Weeding, the Flu and My Neighbor's Dog
Both Mickey and I have had the flu for about a week. He gave it to me, I'm sure, because he's the one who works with the public. I rarely leave the house since I work from home, so it can't be me. Not that it's important who gave it to who, other than it being good fodder for future fights (trust me, it's always his fault), but it has totally squashed what I wanted to accomplish in the garden this week. Instead, I spent the entire week taking naps in between working and I only cooked dinner 1 out of 6 nights. We both really did and still do feel like crap. I think I feel up to cooking tonight, but I'm going to keep it an easy one--chicken vegetable soup.
The 2 things I did keep up with garden-wise were watering and weeding. I have found that if I take 10-15 minutes every day for weeding, it's all kept up with, the beds look neat and tidy, and I don't feel like it's a chore. I actually look forward to my weeding time - it's turned into my quiet, alone time. This is a good thing. And this is where the neighbor's crazy dog comes in.
This dog interrupts my peace. It's a little squawking, screaming chihuahua! Please don't get me wrong. I love dogs--I've even been known to play with chihuahuas at the dog park. And I certainly have 3 dachschunds who most people probably consider noisy. Heck, I even consider them noisy sometimes, though mothers do have a way of ignoring their own children's failings. But this daggone chihuahua will not shut up. I don't even know what it looks like because there's a 6-foot wooden fence between us. All I know is it doesn't matter what time of day I go out, how long I'm there, if I let my dogs out or not -- this dog is going to be there and going to start screaming at me. He doesn't bark - he screams, long shrieking, taunting screams. I have tried talking to him through the fence, telling him he must be a real cutie to be able to get away with making so much noise. I've tried singing to him. I've tried snapping right back at him. I've tried all sorts of things, including asking his parents to bring him in on occasion. But they won't. And this dog will not shut up.
Anyone have any ideas? Legal and humane, of course.
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5 comments:
I wouldn't recommend one of those electronic anti bark things. It never worked at my old house because the dog was purebred (inbred) and frankly, stupid. Dog never even noticed it. At this house, it only works on one dog, which was the barkingest, but when the other neighbor lets HIS idiot inbred dog out, it never shuts up. So, inbred stupid dogs, I don't think there's anything you CAN do, short of stealing it and rehoming it. Ipod? Call animal control?
This might take a week or so, but...
When you're out with your dogs, click your tongue once loudly and toss a good treat over the fence where you think the dog will find it quickly. Do this a few more times until he's getting the idea that the click sound brings a treat.
Now only make the click sound when he's silent for even a second. Then treat. He takes a breath? Click. Then treat. Repeat repeat repeat. Hold out for a couple seconds more silence ... then click and treat. Then longer, longer, etc.
Of course, the owners might not like you treating him, but it's a nonviolent solution. :)
MAC (found your blog from "In My Kitchen Garden)
MAC - Thanks so much. I can tell you are the owner of disciplined dogs, unlike myself. Mine are spoiled rotten. I will try that trick for the chihuahua backdoor neighbor. It sounds like a good way to attempt training my own, too.
Ha ha ha... As my puppy gnaws on the chair leg...
Really fun book to read: "Reaching the Animal Mind" by Pryor. http://www.reachingtheanimalmind.com/
good luck!
Oops, "Relic" is MAC, sorry. I just don't use it b/c my blog's inactive.
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