Getting better!
Well, apparently I've got the handle on this...
Dog issue - strong bark collar. Two barks and it gives him a little charge - doesn't hurt him, just strong enough to correct. I don't like using it, but the sound collar doesn't work. 2 days, and he figured out he can bark over it. We still need practice - he barks at the neighbors as soon as he sees them, but I'm seeing times where he just stops at the fence and watches. Much better. It should take us about 2 weeks to get this completely under control.
Swearing neighbor issue - Apparently he read at least 1/2 my letter. Hasn't sworn at the dogs since which is making my job of training MUCH easier. I do realize that I've got a long way to go with this, and am doing everything I can to fix the problem, but at least he's not egging them on anymore. Though, it would be nice if they'd call me and at least leave me a message when they've got things going on at their house - like the unexpected easter egg hunt Sunday. Their grandkids came noisily running around the front of the house, startled me and the dogs, and of course they barked. I immediately apologized to the kids who obviously were scared, and brought the dogs in until they were gone. Had the neighbors called me and said they were going to do that, I could have taken the dogs to the dog park, wore them out, and they would have been sleeping so the easter egg hunt could have had peace from the beginning. Oh well, can't control crappy neighbors.
Other things I'm working on.... renting a rototiller in 2 weeks to get the flower garden started along that fence. 12 foot tall mammoth sunflowers on the fence itself, smaller ones in front, creating a natural privacy screen. And I've got some seeds from my lilac bush... the people eating, out of control, 20 foot tall lilac bush. I actually asked the gardener once how to get rid of it and he said "nuclear bomb and then there's no guarantee", lol. It's HUGE, and if I put it there (I actually plan to start 3), it will shorten my lawn quite a bit, but then again, 20 feet tall, I won't ever have to look at my neighbor again. AND I can start turning my yard into a very nice garden.
And I've come to a decision too.... I'm REALLY pissed off that instead of talking to me, he THREATENED me. And then has the nerve to keep his junk piled up on the corner of my yard - didn't want HIS yard to be messed up. So, as soon as I have a chance, I'm arranging to extend my fence to the street. I'm not even going to talk to him about it, just move his stuff into his driveway while he's gone, put in the fence and be done. He'll just have to find a new place for his crap. And if he does anything to the fence, I'll press charges for vandalism. But I don't think he will - my X said that if you confront him he'll back down immediately and that's what's happened so far. So I think that will take care of it.
Well, other than that, I'm watching a dog until April 20th while my friends are in Hawaii. An outside boxer that I'm training to be an inside dog, lol. So far, one my blinds have teeth marks where she tried to move it so she could see outside, my carpet has "spots" (man, I HATE my carpet), and she decided that one of my embroidery hoops had to die - pieces everywhere yesterday when I got home from work. But, she's been staying with me for 3 weeks so far, and since that's all that's happened, it's good. She's like a little kid.... pokes at the other dogs to the point that I have to separate them, and then the other dogs come over and pull her ears.... kids, lol.
Well, time for the dog park so I don't have to worry about what else will die, lol. LATER!
Dog issue - strong bark collar. Two barks and it gives him a little charge - doesn't hurt him, just strong enough to correct. I don't like using it, but the sound collar doesn't work. 2 days, and he figured out he can bark over it. We still need practice - he barks at the neighbors as soon as he sees them, but I'm seeing times where he just stops at the fence and watches. Much better. It should take us about 2 weeks to get this completely under control.
Swearing neighbor issue - Apparently he read at least 1/2 my letter. Hasn't sworn at the dogs since which is making my job of training MUCH easier. I do realize that I've got a long way to go with this, and am doing everything I can to fix the problem, but at least he's not egging them on anymore. Though, it would be nice if they'd call me and at least leave me a message when they've got things going on at their house - like the unexpected easter egg hunt Sunday. Their grandkids came noisily running around the front of the house, startled me and the dogs, and of course they barked. I immediately apologized to the kids who obviously were scared, and brought the dogs in until they were gone. Had the neighbors called me and said they were going to do that, I could have taken the dogs to the dog park, wore them out, and they would have been sleeping so the easter egg hunt could have had peace from the beginning. Oh well, can't control crappy neighbors.
Other things I'm working on.... renting a rototiller in 2 weeks to get the flower garden started along that fence. 12 foot tall mammoth sunflowers on the fence itself, smaller ones in front, creating a natural privacy screen. And I've got some seeds from my lilac bush... the people eating, out of control, 20 foot tall lilac bush. I actually asked the gardener once how to get rid of it and he said "nuclear bomb and then there's no guarantee", lol. It's HUGE, and if I put it there (I actually plan to start 3), it will shorten my lawn quite a bit, but then again, 20 feet tall, I won't ever have to look at my neighbor again. AND I can start turning my yard into a very nice garden.
And I've come to a decision too.... I'm REALLY pissed off that instead of talking to me, he THREATENED me. And then has the nerve to keep his junk piled up on the corner of my yard - didn't want HIS yard to be messed up. So, as soon as I have a chance, I'm arranging to extend my fence to the street. I'm not even going to talk to him about it, just move his stuff into his driveway while he's gone, put in the fence and be done. He'll just have to find a new place for his crap. And if he does anything to the fence, I'll press charges for vandalism. But I don't think he will - my X said that if you confront him he'll back down immediately and that's what's happened so far. So I think that will take care of it.
Well, other than that, I'm watching a dog until April 20th while my friends are in Hawaii. An outside boxer that I'm training to be an inside dog, lol. So far, one my blinds have teeth marks where she tried to move it so she could see outside, my carpet has "spots" (man, I HATE my carpet), and she decided that one of my embroidery hoops had to die - pieces everywhere yesterday when I got home from work. But, she's been staying with me for 3 weeks so far, and since that's all that's happened, it's good. She's like a little kid.... pokes at the other dogs to the point that I have to separate them, and then the other dogs come over and pull her ears.... kids, lol.
Well, time for the dog park so I don't have to worry about what else will die, lol. LATER!
Replies
You go girl
out of control, 20 foot tall lilac bush - this actually sounds awesome!
Want to trade a wild 4 yo and 6 yo for a few dogs for a few weeks?! I could definitely use a break and actually the dog situation sounds more relaxing!! lol!
relaxing, LMAO! Having a doggie sleep over this weekend. Got 5 in the house - 5 extremely hyperactive dogs. wrestle until one gets grumpy, then RUNS around the yard as fast as they can go, then wrestle some more, and then just when you think they\'re tired, they come inside and do laps around my hallways (they go in a circle and again, and again....). I LAUGH!!!! Love this!