I will be the first to admit we bit off more than we can chew. Dogs. We LOVE them, they are like our kids. I just want to surround myself with them all the time. We have 4 dogs, we are crazy. At the time we were looking for our 4th dog, I had a brief moment where I questioned our sanity but I was feeling fearless. Rational behavior got thrown out the window. We'd had 4 dogs before and told ourselves it was kind of fun (seriously, wth?!). But they were all similar breeds that were easy to train, and yes they were mischevious but it was more like get into the trash ,eat something gross - not eat the walls, moulding, boots and basically anything within reach, plow through the door, take off through the woods, run down the road and jump on the neighbor kind of stuff.
When Brendan was a baby, we had four dogs. I walked 4 miles every morning before work with him in the jogger, our Jack Russell, Toby, sitting in a basket I had my Dad make that went between the handle bar, and the other 3 heeled by me or behind me on their leashes. Noone freaked out, pulled or tried to run off. We were a pack, it was truly awesome. The 3 big guys did not roam off our property but once or twice. The terrier, well he's another story. AND one we should have listened to more carefully. Or since I grew up with a terrier, one I SHOULD have known. Terriers are stubborn and hard to train. Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee as I like to call our sweet terrier mixes, Boston & Bella, are no exceptions. Boston has been to one session of obedience training. He heels great on a leash, he is the one I typically pick to go on a run with, he barely pulls. Bella is being trained, she knows basics such as sit and lie down. She does not get heel yet and could give a shit about "come." She likes to do whatever Boston does. Which leads to the major problem around here. They roam.
With the winter cold & darkness they were just not getting the exercise they need. All summer and fall they were run everyday for miles between Jason and I. Then the exercise moved inside for us - and they became more housebound . . . and began to roam more than they ever have. To the point now, they are not even listening to the Alpha (that would be Jason as I am considered just a pack mate - completely my own fault, I know this) if they get loose. I will not let them out of the house with me unless they are on a leash. They get walked to their runs or kennel on a leash. But as expected with two young kids the doors get left open or the kids get plowed over and the Tweedles are off on their next adventure.
Last week after they got out yet again I surrendered. I got out the tape measure, walked around the yard with pen and paper and then hit the internet to research building a dog yard. There is no other choice. We adopted these characters and one way or another we will make it work. I just never thought owning 12 acres in the rural countryside that I would ever have to fence in my yard. Oh the things we do for our families :)
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