House Access

Entering

• Opel is usually in the back area of the house so feel free to park out front and walk along the right side of the house (the side nearest the big bush)
  • The gate should latch pretty easily behind you – Opel doesn’t really bolt out of the gate unless she sees an animal, but just to be sure. 
• Enter door code (sent separately), it will unlock with just the 4 digit code (no need to press anything else)
  • If it is dark and you can’t see the numbers hit the ‘Schlage‘ button on the top center of the keypad and numbers will light up
• If you let Opel out right away she should pee and then continue saying hello (either coming back inside or outside, whatever you prefer)

Leaving

• Feel free to give Opel a treat
• Pull and relatch baby gate (if opened) 
• Move rolling island across hallway (if moved)
  • No need to lock wheels or anything, Opel won’t test it
• Lock any door by pressing “Schlage” button on the keypad once door is closed
  • We can also lock them remotely if there are issues, just sent a text to Ruth or through Rover

Feeding Opel

To the right ➡️ of the fridge is our pantry which has most of her stuff, including food. The light is automatic when you open the door.

Food

• In the silver trash can looking thing on the floor.
  • It has wheels on the back so you’ll want to lift up a little on the handle and slide it out into the middle of the pantry to get it open all the way. 
• The scoop is in the lid of the container and attaches magnetically
• Opel gets 1 mostly level scoop.
  • Usually a scoop and then a small shake to get the excess off is fine. 
• Her food bowl is to the left ⬅️ of the coat rack
• She can get all of the food at once (no need to pace it out).
• Put the food in bowl and then tell her to “sit” and once she does “OK” to let her eat
  • Might take more than one “OK” for her to eat

If you want to give her a treat, feel free to grab one from the black organizer box right above her food container. 

Potty Details

Pee

• She should pee within a couple seconds of being outside 
• She’s fine for a while without peeing but one as you arrive and a final one before you leave is good

Poop

• Typically 2-3 per day, usually after meals (~20-30 min after) and on an afternoon walk if there is a 3rd
• She can poop in the yard but sometimes she needs to be left alone to wander around.
• The most reliable way is to take her around the house on a leash.
  • The blue line on the map below is the best quick poop trip.
    • Out the front to the right and circle back to the alley and in the back gate
  • Purple spots are her favorite poop spots (North side of Thomas or East side of Cuyler)
  • She will pull towards the road and 99% of the time poops between the sidewalk and the road

Poop Bags

• Box of larger bags in the garage (convenient if you’re watching her outside and she poops)
  • Open door with the same code and then are immediately to the left in a green box
• On her purple leash 
• Toss the poop bag in the green trash bin on the other side of the fence by the back fence gate. 

Play Time 

There is a tennis ball and a soccer ball outside that Opel will play fetch with. She knows ‘let go‘ & ‘leave it‘ if she starts to want to play chase with you rather than fetch. She’ll also play tug or small inside fetch sessions with any of the toys inside. Very unlikely that she’ll try this, but we don’t let her take any of her ‘inside’ toys outside and vice versa. 

She is also happy to just hang out and get pets, too. 

Walking

• Her leash (with poop bags) and harness are on the coat rack
  • She also has a neck light on the coat rack if it is dark. Her name patch on the harness is reflective but usually we do the light necklace too
  • There is a mesh bag of reflective armbands that you are free to use as well. 
• Her Harness has the reflective strap across her chest and the buckle strap goes under her tummy behind her front legs.
  • Use the harness for anything longer than just walking around the house (blue line on map)

She will want to say hello to dogs but she can be a little weird with them for the first bit. Usually we just cross the street before the dog, or we move near the road in the parkway have her “sit” and then tell her to “wait” and let the dog pass.

Map for Reference

Quick Poop/Potty walk

Typical walk route

Poop spots