An older dog, particularly with health issues, is a special case. Frankly, when my last Guide Dog was dying, I didn't care where he went to the bathroom as long as he was comfortable. One of his last pleasures was laying down on the concrete back patio after it had been well warmed by the sun. In October (2004) his back legs were pretty much shot and we had one of our last truly warm days. I sat out on the porch with his head in my lap for hours, stroking his body, and letting him feel the sun. Several weeks later his balance was completely gone again and this time the vet recommended we put him down. Again, with his head in my lap, we said "Good-bye." Dogs are psychological and emotional beings and they do "feel" shame. Old dogs can learn new tricks, but learning new potty behaviors is the trickiest trick of all. It is difficult because where to go potty is something that is best learned as a pup or young dog. So, you can teach an older dog to do something new in terms of their work, play or service, but just as with humans, the potty thing is something the "pack" teaches at a very early age. It can throw dogs for a loop to try and reinforce a new behavior. ButÂif an old dog's health is reasonably good, and if an owner can work with the dog and wait out his bladder, then a well-affirmed production of output on the new surface will put even an old dog well on the way to a new potty behavior. I am very sorry to hear about what happened to your dog, Kelly, but it is still true that in most situations training a dog to go on a hard surface is best for the dog. Teaching an old dog what to do in unusual circumstances, for a short term situation, is a special case. Dogs, like people, have geriatric problems that go far beyond potty surfaces--dementia, depression, anxiety about being away from familiar surroundings, not to mention specific physiological conditions. The OP is the only one who can truly assess all the factors with his dogs in mind. My offering was simply to assert that dogs can and do differentiate surfaces with a high degree of sophistication and inteligence. Wellspring, whose current Guide Dog sometimes has her own ideas about where to goÂ

I agree, I think we need more pictures of Ricky, he's adorable and I love that "mask" he wears. Super Ricky, in disguise, LOL. I'd play the hokey pokey with him any time and let him win. Wait. Does anyone actually WIN at hokey pokey? Annie

Bumble, you might be my DD's biological mom LOL. Her (self imposed) goal this summer is to cook more "real meals." She already bakes a lot, with some supervision, and makes pancakes independently. Her real obsession these days is duct tape. She has made a variety of wallets, purses, etc. She usually makes at least one a day. She has probably 25 rolls of various colors and patterns at the moment. I honestly don't think I could make one of those wallets myself, and I'm fairly crafty...or used to be! She has her own glue gun. Tish, like you say, she's not a great speller or much of a reader but she can read complicated directions or a recipe and figure it out no problem, so she's all set!

I just found your blog while doing my initial research on pool builder (found it in your Yelp review). I loved reading about your experience and seeing the pics along the way! Thank you so much for the wonderful insight. I have to say that your pool installation has made me so excited to pull the trigger on our own, and now when I need a break at work, I go to your blog -- my new "Happy Place".