The post immediately below this one mentions the fun time the Presto Dog pack experienced on our recent trip to our soo-to-be new den.

It turn out that not all our dogs really appreciated the new environment.

Dougie, our two year old tri-color Collie, doesn't like car rides. So, we're forced to have him take a little something before we embark on a journey so we can preserve somewhat of a semblence of order in our van. Since he's been known to get car sick, you can imagine the havoc he'd wreak upon all if we went on an hour plus car ride if he wasn't "prepared."

However, the side effects of a car ride were really nothing compared to the agitation the poor guy felt when we actually arrived at the new Presto Dog Phunny Pharm...

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When we pulled up to the house, everyone (dogs included) hopped out of the van and went into the house. Dogs ran from room to room, inspecting their new den and making sure it was acceptable to their demanding tastes as their human couterparts (me & the bride!) lugged food, tools and dog crates into the house. Dougie wasn't as excited as the other dogs; in fact, he was a wee bit nervous. We attributed his behavior to a new area...he was no longer surround by the smells and comforts of the familiar home he's growing up in.

His discomforture seemed to abate during the day, but at night when we went to bed, he was nervous once again. Since it was our first night in the new home, we decided we wouldn't "crate" him and rather would give him the run of the house. This, in retrospect, proved to be an unwise decision.

He was pacing all around, from room to room, and was never able to really settle down for the night. A few times I awoke and heard him walking around out in the living room and into the kitchen. He apparently took it upon himself to be the pack's guardian for the night, keeping watch to make sure no one or thing entered our premises while we were sleeping.

The next day when we eventually went back to our soon-to-be-sold old home, Dougie gravitated to his crate and slept like a log, evidentaly making up for all the lost hours from the night before.

I really don't have the heart to inform him that we'll be making the exact same trip this coming weekend as we need to continue preparing our new home for our move-in date in less than about two months. However, this weekend we're going to confine him to his crate when we retire for the evening; he'll be sleeping next to my bride in his small housing complex just like he does every night. Hopefully these arrangements will permit him to sleep through the night.