Positive Reinforcement | Desensitization

We were walking the doggies tonight around town. They both pooped by the sidewalk, as dogs are wont to do. Maxwell has this odd habit of going twice on his evening constitutional, so it was no surprise when he went #2 number two after about half an hour. What was a surprise was the following:

Me: (picks up poop with a grocery bag)
Stranger: God bless you for keeping this city clean!
Me: Thank you.
Stranger: And one more thing: You're awesome!
Me: Thank you. Have a great night.

Now that is immediate, positive reinforcement. It reminds me of this video I saw once about recycling.

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It has also come to my attention that a certain little dog has a big problem.

It was quite warm last night, compared to the weather we've been used to, so we ran the A/C in the bedroom. Maxwell began to whine very shortly after we turned it on, so I took the dogs out for another pee. (Hi neighbor. Why yes, I am outside in the drizzle after midnight in my PJs...) Came back in, back to bed, lights out. Great!

Then he began to cry again.

Got up, took dogs out, this time across the street. Sadie just sniffed around. Maxwell pooped. Ah ha! Problem solved. Came back in, back to bed, lights out.

Maxwell began crying and scratching at the door.

It's now nearly 1 AM, The alarm is going off in about 6 hours, and mommy is CRANKY. I dog-proofed the rest of the apartment and went back to bed, leaving the bedroom door ajar. Maxwell appears to have slept in the living room, as he wasn't with us when I woke up several times in the night worried about him.

When the alarm went off he became brave enough to lick my foot, which was conveniently hanging off the bed. I dozed a few minutes, and awoke to him watching me, laying with just his nose in the bedroom. He came over for reassurance when I dropped my hand next to the bed.

So his dinner tonight was in the bedroom, with the A/C unit on low, trying to just stay calm enough to eat. String cheese bits to start, then working our way into the kibble. He'll lie on his bed and eat, but not go near the A/C unit on the other side of the room.

This will have to be worked on a lot before summer kicks in.