Daggy

I have dags.

They flap round my bum and annoy me.

Dags, of course, being my patented Dogs Affirmative Guidance Sacks.

I had had enough of Panzer. She was running rampant.

Messing everywhere, making my floors into a minefield. Chewing things she shouldn't. And, far far worse, jumping up and snapping at the children. They were terrified. 

I had two little girls who would cry whenever she came near, yesterday Peanut wet her pants because she didn't want to leave the safety of the couch to run to the toilet, and Bug was constantly being pushed over and dominated. I blocked off the playroom as a Panzer-free safe zone, but it didn't solve the basic problem. 

Pan was a menace, and it had to stop. 

Of course, none of this was actually Panzer's fault. She needed guidance and leadership, and someone to teach her how to behave. Ideally Mr Accident would do the training (she is his puppy, after all) but he is away again, so it's all up to me. 

I gave myself a pep-talk while I was putting Bug down for her midday sleep (ok, in the interest of full disclosure, there may have been slightly less pep and slightly more self-pitying sobbing, but the outcome was the same.) Something had to change, and clearly, since the dog wasn't leaving, that something had to be me. 

While the girls were napping, I dug into my fabric off cuts and made up two little sacks.

They are just basic square bags with enough elastic around the top to hold the treats in but still allow me quick one-handed access. I filled them with the dogs' normal dinner biscuits. I had to make two so Archie wouldn't feel left out, he can't eat Pan's food because of his pancreatitis.

Then I just stitched a ribbon onto the hem so I could attach them to a carabiner...

...and hang them off my belt loops or my apron ties.

Voila! DAGS! 

And yes, they do look very daggy indeed, but they are not as bad as owning a feral dog.

Since I started using them at about 3pm yesterday, I have had two incredibly attentive dogs, Pan had only messed inside twice (while the girls were in the bath and getting put to bed - not much I could do!) and best of all... *drumroll please*... she has stopped jumping on the kids, because when she sits as they come near her, she gets a reward. WIN!

HUGE thanks to everyone who gave me advice and encouragement in yesterday's post. I needed it! You are all my village.