Some background:
Josie the miniature schnauzer is now 12 years old, so she's old enough to know the difference between right and wrong.
However, she insists on peeing in the middle of my beautifully tended lawn, which, as a consequence, is now covered in brown patches. I've remonstrated with her a number of times and each time she purports to show a diplay of repentance, that is, she slinks away on her belly with her ears flattened down tightly to her head. She also looks at me soulfully and nuzzles away at my feet hoping to regain my approval. However, she repeatedly re-offends, so much so that I gathered the family around in order to give her a public reproof, whereupon she did howl most piteously to be allowed back into the bosom of the family.
Regrettably, Josie has sinned once again and another brown patch will soon appear as a testament towards her wrongdoings. Obviously her repentance was not genuine, had it have been so there would have been no repetition of her earlier behaviour. I believe that her conduct is indeed bordering on brazen, so I am minded to disfellowship her forthwith.But this is where I am faced with a dilemma:
As Josie is still living at home, what association should I continue to have with her, if any? The WT said that it might even be possible to have none at all. Obviously our tummy-tickling relationship is now at an end as is our throw a ball and bring it back escapades. But what verbal contact should we have between us now? Should it be confined to absolutely essential matters or would a degree of doggerel be in order? And should I put her food bowl outside so that she doesn't join us under the table when the family are eating? Is this what my disfellowshipped dog needs to see? Or maybe I'm just barking up the wrong tree...
Josie the miniature schnauzer is now 12 years old, so she's old enough to know the difference between right and wrong.
However, she insists on peeing in the middle of my beautifully tended lawn, which, as a consequence, is now covered in brown patches. I've remonstrated with her a number of times and each time she purports to show a diplay of repentance, that is, she slinks away on her belly with her ears flattened down tightly to her head. She also looks at me soulfully and nuzzles away at my feet hoping to regain my approval. However, she repeatedly re-offends, so much so that I gathered the family around in order to give her a public reproof, whereupon she did howl most piteously to be allowed back into the bosom of the family.
Regrettably, Josie has sinned once again and another brown patch will soon appear as a testament towards her wrongdoings. Obviously her repentance was not genuine, had it have been so there would have been no repetition of her earlier behaviour. I believe that her conduct is indeed bordering on brazen, so I am minded to disfellowship her forthwith.But this is where I am faced with a dilemma:
As Josie is still living at home, what association should I continue to have with her, if any? The WT said that it might even be possible to have none at all. Obviously our tummy-tickling relationship is now at an end as is our throw a ball and bring it back escapades. But what verbal contact should we have between us now? Should it be confined to absolutely essential matters or would a degree of doggerel be in order? And should I put her food bowl outside so that she doesn't join us under the table when the family are eating? Is this what my disfellowshipped dog needs to see? Or maybe I'm just barking up the wrong tree...