we're recording both when the "errors" occur and what the circumstances were. The really depressing thing about it is how often, Steve or I are at fault -- not taking Dionne out often enough. Several times, she was in her kennel and doubtless whining or barking. The problem is that she also does that sometimes when she just wants to get out. At those times, the proper response is to reprimand and ignore her. But the penalty for misjudging the situation is... another error.

I've decided to add the log to the end of this post. I don't plan to write about this topic much more; I'll just regularly update the error log here.  That way I'll have an accurate record of when exactly she was housebroken without boring readers of this blog to death with canine urinary minutiae.

I risk another grim result -- grossing you all out -- by reporting the latest dispatch from the Eliminatory front. To our horror, we've found that Dionne has begun indulging in the same loathesome habit that her predecessor did. We're redoubling our efforts to clean up any and all "temptations" asap, and to do it without Dionne seeing us (lest it give her the idea that if we also covet the morsels, they must be tasty. Gag.)

The Toileting Error log

For the moment, here's the initial Unauthorized Peeing :

1/4/13: Peed in kennel -- Didn't take her out soon enough after eating.
1/5/13: No errors
1/6/13: Peed while we were watching DVD, by the door.  We weren't paying enough attention.
1/7/13: Nothing
1/8/13: Nothing
1/9/13: Peed in J's office, while crated. J ignored her barks.
1/10/13: Peed on living room rug, inexplicably.  Caught in act by Steve and taken outside, where she peed.
1/11/13: Peed in kennel after dinner.  Not let out soon enough.