Fighter Pilot v Neighbor's Dog
Lots of major events these past couple weeks. Many of them impacting countries and people worldwide. There are other issues a bit closer to home that could equally impact folks around the globe. For example, what do you do when you’ve got a neighbor whose dog barks relentlessly?
This is the second time I’ve brought up an issue about dogs. Again, I’ve got nothing against dogs. My wife and I have had dogs living with us almost continuously since we were married. We don’t have one now and it’s been kind of nice. What I don't like about dogs though is persistent, uncontrolled barking, whether it’s my dog or my neighbor’s dog, and that’s where the problem lies. My neighbor’s Golden Retriever, nice dog, very friendly, had a hair trigger bark. Bark at passing cars, bark at birds, bark at clouds, bark at me walking around in my own back yard. That’s the thing that irritated me the most. I couldn’t sit out by my own pool and carry on a conversation without that dog’s non-stop barking. And to make matters worse, he was barking at me.
I had talked to my neighbor and he understood. He’d yell at the dog when he was home but since the dog spent almost all it’s time outside, once my neighbor and his wife left for work the uncontrolled barking started up again. So, now with my neighbor away from home, whether I was doing yard work, shooting baskets in the driveway or floating in the pool, that dog was barking at me.If you’ve got a similar problem, maybe you’d like to try the solution I came up with. However, two factors must be present for it to work. You must have plenty of time at home when your neighbors are away. Second, the barking dog must also be a friendly dog. In my situation, both of these were true. With that, all that was needed to put my plan into action was a barking collar.
Don’t go animal rights on me. Barking collars startle a dog not zap it. If you’re barking problem is bad enough it’s well worth the minimal cost and the dog’s slight discomfort. Besides, a friend of mine loaned me his remote controlled barking collar so I wasn’t even out any cash.
Since I’m around a lot during the week, I waited until my neighbor and his wife both left for work. A bit later I’d walk next door, through the neighbors backyard gate, the dog barking at me all the while, greet and pet the dog and humanely put the barking collar securely on his neck. Once back in my yard, at the first woof, I hammered down on the remote; ZAP! (OK, I used the word zap but not in a high voltage, electrocution way but a benevolent, this-is-for-your-own-good way.) Instant gratification. A little yelp and then quiet. I created a little more noise, bark, zap, I yelled “NO,” quiet. More noise, bark, zap, “NO,” quiet. More noise, quiet, woof, zap, “NO,” quiet. You get the idea. Whenever I was outside I carried the remote and used it and yelled “NO” as needed. Around four in the afternoon I went over and retrieved my collar. Next morning, same process. I did this for five straight days, my neighbors are home during the weekend, and because I once read that it takes three weeks to form a habit, at least in humans, I also did it for three straight weeks.I'm pretty sure my neighbor doesn't visit this web site.
This line is pure gold.
Kickass!!