Do You Wanna Go Outside?

I don't recall when exactly, but Jenny has developed a new habit.

She loves to go outside and chase the ball, but she still struggles to just be outside by herself when
one or both of us are home. Sandy saw her go out a time or two, but normally she stands by the door and waits for us to join her. Forrest was very good at going through the dog door whenever he pleased and spend 30 minutes or more just laying in the grass. I long for the day Jenny finds that freedom and comfort.

A rare moment of contentment

But now she has this habit. Mind you, she has full access to go outside via the dog door. But what does she do? It starts with some tail wagging and eye contact as she stands where I can see her. It's so obvious she wants to go, but something in her brain says she needs a chaperone. Next, she jumps up on the couch and sits right in front of my face. I start petting her, not letting on that I know exactly what she's doing. I may convince her to lie down next to me, which lasts about two minutes if I'm lucky. A minute or two later, the torture begins. Every few seconds, she presses a paw on my arm, right in the "elbow pit," where it hurts the most. I try more aggressive petting. Sandy calls her over and gives me a 30-second reprieve before Jenny returns to sit very close to me and tap my arm.

I can't take it anymore. As if I suddenly understand her motives, I excitedly ask, "Do you want to go outside?" She attains a new level of excitement, jumping off the couch and "dancing" back and forth, waiting for me to get up and walk out with her. If I delay, she approaches the couch again, threatening a new round of torture for my arm. We head outside and start playing fetch.

Now, you would think after all that effort, she would stay outside quite awhile. But we seldom spend more than five minutes outside. She may relieve herself after the first throw; she may not. I haven't made a firm connection between her tapping and a need for a bathroom break. But she will chase the ball at least twice. Sometimes five or more times before she confidently pushes through the dog door.

We also have yet to resolve what alarm or trigger goes off in her head that leads her to repeat the cycle over again, sometimes three or more times in an evening.

With football season days away, the question is who will break first. Will I miss an amazing play, or will she learn to go out by herself? I anticipate pausing the TV a lot more on Sundays and Monday night, silently conceding the battle.

Maybe we should rent a kid to go outside with her for a few hours each evening. Jenny, I love you, but why won't you go outside by yourself?