Good dog, Bad Human

Before Kodie came to live with me full-time, I couldn't leave her alone in my apartment without her completely flipping out and wreaking havoc.

At her previous home, she was sometimes kenneled because the two big dogs fought so much.

Naturally, I assumed the solution to her separation problems at my house was to put her in a kennel until she got used to her new surroundings.

Seemed perfectly reasonable to me.

I was on vacation that week, so I had the flexibility to ease her into the new apartment arrangement.

The first time I left her in the kennel, I was gone for about 30 or 40 minutes.

She did fine.

The next time, I was gone for three hours.

She did fine.

Then I left her for four or five hours.

She did not do fine.

She barked constantly, much to the displeasure of the business downstairs.

I tried several things to discourage the barking.

Nothing worked.

And when I went back to work, things got worse.

Day Two: The Great Escape

Kodie decided to take matters into her own paws.

She Houdini-ed herself right out of the kennel!

I must not have secured both latches because, when I returned home, she was loose in the apartment, with a belly full of cat food.

When I returned home from work, there she was, roaming freely around the apartment with a belly full of cat food.

That was her only offense.

Not bad, considering she'd had the entire day to redecorate.

Day Three: The Cat Food Caper

I decided to try leaving her loose in the living room.

I blocked the doorway with a large picture and a chair, a makeshift barrier that had always contained her when she was younger.

When I got home, Kodie greeted me at the door.

The cat food bowl was empty.

Fortunately, I'd only put a small handful of food in it that morning.

Apparently, the picture-and-chair security system was no longer adequate.

Day Four: Repeat Offender

Same story.

Kodie blew right through the barrier.

This time, she helped herself to an empty treat container from the table and swiped a candy wrapper from the trash.

Clearly, I was going to have to step up my game.

Day Five: A Breakthrough

I bought a baby gate.

And it worked!

Kodie happily stayed loose in the living room while I was at work.

No more cat food thefts.

No more rummaging through the trash, provided I remembered to keep the lids tightly closed.

And no more incessant barking.

Well, maybe a little barking while she was roughhousing with her toys.

But after all, a girl has to entertain herself!

So what's the moral of the story?

Good dog, bad human.

I'd spent all that time trying to convince Kodie that she needed to stay in the kennel.

Meanwhile, she was apparently trying to convince me that she didn't.

And along the way, she taught me a few useful household rules: don't leave food lying around, and make sure the trash can lids are securely fastened.

Both excellent ideas, even without a dog.

Tonight, I finally took down the kennel.

Kodie seemed a little confused at first, until I rearranged her bedding into a kennel-less bed.

Now I think she just plain likes it.

Turns out, the dog knew what she was doing all along.