I can't track the exact time that Bela's new reserve habit kicked in. I only know that I do not have peace with it.
When we first got her, I recall leaving the house, watching her rather purposefully trot to a spot and let it all out. She'd settle into her squat and take care of business.
Now, when we exit the house, she has a sniff around, finds an appropriate spot, squats...and then....sprinkles the ground. Just a sprinkle.
The amount released is not related to how badly she has to go or how much she has in the bladder. It is a procedure, a careful calculationing, an estimation.
'Let's see...if I need roughly an ounce a block up (for the spot where that damned St. Bernard continually pees), and then about 1/2 an ounce 2 blocks west (for that annoying Chihuahua)...and then approximately 2 more ounces for the remainder of this walk (if it is to be sufficiently long)..then right now...I'll need to...let out...eh...yeah...about 3/4 of an ounce.'
She hovers momentarily and then pops right back up.
(She does occasionally miscalculate and end up in a hover, bladder nothing left to give. I always project embarrassment onto her in these situations, but I'm pretty sure she feels nothing like that.)
I do find the new behavior humorous - but frustrating all the same. Because I never know - when we're heading in...if she has actually emptied herself.
If she only encountered 2 of the 5 sweet spots her body required, then she saved the rest for a rainy day.
There is nothing to be done, however.
So before I leave, I go to the bathroom. I, myself, do not hold onto a thing -- for public restrooms do not abound for me, as they do for her.
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