Time Out

This picture represents our dog, Susie, who is sitting in time out. Hunter and I had been talking about getting a baby gate to put Susie in the front room of our house where there isn't much for her to ruin if she decides to be bad. However, while I was out of work I started leaving her out in the house while I was gone. I started slow...maybe 15 minutes, then 30, then a couples hours. She did great! Hunter and I thought for sure she was ready to roam the house alone. For the past two months we have had no problems. Today the tides have changed.

Most of you know, I started a new job teaching preschool. I absolutely love it, but I am exhausted by the time I get home. Hunter had dinner plans with a friend, so in my mind I had imagined a night of quiet time. I was going to come home, cook dinner, and watch my favorite tv shows and go to bed early. A surprise was waiting on me when I walked in the door. I walked through the kitchen, and I saw a cloud of white puffs EVERYWHERE. I then saw trails of vomit, wood chips, and brown string. It completely covered our den. Susie was jumping on me so excited that I was home. I was beyond upset. I didn't know wether to cry or to yell. I decided to scream. I screamed so loud that our neighbor yelled out if I was ok. There was throw up on our leather chair, on the carpet, on the couch, and on the wood floor. She had eaten a pillow, chewed up Hunter's shoe horns, chewed our monogram off of my favorite blanket that we received as a wedding present, and then thrown it all up-all over the house. I spanked her hard, fed her dinner (I almost didn't), and put her in time out. She's still there. I don't know if this tactic works for dogs, but I'm trying it. I might just let her stay there until Hunter comes home. ...