For the last ten months we have tried everything – and I
mean everything to get Zeke to pee on the boat. I won’t get into the nitty gritty. Our friend Steve phoned around St. Augustine
last year to find a “pee stick” – all dogs will use them – can’t resist! Well,
Zeke resisted. We bought real sod in Savannah,
Georgia and it did nothing but make a huge mess on the back of the boat. We
captured urine and made “other” scents on the grass – enough said. We pretended to take him for walks around the
boat and then just happen to end up on the grass. Our pockets full of the best
treats ever just in case he ever used it!! Nothing! He would stare back up at
us as if to say “are you nuts”.
Last night as we were sitting here huddled around our little
space heater we thought – lets move the grass to the front of the boat. Maybe, he
sees the back as still inside the boat because we often sit back there and
generally use it to get on and off. So,
we got the grass all set up at the front and this morning we waited for him to
ask to go out. A lot like waiting for
Christmas morning. All of the sudden we
heard such a clatter ....oh no ....all of the sudden he was a barking fool wanting
out the door – Garth took him to the grass at the front – he walked over it and
around to the side door – Garth called him back pointed to the grass and said ”
Zeke be quick” Zeke let it rip!! YEAH ZEKE!!!! Life just got a lot more
pleasant for all of us considering the lack of marinas from here to Mobile and
then the Gulf crossing.
Now, this new habit may also have something to do with the
fact we are 15 feet above the pavement. When we would take him around the boat
for our faux walks we always had him on the leash for fear he would make a move
to jump up and over - jumping up and
over into water is one thing but up and over to pavement – not a good outcome!
This is turning out to be Zekes week –yesterday he ate a small
package of dog food on top of his regular chicken wing quota, we have a variety
of dog treats in an open container sitting on the floor – for the past two
weeks he would approach the container take a sniff and then keep walking,
yesterday he approached the container, sniffed, and ate five cookies, he also
drove the truck yesterday and today he used the pet grass!! As Frank would say “life is good and boating
is fun”!
