A Quandary

Sunny, slight breeze, 70's for temps, and it is a 3 day weekend. Life doesn't get any better than that. We've been just kicking it today, dad, Georgia and I. Cleaned up the house a bit, and making homemade chicken and noodles and apple crisp for dinner. It's amazing what one can accomplish when they aren't exhausted from working two jobs and going to school! Can't wait for dinner...

So, having trouble with the dog. Cinnamon, my dog, is a two-plus year old chichuhua (probably spelled wrong)/mix. She is neurotically fixated on me. She follows me everywhere and seems unable to pee and poop outside. I've done the whole bit of taking her out into the backyard , showing her where to pee, as Cesar has suggested, and, done everything BUT pee for her, in the yard. She looks at me like I am crazy. We go back in, and after an awkward silence in the house, one of us will happen upon a few little turds on the carpet I don't own and s small spot of pee. Dammit.

We go on walks, and she does NOTHING in terms of pooping and peeing. I just paid the pet deposit and as I wrote that check, wondered if she was worth it? I know, that is a horrible thing to write/read. I am sorry pet lovers! But, good lord! Any advice is greatly appreciated. I am failing her, I am sure. She seems especially happy to be with me, on the couch, in my bed, wherever. She snuggles up to me and is just as happy as a clam. But, then, there is the poop/pee problem...

Dad is getting tired of it. Dad comes from the generation where dogs and cats WORKED for god's sake, on the farm. And, my grandma would never have allowed a cat or dog to live indoors. She would feed their dog cooked oatmeal every morning and the dog lived to be like, 42 or something. That is the story, anyway. And, the cats were forced to keep the mouse population under control in the barn. And, they lived great lives.

But, I live in a townhouse. No barn. I don't have time for cooked oatmeal every morning, for me, or the dog. I just don't know what to do. After dinner, we are going on a walk, and I am going to see how it goes. I just don't know what else to do.

Chicken/noodes and apple crisp await!