Senior Dilemma's

My days lately have been filled with long hours consisting of work, visiting Jim at the nursing home and keeping up my house.  My days are long and hard on my poor little senior dog who needs to urinate more frequently than every 14 hours. 

I put "belly bands" on him to keep him from peeing all over the floor. 

Well, it's a good idea for a while but after 13-14 hours, still needing to pee, he was wet and laying in his bed that had to be washed also.  So my next idea was to put "potty pads" down.  Those are used to train puppies so I thought "what better idea! It will give him a place designated just for him and I can just pick them up and throw them away".  Again, great idea but my Archie liked the carpet in front of the bathroom better. 

So a gate!!! Well one big enough to stretch across the area I needed, whew, they were costly.  I didn't want something tall so I couldn't step over it.  I don't have to worry about Archie, he can't jump over anything.  So I beckoned to my "creative" self .  It took some thought but as I wandered through Walmart in the home section I saw it!  A small window screen!!!!!!!!!! 

Perfect height but now how do I make it long enough?

Buy 2 and hinge them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am soooooooo my fathers daughter.  My daddy was the "jury-rig" expert!  My kids would always say "Give it to Grandpa, he can fix it".  

I definitely would have earned his praise with this project. 

Now remember, my senior poochie is a boy, and boys lift their leg and try to squirt as far as possible. Therefore after a couple of trial days with some misses, I learned to center the pads under the gate so when he lifts his leg the carpet is also covered.  

It's not the best solution but it saves his bladder from bursting and releases me from the guilt of leaving him for such long periods.