Curbing My Enthusiasm

Good evening to all,

I have been trying to tell Dad, when you gotta go, you gotta go! Every now and then on the way to work or even when walking home, I really have to “do my business!” Do you know what I mean? In fact, last week, while walking home, I kept trying to signal Dad that I had to go, but he was not getting the message. Maybe, he's more than just blind!

Finally, I just stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and did my business! Ah-h-h, now I feel better! Boy, you should have seen Dad's face! What a surprised look. He kept saying, "What the heck are you doing?" Of course, for me, I was relieved, so to speak, so now we could make our way home in style.I knew he was a little upset, because he just kept mumbling under his breath, "What was that all about?"

Well, it should have been obvious. I kept pulling to the left to let him know that I had to go potty. Of course, I had never done this before with Dad, so I guess I’m not surprised that he was unaware of what I meant. Dad said, "OK, we will just have to come up with a new plan!" I wonder what he is planning to do?

I overheard Dad talking with Coach Emily on the phone. I believe that was the girl from graduate school who came to visit us a few weeks ago! I heard Dad say, "called what? curbing?” Yes, I wanted to get to the closest curb or patch of grass and do my business. But Dad always wanted to "curb my enthusiasm" to do this!

I could tell that Dad was getting very frustrated with me. Well, what do you expect? I can't just get up and run to the bathroom like he does! I have to get saddled up and taken to a good patch of grass, if I'm lucky!

What’s a dog to do? He wants me to watch out for traffic problems, cross streets, find curbs, cracks, potholes and all this stuff when my mind is preoccupied with having to go potty? I've got rights, haven't I?

Dad came up with a new plan for our morning routine. The original plan we followed was being fed at 6:00 a.m. and then he would take Cuzzie and I for a walk about 7:00 a.m. Now, Dad decided to return to the potty pattern that he was taught at college in San Rafael. After he feeds me at 6:00 a.m., we go for a walk. Oh yes, I really like that. I have been holding it all night!

Then on the way to work, we now go to a new potty spot near the lake and I get to watch the geese while I find a good spot to go. Now, I do not have to stop on the way to work and “curb” Dad!

Moral to this story: Don’t leave home “with it!”

Big licks & belly rubs, Zane