Today, success.  Ami is an outdoor dog except at night when he goes into an outbuilding to sleep.  He has 2 dog houses, one plastic purchased with a thick layer of pine flakes (he loves the pine needles under the pines where he has his trolley and alternate tethers).  And the Dog Mahal that we built with a 10 inch layer of nice, dry, fluffy straw.  He has been driving me bonkers - the only time he used the dog house was when it went to 8 below and winds 26 gusting to 39!  Or when I climbed in and fed him treats.  I've been tearing my hair out, not leaving the property, kvetching at my husband -"stupid dog does not know enough to come in out of the rain!"  So, I made a wind break for him next to his favorite oak tree with a quarter-fold king size satin comforter and 2 old, ratty but very thick wool sweaters (do dogs have a blankie?  this one seems to..) and some pallets.  Maybe I should have held out for him to use the dog house but I couldn't stand seeing him on the cold ground  .  That still didn't keep the rain off of him, so then I have to take him into the shop, dry him off, wash and dry his comforter (husband says he didn't know our laundry was going to increase 10 fold)

So, today it is light rain and 45° - and I can't see him.  Binoculars (I am very nearsighted) and VOILA! He is ensconced in the Dog Mahal!

He does know how to get me going, though.  He has learned to fake being caught in the brush just at the edge of his trolley.  I'll come out to untangle him and when I get within 20', he'll come bounding out to play...

<a href="https://servimg.com/view/18686107/2" target="_blank" ><img src="https://i.servimg.com/u/f58/18/68/61/07/th/prince11.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosted by servimg.com" /></a>

ok - so how do I get the picture to show -i followed the directions, exactly, I think

Looking good. Right click on image where you have it posted, click "view image", highlight and copy that URL, then insert it with the "insert an image" button in your post.

Huh...right click does not get me show image either in the post or in the edit post...I'm using chrome.

So, thank you for making my picture show up. I'll figure it out somehow. Is time for the big boy's walk.

is there a reason he is an out side dog?

Yes - besides exercising me, his primary purpose is to keep deer, rabbits, woodchucks, voles and feral cats away. Also, husband is allergic - I even keep my dog clothes in a separate closet or directly in the washer. He's also company for me as I do all my outdoor chores (of which there are plenty, this is a rural property.) I just hope he doesn't take a liking to honey - I keep bees.

And I do not know how this ended up in the nutrition section - I'm new to posting on a forum.