The "Oh, no!" Dance

Yesterday, I took a group of students to compete in a city several hours away, which meant I was up before 3:30 am and not in bed until 10 pm. The point of this information is to explain why I slept in this morning. I didn't even hear Radar whine at 5:30, though I did sort of register my husband coming back to bed a few minutes later. The three of us slept for a few more hours, until my husband got up a quarter after 8, and Radar and I got up a half hour later. We usually try to feed Radar at the same times everyday, 6 am and 6 pm, but that didn't happen this morning. He ate at almost 9, and didn't seem to mind. His walk was also delayed, as no one was dressed or inclined to get dressed soon, in part perhaps due to the overcast, rainy atmosphere outside.

However, around 9:30, Radar whimpered! It was his specially reserved, 5:30 am, "I have to go out!" keen. I've never heard him use that sound during the day. Not only that, I am not joking, he did a poo dance, reminiscent of a potty dance a small child might employ. He looked desperate and circled, keeping his body low to the ground. His hips looked funny. I don't think I've mentioned this, but we do not have a fenced backyard, so anytime Radar has to go out, he goes out on a leash. Needless to say, we both jumped into action. I grabbed his leash and jammed my feet into my snow boots, waiting conveniently by the door, and my husband brought me my parka, complete with poo bag in the pocket. We made it to the end of the driveway and a little ways down the sidewalk in front of the house before he found the grass patch he wanted. From there, I thought, why not continue the walk? Thankfully, I did not meet anyone, as I was still in my flannel jammies, and my long hair hadn't seen a comb yet. I don't count all the people driving by, probably on their way to church.