Something's Clicked

Something has recently clicked into place for Emme in the last week. When she needs to go outside, she stands at the door to the porch and whines. She seems to know that this is an actual communication. Actually it can mean "I need to go outside and do my business" or it may mean "I want to go outside and eat snow" but either way she has learned that whining at the door means "Go outside." So, I take off my shoes, put on my boots, check my pockets for tissues in case there are doodles in the plan, put on my red LL Bean coat, snap up the front, flip up the hood, put the collar and leash on Emme, put on my gloves, flip on the outside light if it is dark, go out on the porch, sweep the back steps if we have had more snow, and go outside into the 13 degree weather. Sometimes this is for real business. Sometimes this is just for Emme to push snow around with her nose. Either way, I am glad to do it, because Emme has learned how to ask to go outside. Up to this time, I have taken her out regularly on my schedule and usually when I have her outside, she has done something. Now she is initiating the activity. This is a major break and I couldn't be happier.