The dog and the table leg

My husband Mike and I got married in 2001. We grew up with dogs and wanted to get our first family pet. But living in an apartment our first year of marriage we knew we would have to wait because no large animals were allowed. When we bought our house in 2002, we decided to wait until the following summer to buy a dog. Finally, in the summer of 2003, we bought our first dog Blitzkrieg, an all black male German shepherd, from a friend.

Blitz is a great dog. I love how he housetrained quickly, would lay on the couch with us and circle around us during dinner hoping for some scraps. We knew Blitz probably wanted another dog to play with, so he wasn't too lonely while we are away at work. This summer Blitz got a sister, Kelly, a black and tan German shepherd that was adopted from the Humane Society.

The first couple of weeks at the house, Blitz ignored her. He didn't want to be in the same room as her. Now, the two go everywhere together and a doggie best friends. Somehow over time, Blitz started to develop a bad habit. He mostly grew up alone at our house and didn't have to defend his territory, now he thinks he does. A couple of months ago, I caught him urinating on one of the dining room table legs. I quickly cleaned it up and disciplined him. Blitz didn't like the I was yelling at him and he growled at me. Nothing new, he loves to growl at me. A week or two later, caught him again doing it on a different leg. I cleaned it up again and disciplined him again. I told Mike what he was up to, so he could also keep an eye on him. Mike finally caught him in the act, yelled and disciplined him.

For a month or so, Blitz scratched on the door when he wanted to go outside, just like before we brought Kelly home. No urinating on the table legs. Last night, I went by the dining room table and noticed that the overhang of the table cloth was wet. I knew the instant I saw it. Blitz struck again. Blitz got in trouble and he and Kelly were forced to sit outside while I cleaned it up. The tablecloth will immediately be washed because I don't want that near food when Mike and I host a Christmas dinner this weekend. I guess if I want Blitz to stop his bad habit, Mike will have to discipline him more often. Blitz always seems to listen to him, without growling too much.