What time is it?

Does anyone else have dogs that keep a routine; fairly exact routine?  Our dogs, Missy May and Mindy Lou have developed a routine so exact, I can tell what time it is based on what they are doing (or not doing). They have only acquired this daily routine since our oldest dog died two years ago.  They have a warm weather routine and a cold weather routine. This is their cold weather routine. . .

Between 6am and 7am I get up, my dogs will stay in bed and watch me. They wait until I open the bedroom door, then they will jump off and run to the back door to be let out. By time I finish making a pot of coffee the two pups are at the door wanting back in. Less than 10 minutes has passed.

They both go into the study and get up on the recliner. The recliner faces a window that looks out to our front lawn and driveway. They wait here, watching and listening for their Daddy to get home. Once Missy hears his truck she starts barking, once they both see his truck pulling into the driveway, they run to the back door barking, knocking down anyone who might be in the way! It is now 7:30-8:00am.

When Rick opens the back door to hand me his lunch box and keys the pups run out the door to greet him. They stay outside with their dad until he finishes his chores, when all three come inside. It is now 8:00-8:30am.

Missy goes into the study and gets on the ottoman that is in front of the window, Mindy follows but gets back on the recliner, they stay there until I start preparing something to eat for Rick, and they are now at my feet! It’s now 9:30-10:00am.

They beg, hoping their father will share some while he is eating. I feed them their dog food after Rick is done eating; they fully expect all left overs to be given to them. It’s now 10:00-11:00am.

Once they are done eating, they want back out, and will stay out for a longer time to take in all the smells, roll in the snow, and bark at imaginary foes, before wanting back in. Upon entering they will look around and wine because they know their dad should be going to bed after working all night, and they are ready to cuddle and begin their late morning nap. If for some reason Rick hasn’t gone to bed yet, the pups will start without him! It is now 10:45-11:15am.  

I’ll hear their whines and see their noses under the bedroom door wanting me to open the bedroom door for them, at which time they run to the back door yipping and biting at each other to be the first at the door to be let out.  It’s now between 12:30-1:00pm.

The amount of time they spend outside can vary this time, but never more than 20 minutes (when it’s cold out). Once back inside they whine and trot around excitedly in anticipation of a dog biscuit. I no longer have to tell them to sit; they automatically sit when I reach into their biscuit bowl. It is now 12:50-1:20pm.

The next 3-4 hours are spent napping, looking out the window, whining for attention, wanting out, chewing on a bone, napping some more, wanting out again, sitting by the biscuit bowl staring at me then the bowl and back at me until I do what they want, more napping, wanting to be pet, more whining, wanting out again. It’s now 4:00-5:00pm and time for their daddy to get up.

As soon as they hear the bedroom door open they act like they haven’t seen their daddy for days! There is lots of barking, running around, and anxious anticipation to be the first to sit next to their daddy, each pup vying for their daddy’s attention. However Rick has learned that it’s better to stand up and drink his first cup of coffee of the day or he’ll have hot coffee on his lap as well as dogs! Only 5 to 10 minutes has passed by but it can seem much longer!

When Rick starts putting on his boots and coat, the dogs begin to run in a circle – into the dining room. . . entering the living room. . . then back into the kitchen. . . around and around and around, until the back door opens and they exit with their daddy, barking as they depart and run into the back yard. Before Rick leaves for work he fills the wood furnace and checks on Lizzy to make sure she has enough water and hay until the following day. The pups follow him barking, and acting ridiculous. They visit Lizzy and then while Rick loads the furnace they go and troll around the edge of the woods capturing all sights and sounds and smells. They come back in when Rick leaves for work.  It is now 6:00-6:30pm.

The pups pass the remainder of the evening with more napping, looking out the window, whining for attention, wanting out, chewing on a bone, napping some more, sitting by the biscuit bowl staring at me then the bowl and back at me until I do what they want, more napping, wanting to be pet, more whining, and wanting out one last time. Until 9:00-9:30pm at which time Missy will leave the room and go into our bedroom and get up on the bed for the night, but Mindy stays in the living room and gawks at me until I finally get up and go to bed also.  It’s now anywhere between 9:00-10:00pm. 

Now that Rick is home on disability I have no clue what time it is!