Routines and Reactions

I am a creature of habit. It has been hard to readjust my daily routine since we got the new dog. The new dog is not quite potty-trained, even though he is ten months old, and the previous owner had reassured me that he was potty-trained. It is taking awhile to get some new routines established.

When we just had the one dog to take care of, she has a bladder of steel and could wait until whenever to go outside. Not so with the new dog. To train him, he needs to go out every two hours or so. If I were home all day, I'm sure I could accomplish a miracle, because I would watch him constantly. But I'm not at home all day. I think the poor creature is confused.

I have been feeling very anxious lately, trying to get the dog integrated into our household. For the most part, it's been going okay, but I feel like I'm the only one trying to do anything. No one seems to take me seriously half the time. I guess I anticipated nothing more than dominance issues between the two dogs, because I assumed the new dog was potty-trained.

Which brings me to my next point: reactions. I notice I am much more anxious than I ever have been, but I realized today that I choose to react that way. I need to turn on the patience, rather than the annoyance. I have been getting majorly annoyed at all the little things lately. This morning, I found myself getting infuriated at everything. However, I managed to hold my tongue instead of lash out, and even laughed. (It was either laugh or cry.)

I know things will get easier as the new dog settles in and learns, but it has been quite an adjustment. We're all on edge. I need to dig deep to find that well of patience, because I am not a very patient person by nature.

TGIF!!!!!!!