- Joined
- Mar 14, 2016
- Messages
- 4,428
- Purraise
- 2,542
Once again, sorry for the delay. I had some issues here today."Today, I'm thinking about opening the bathroom door to let Indy out. I'll make sure Duncan is safely put in the bedroom first, door closed." - So as long as Duncan feels like it is positive. That he doesn't feel like he is being "constrained" into a smaller territory. That he is not having territory taken away. So if he is sleeping and not aware the door is closed that would be fine."
-Good point. I'll put Duncan in the bedroom a little earlier so that he'll be asleep by the time I let Indy out.
"The other place that Duncan loves to be is in the sun room, but I can't close the doors there, since this is where I work, too." - I am a little confused? If you are cleaning in the bathroom you couldn't just close the door to the sunroom when Duncan is in there? Are you afraid he might harm the computer or work papers?"
-Sorry for the confusion. The point I was trying to make is that i'll be trying to keep Duncan's favorite spaces relatively "Indy-free" for right now, which is also why I thought I would zip the carrier door shut. Duncan sleeps in there all the time. For the sun room, this is Duncan's other favorite room. I was thinking that I might need to close it off to Indy, while he's out racing around the house, so his scent wouldn't be on everything and Duncan wouldn't think he was losing his favorite places. No? (Duncan will be in the bedroom with the door closed, hopefully sleeping. The sun room doors are glass french doors, so I wouldn't leave Duncan in here. They would be able to see each other.)
I probably wouldn't be letting Indy out quite so early, but yeah - the cleaning...it has to be done. It's amazing I've gone this long in this situation without losing my mind. Plus, my bathroom just isn't very big. I play with Indy in there all the time. He LOVES the fishing pole toys, but there's only so much room to flip and flop around, so I want to give him a little space for a bit. He really wouldn't be out all that long, maybe an hour or so. My house is clean, so I will just be touching it up. And yes - I'll be playing with Indy, too. I don't think he'll be difficult to get back in the bathroom. My house is all of 895 sq on the main floor, and the only other spaces are an attic and basement, which are both closed off. You add the sun room and bedroom being closed, there aren't too many other places for him to go - the kitchen, dining room, his bathroom, and the living room.
I'll let you know how it goes!
"Good point. I'll put Duncan in the bedroom a little earlier so that he'll be asleep by the time I let Indy out." - Excellent.
"Sorry for the confusion. The point I was trying to make is that i'll be trying to keep Duncan's favorite spaces relatively "Indy-free" for right now" - Understandable.
"which is also why I thought I would zip the carrier door shut. Duncan sleeps in there all the time." - I was just worried about the change (the zip being closed) which could cause some unease.
"For the sun room, this is Duncan's other favorite room. I was thinking that I might need to close it off to Indy, while he's out racing around the house, so his scent wouldn't be on everything and Duncan wouldn't think he was losing his favorite places. No? (Duncan will be in the bedroom with the door closed, hopefully sleeping. The sun room doors are glass french doors, so I wouldn't leave Duncan in here. They would be able to see each other.)" - Ok, makes sense. Good thinking.
"I probably wouldn't be letting Indy out quite so early, but yeah - the cleaning...it has to be done. It's amazing I've gone this long in this situation without losing my mind." - Oh I know exactly what you are feeling. Good job for handling it so well though!!
"Plus, my bathroom just isn't very big. I play with Indy in there all the time. He LOVES the fishing pole toys, but there's only so much room to flip and flop around, so I want to give him a little space for a bit." - Totally understandable. Since it hasn't been long I am not worried about it but I know what you mean, you want him to have a little more fun. Indy will be fine, I am most focused on Duncan.
"He really wouldn't be out all that long, maybe an hour or so." - That is fine. Good amount of time.
"My house is clean, so I will just be touching it up." - good
" And yes - I'll be playing with Indy, too." - Great.
"I don't think he'll be difficult to get back in the bathroom." - Fingers crossed. They can be little devils.
"My house is all of 895 sq on the main floor, and the only other spaces are an attic and basement, which are both closed off. You add the sun room and bedroom being closed, there aren't too many other places for him to go - the kitchen, dining room, his bathroom, and the living room." - Good. I am thinking more under couches, tight tables, etc.
And now what happened............
"I let Indy out for about an hour. I put Duncan in my room with his food, and it was super cozy in there. I don't think HE thought that because he knew something was going on. Nonetheless, that's where he was while Indy was out." How did he do? Duncan? Yeah, he I am not surprised he knew. :/
"I opened the bathroom door, and Indy walked to the edge of the bathroom and hallway and looked both ways. lol But from that moment on, he confidently strutted around the house, checking everything out. He was quite taken with the handsome boy he saw in the dishwasher reflection. " - GREAT!!! Hahahaha, I am sure he enjoyed seeing himself!!!
"Every time I would walk back into the bathroom to do something, he'd follow right behind. As you can imagine, this made it quite easy to get him back in there the last time. " - Very interesting and good!!! His body language stayed positive?
"After getting the bathroom all cleaned and put back together, I came out and sat on the couch. He quickly followed, hopping into my lap and finally sprawling out on the couch next to me. We played with his fishing pole toy for a few minutes, and then I put him back in the bathroom." Awwwww, AWESOME!!!! Wow, doesn't get better than that?!?!?!?!?!
"I released Duncan, and he came out with no issues. He did walk by the bathroom at one point and let out a couple long hisses. Soon after, I sat down there with him and gave them a treat. Duncan walked away right after, though. He wanted no part of the little rugrat." - How was his body language? Walking tall? Tail good? Good job on sitting down with him and giving a treat. I actually LOVE that he then walked away. It was like "whatever" - no issues.
"As of right now, about 15 minutes after letting Duncan back out, he's walking around the house, inspecting things. He came right over when I called him and rubbed against my hand. Now, he's crawling into his carrier." - Wow, sounds like he handled it REALLY WELL!!! Great!!
"Note: I did close the doors to the sun room and zipped shut the carrier, so Indy couldn't get into either of those." - Great!!
" All in all, I'd say it was a really positive experience for both of them. " - Hahahahaha, ummmmmm, THAT is an understatement. It went extremely well!!! GREAT job to you, Duncan AND Indy!!!
Keep up the great work!!!