This document covers Mordin's daily routines
- if Mordin pooped:
- wipe his butt
- if Mordin peed or pooped:
- clean up pee and poop (see cleanup instructions)
- remove pee pad (assuming it's dirty)
- prop up pee pad holder
- let him outside (on the balcony) to pee
- feed him:
- I usually feed him anywhere between 11am and 1pm
- put 1 cup kibble into bowl (he uses one bowl throughout each day)
- place bowl on floor in front of his pen
- make him do tricks
- "okay" to let him know he can eat
- if he tries to eat before you've said "okay", tell him to "leave it"
- once he's done, put water in the bowl (maybe 1/4 to 1/3 full, so as to reduce spillage)
- feed him (same as in the morning)
- I usually feed him at 11pm
- use the same bowl as in the morning; empty it of water and do a quick rinse with water (no scrubbing) before filling with 1 cup kibble
- before bed:
- let him outside to pee
- prepare a pee pad on the pee pad holder and lay it flat on the ground in the corner
- give him one vitamin tablet (white bottle with green label, "NuVet Plus", on the A/C unit in the living room)
- close Mordin in his pen (NOT in his crate) so he can walk around a little bit and has access to his pee pad
- allow him to walk around the apartment and play with his toys
- he is not allowed on the couch, bed, and yoga mats (even if it's just a paw)
- he is allowed on the bathmat
- put him in timeout (in his crate) if he's misbehaving or not listening
- leave him there for 5+ minutes. Let him out whenever you want; just make sure he doesn't pee/poop in his crate.
- pee schedule
- if he paws at the balcony door, let him out (to the balcony) immediately
- recently, he's been impatient, so if he paws at the door and you don't respond/let him out within ~30 seconds, he'll start peeing on the floor
- on average, he pees maybe once every 2-4 hours. You can proactively let him out if you need to shower, take a meeting, whatever
- if he paws at the balcony door, let him out (to the balcony) immediately
- if you're leaving the apartment:
- make sure to take him out to the balcony to pee
- you can try telling him "go potty"; this sometimes works, sometimes doesn't
- prepare his pee pad
- prepare a chew toy for him. Your choices are:
- Kong toy: filled with kibble and water, then frozen (probably at least the night before)
- rubber ball: spread with some peanut butter in 4 of the sets of teeth
- make sure the rubber ball is cleaned with soap first
- use the peanut butter on the kitchen counter (it's his peanut butter)
- you can reuse the knife
- leave the chew toy in his crate
- lock him in the pen (use the top two locks on the pen door)
- keep a light on if you might not be back before dark
- make sure to take him out to the balcony to pee
- take him out for a 15-30 minute walk, once a day, whenever you have time
- some days, I'll skip the walk if I'm super busy or if it's raining out
- on these days, I make more of an effort to play fetch with him inside so he gets some exercise
- on the walk:
- he should wear both his harness and his collar
- the harness is to clip his leash to, so you have more control of him without tugging at his neck
- the collar is for identification/licenses
- look out for dog poop and glass, and keep him away
- if you see glass, you can pick him up and hold him until you're past the glass
- if he pees or poops, give him a ton of excited "good boy"s and pets, and give a treat if you have one on you
- Mordin's curious but shy around other dogs; he can greet them, but he doesn't always want to
- if you want, you can take him up/down the stairs in the building
- I do this if the walk is shorter, so he can tire himself out a bit more
- he should wear both his harness and his collar
- after the walk:
- let him inside the apartment (while still on leash), but keep him by the shoerack. Tell him to "sit" and "stay" while you take off your shoes/jacket/whatever, then take off his leash, harness, and collar, complimenting him with "good boy"s for being patient.
- pick him up and put him in the bathtub
- wash his paws (see "Cleaning Mordin's paws")
- take him back out on the balcony in case he needs to pee
- make sure he has water
- some days, I'll skip the walk if I'm super busy or if it's raining out