Time Management is for the Dogs

Nothing like dog sitting while their humans are out of the country for three weeks to make you understand the importance & necessity of time management.  Auntie Tish volunteered to care for three Boston Terriers & one Needy Chihuahua.  I knew the gig included five meds for the Congestive Heart Disease/Glaucoma one.  But I’m a Certified Professional Organizer by golly.  I can do this!

You have to employ a serious routine to get four dogs to eat, tee tee & poo in unison.  I raised two Pugs, so I should know.  You don’t want any “accidents” in the house from any said dog displaying his dislike of being left behind by their humans.  And you definitely don’t want any fighting over the food, treaties, toys or your one lap.

For the first two weeks things went relatively well.  Walks were accomplished on a regular basis. Food was scarfed down in record time with minor bickering during food preparation.  Only a few deliberate “accidents” inside early on by the Needy Chihuahua which time-outs squelched.  The five meds were even administered correctly to CHD/G.

The Playful one by now was looking for a moment of peace & the Pouty one was my constant companion wherever I went in the home.  Until….. I noticed something strange in the Playful one’s right eye.

It’s always when you have a routine down, feel you have conquered time, tasks & tedium that life throws you a curve ball.  Reminds me of throwing the ball to the Playful one.  When complacency set in on retrieving the ball, I would throw it in a new direction to throw him off balance.  Now, he just threw me the biggest curve ball ever!

We had to wait through the night before being able to see his vet.  I assured myself it had to be something minor & he wasn’t in pain.  However, the vet immediately set an appointment with a Doggie Ophthalmologist.  There we all were: me, the DO, the Playful one, & his humans on conference call.  Before we uneducated humans understood what was happening, the Playful one became the Emergency Eye Surgery Dog.  A curve ball just six days before the human’s return home thrown into my perfected time management routine.

Now, five eye drops & 2 pill meds later, we have established a revised routine to include the six times each day the different meds must be administered. (Don’t forget CHFD/G with his 5 meds.)

I called in reinforcements to help with medications, belly rubs, feeding & potty time. I set alarms to make sure important medication times were not missed.  And, I doled out additional treats to reinforce positive behavior.  It worked with minor adjustments being made each day….each hour.  I finally have it all perfected.

Their humans arrive home today.

I’m here to help you by disclosing my knowledge of how to organize & be prepared for any situation.  I will show you tips & tricks through posts on the Styled & Organized Living Facebook page, @StyledOrganized on Twitter & the Styled & Organized Living Pinterest page.  Some posts will be simple tools while others will be ideas to consider.   But all will show you how to gain a little more control over your life through organization because Life is Better Organized!