Charlie isn't too bad. He's four months old. During the week, my alarm goes off around 5:15 a.m. so I can have a little coffee before getting the kids up. I put the coffee on and Charlie does his business. Then I get him some breakfast. By then it's time to start waking the kids. He eats and I try to get the kids moving. Two leave at 7 am. He'll usually follow me around while I pick up the kitchen. Then I have another kid that goes out to school a little after 8:00 a.m. Once Sean leaves, I get another coffee and Charlie and I go back to bed. I'll drink my coffee and play on the computer (and occasionally doze off again.) He'll either sleep on the bed beside me or he'll lie down next to my bed or go to his bed. (He sleeps in my room usually in the doggie bed but sometimes in with me. I've never crated him.
He's actually pretty mellow all day while the kids are at school. He does follow me wherever I go. I'm out of work on a medical leave and I'm in a lot of pain, so we don't do much. I talk to him and sometimes he's up on my lap. If I go down cellar to do laundry, he'll wait at the top of the stairs.
When the kids get home, they get him more riled up. They'll play ball with him and he hangs around them most of the rest of the day.
He goes to bed whenever I do. Sometimes it's as early as 8:00 p.m. Sometimes, if he doesn't want to settle down, he'll come beside the bed and bark. He'll usually bark 3 times, and then I pick him up, give him a cuddle, and tell him, "Nope, bed." Then he stays put.
He's a really easygoing dog. He just goes with the flow of whoever he's with. |