43 minutes

The answer-43 minutes...but what is the question, you may ask?  Well that's the time it takes for a sweet little cattle dog to stop barking in her crate.

We have a routine every morning, the girls and I.  Generally, approximately an hour before my alarm clock goes off every morning, Imke, my living, breathing, brown-spotted alarm clock, will wake me up for her morning potty break.  Sometimes Maddie will tag along, but most times she doesn't.  While Imke is outside, I proceed to get breakfast ready for the girls.  As soon as the food hits the dish, Maddie shoots out of bed like a lightning bolt.  I then let Imke in and they proceed to eat while I go back and lie down on the bed.  When their breakfast is finished, they both come climb into bed with me for some morning snuggles and a little nap before the real alarm tells us it's time to get ready for work.

This is how most mornings work...and as we add fosters to the mix, they find their own way to fit into this routine.  But this morning, for one silly little cattle dog, Imke's wake up call meant it was time to get up and play!  

Poor Imke was knocked to the floor as she attempted to get out of bed...and grumpy old lady words were yelled at that silly puppy.  Outside they all went and the girls were thankful for a break when they came in to eat while mom had to chase down said puppy and convince her breakfast was more important than sniffing the grass.  Breakfast time finally completed, we all headed back to the bedroom to rest until it was really time to get up.  But not that silly little cattle dog. 

Imke burrowed herself deep under the covers and got as close to me as she could, while Maddie buried herself inside her cozy cave for protection.  But I think the hiding made someone think this was just a fun game.  And there was much grumbling, and growling, and snarling...and general old lady grumpiness.  So, after 15 minutes of trying to convince a puppy it was time to relax, I had a brilliant idea!  I should put the puppy in the crate so the girls and I could get our quiet time. 

With a cute little puppy trailing behind me, I grabbed a Kong full of yummy peanut buttery goodness out of the freezer and down the stairs to the basement we went.  She followed me right down and ran right into the crate.  Whew, I little peace at last.  But as I crawled into bed next to Imke, it started...the barking. 

I hadn't heard one sound come from this adorable little thing since she got here...until that moment. And boy does she have a voice!  For the next 23 minutes it was non-stop.  But I know better than to fall for that pathetic bark for attention so I just let her go.  Then suddenly there was silence and I rejoiced. and less than 20 seconds later, it started again.  This time it only lasted for 6 minutes and there was nearly an entire minute of silence that followed, but I was wrong to think she was done.  

At this point, I considered just getting out of bed and turning on some music for her...forgetting that probably wouldn't work for a deaf dog.  Then I thought about starting to get ready for work, yes it was early, but I wasn't relaxing.  But I didn't move...and 14 minutes later there was silence again.  I was still out of bed before the alarm and in the shower...and there was silence.  A full 10 minutes of beautiful silence.  After 43 minutes of nearly continuous barking, I thought she was done.  But I guess she decided she still had more to say and the barking once again ensued.  

At this point, I was ready to let her out so that she could run and play and potty before I left for work, but there was still periodic barking so I patiently waited until the right moment.  The quiet came and I ran right downstairs to let her out...and then the smell hit me.  Poop!  One nice little pile that was easy to clean and she hadn't gotten into, thankfully.  And I wondered if all along, she had been trying to tell me something.

So she's gotten her play time, she's gone potty, she's tortured the girls, and she's now quietly resting on the couch.  Just in time for me to have to leave for work.  A good reminder of how much fun it is to have a puppy in your life!  Here's to hoping crate training part two is much more successful...