[nagdu] When To Relieve

[Debby Phillips]

Hi Elise, are you home training? I know at school, we have a 
certain schedule, but once we got home, we adjust the schedule to 
fit our schedule.  For instance, the dogs go out before they eat 
here.  It has not seemed to make a ton of difference.  But when 
they go out to park, they get about their business, because they 
want to come in and eat.  At school, we fed them first, then took 
them out to park.  Of course, I can go out in my bathrobe here, 
where there (at school) I couldn't, so while Neena ate, I could 
throw some clothes on.  The thing is, if you're up and about, the 
dog is going to wake up and have to go.  If you slept in one 
morning I bet your dog would sleep too until you got up.  I'm not 
saying you should change your schedule.  But things do change 
after training.  Eventually you decide what is going to fit with 
your schedule, and your dog's schedule.  BUT if you're still in 
training right now, then that's another matter and you'll need to 
keep talking with the trainer.  The other side of this is that 
dogs can and sometimes have to hold it for a long time.  On road 
trips, we've had the unfortunate occurrence of getting caught in 
traffic jams and not being able to have a normal relief time, for 
instance.  (Usually I'm having to go too).  Lol.  But I remember 
my first dog, being so freaked out because it was 4:30 and I was 
on a bus heading home, but it was going to be 30 or 45 minutes 
later than normal to feed and relieve my dog.  I've learned since 
that dogs are a lot more flexible, if they have to be.  Stuff 
happens and schedules have to change.    Debby