My dogs are stupid, I think I have mentioned that a few times. They are both lovable and cute but seriously lacking in intelligence. They also bark. In our old house we were on the corner lot. This gave the dogs plenty of opportunity to bark and everyone walking by. I had a neighbor who did not like to hear the dogs bark. I don’t blame her but most of the time it wasn’t my dogs barking. Yeah right. She would call or stop by and complain about the dogs. It didn’t help that her son was the child on the block who was the tattletale. All the other kids either stayed away from him or picked on him. She often complained about my son along with the dogs. Every block has one of these people.
Because I did not want her calling me or coming over I would become very nervous when I let the dogs out. I would hurry them in as soon as possible. I felt bad for the dogs since they wanted to be outside so I got in the habit of shaking the dog treats box at the door and they would come running. I realize the dogs have me trained. And I have tried other methods that are somewhat torurous but they didn’t seem to work. I tried a barking collar, a shock collar, that shocked the bassador every time he barked. It had no effect on him at all. He didn’t flinch. I know it worked because my son tried it on his friend. He flinched. A lot.
Anyway, when I moved to this house I was worried the dogs would bark and piss off my neighbors. Both neighbors on either side have a dog and they both bark occasionally. Both neighbors have told me they are not the least bit upset about the occasional barking and we all tell each others dogs to shut up. The feeling is in this neighborhood that if the dogs bark occasionally none of us are in danger of being robbed or burglarized. I have really cool neighbors. I still shake the treat box to get them in however. Habit I guess. I do make them do the only trick they know to receive the treats. They can both sit. Nothing else but sit.
I shook the box and the little one came in immediately, she always comes in when I call her it’s the other one that doesn’t. The little one is a cocker spaniel. I thought these dogs were supposed to be good hunting/flushing kinds of dogs. All dogs are supposed to have a great sense of smell, though neither one of them seem to be aware of the stench they make, I threw the treat for the cocker and then let the other one in and gave him a treat. Meanwhile the cocker is searching for her treat, she can’t find it even though it is literally right in front of her. Evidently they aren’t so good at seeing things on an oriental rug.
This hits home this am. While I live out in (sigh) farm land, when the 3 of ours start I want to get ear muffs. They “play” and nothing seems to get them to lower the volume. Bribery of any kind is met with looks of “you got ta be kidding mom”. Then the defiant looks and barks start. I can be frequently heard walking around my house saying “ya stupid dog” like the old man (but a female version) in that dog cartoon.
But still you love them no matter what. Even if they would help the burglar by holding the flash light.
I mutter just as you.
Our neighbor’s dog barks at us a lot. We’re the first choice to let the dog out when they go out of town, so it’s not as if Rex doesn’t recognize us. I have to have conversations with the dog on a regular basis to try to convince him that his freedom of speech rights don’t really include shouting at me so rudely.
your neighbor’s dog must be related to mine. They do the same thing. I never see a light bulb above his head just the bubble with the word DUH in it all the time.
I’ll put my dog up against any other dog for being the stupidest!!! I have a West highland terrier.. Westie.. and I have met at least 6 other people who have the same kind of dog and the first thing out of both our mouths at the same time is how incredible stupid they are… Mine is 15 years old and he still doesn’t remember why he wanted outside so badly a few minutes ago. I could keep in inside until his back teeth were floating.. but as soon as he gets outside.. suddently.. he doesn’t have to go anymore.. he snifs around for at least 10 minutes…going in constant circles.. looking for where he just went cause it must smell so good.. and then if you don’t watch him, he will eat what he just did.. he likes a little snack before coming back in.. ya know.. stupid idiot dog!!! I have had mutts most of my life when I was young and they were smart, so I’m not a dog hater.. just this one must have been dropped on his head when he was born… but he’ll probably outlive me.. One thing.. he does get better as he gets older.. he can’t hear so good and is a bit blind.. so now at least he doesn’t bark at everything he hears or sees.. ah.. cause he can’t.. hear or see.. he just lies there like a slug.. good dog!!!
Dogs and humans certainly have differing sensibilties as to what smells pleasing.
My dog was outraged whenever I would give her a bath. As soon as she was released, she was like a bullet aimed directly at the nearest fresh turd or dead animal for a vigorous roll.
Must…eliminate…the smell…of soap!
Daisy, the long-legged beagle, doesn’t bark–much. She doesn’t bark at other dogs or any other critter that may pass by (including a red fox). She will bark, or sometimes even bay, if she’s outside on her trolley-cable thingy & I wander across the alley to visit a neighbor. She’ll stop only if I return, or if I grab the leash so she might just socialize too.