Only a Little Barrier

When we first started taking Emme out on the deck at the lake house, we kept her on a leash. We were not sure she would stay on the deck with us without wandering away. The deck is also many feet off the ground and we were afraid that she might go right over the edge. No matter what length leash we used, we created a mess. On a leash, Emme would invariably wrap herself around our chairs, our legs and the table legs. We would chat a few minutes, watch the lake and untangle Emme. Then we would watch the birds, watch boats and untangle Emme. Next we would take a drink, eat some chips and untangle Emme. Clearly we needed a different method.

Rudy has always stayed on the deck without a leash but we were not sure of Emme. No leash, however, had to be better than constantly untangling Emme. She does peek out between the slats of the deck, but she has never fallen off the deck or even come close. She seems to respect the height. We upended one of the picnic table benches to create a barrier to the part of the deck that wraps around the side of the house. It is only about a foot high and Emme can look over it. She doesn't cross the barrier, however. That is all it took to keep Emme where we want her. Another problem solved.