DEAR EVERYBODY
HI
WE ARE IN TROUBLE TO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. TODAY THE PART MENT MANAGER LADY SAID
SPARKY BARKS TOO MUCH TO BE A PEST AND A BOTHER. PEOPLES COMPLAINED.
I AM NOT A PEST AND A BOTHER! I BARK WHEN I SEE THINGS LIKE PEOPLES AND CATS AND DOGS AND BIRDS.
WE SIT OUTSIDE EVERY DAY TO VISIT IN THE SUNSHINE. THE MANAGER LADY SAID I BARK THE WHOLE TIME WE ARE OUTSIDE. THAT IS NOT TRUE! I BARK A LITTLE BIT. MOMMY SAYS IF I BARK MORE THAN 2 MINUTES I HAVE TO GO HOME. I NEVER BARK A LONG TIME.
THE LADY SAID I BARK WHEN MOMMY IS NOT HOME. MOMMY DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
THE LADY SAID
MAYBE SPARKY NEEDS A SHOCK COLLAR.
MOMMY SAID
THAT IS ABUSIVE. I WILL NOT DO THAT.
SOMETIMES WHEN I BARK MOMMY SAYS HUSH! AND I DO. SOMETIMES I DO NOT.
DO YOU THINK YOU COULD HELP ME TO NOT BARK SO MUCH? DO YOU THINK YOU COULD GO GET THAT COMPLAINER LADY AND TELL TO HER I AM A GOOD DOG? I ONLY BARK A LITTLE BIT.
WE ARE WORRIED AND WORRIED TO NOT LIKE TO BE IN TROUBLE. CAN YOU HELP US?
PLEASE? THANK YOU.
LOVE FROM SPARKY IN THE DOGHOUSE
I think it’s the same people who complained about Sparky last summer. We do sit outside for hours, but he never barks for more than just a couple minutes the whole time. As he told you, if he barks for more than 2 minutes I make him go home, so that he won’t bother anybody. The complainers say he barks for hours at a stretch. That’s absurd.
It doesn’t help that Sparky barked while we were in the manager’s office. Sigh.
Becky, Sparky’s mom
yikes!!! maybe you need a chew bone to keep your mouth busy, or something like that?? we are barkers here in our home too, and well, it’s what you do when you need to make your human aware of probable intruders and squirrels… hope you can find a way to get this manager off of your back!!
charon & spirit gayle
Charon,
Thanks for the idea. I’ll get him some chew bones and see if that helps.
Becky, Sparky’s mom
I’m about the worst dog trainer ever, so no real ideas other than Charon’s of giving a bone or some other treat that would last a while.
I definitely wouldn’t do the shock collar either.
Hang in there and hope the manager doesn’t give you more grief.
Jackie, Angel Abby’s mom
We used a citronella collar on our horrible barking dog several years ago. It doesn’t shock; it sprays citronella upwards so it startles the dog and it’s a strong scent that the dog wants to avoid. I don’t consider it abusive. In fact, it’s what our humane society recommends when people call them about barking problems.
Is there any way Spark can do doggie day care for part of the day? That would keep him busy and wear him out. He’d probably nap for the duration. Is there a neighborhood kid you could pay to take him for a few hours? My son would gladly let Sparky follow him around for hours for very little money because he loves money. It doesn’t have to be an older kid who’d charge a lot. A dog-loving 8-year-old with parental supervision would work.
You might consider trading dog care with someone. You could post in local vets’ offices that you’d like to trade dog care. For instance, Sparky stays with them 5 hours a day (like doggie day care) and you take their dog when they need it (vacations maybe). Then no money changes hands but a lot of help surely does. If I lived near you, I would absolutely go for that. Sparky could stay with me and get worn out, I’d take him home and let him nap, and when I go on vacation I redeem my hours.
Any of those sound doable? The citronella collar is easy to find, if you decide to try it. Oh, I forget to say my humane society actually rents them so people can see if they work before laying out the money for one. Maybe yours does, too.
Shari
Oh yes, the citronella collar is a good idea. I forgot – my sis used one with her dog and it helped!
I’ve never heard of the citronella collar, but it sounds like a good idea. I will see if I can find one for you. Trust me, little one, I have heard you bark!
A citronella collar is on its way to you, Sparky! It’s definitely worth a try.
Hey Sparky. Howsabout asking your mom to put some peanut butter in a kong toy, and then freeze the toy?? Frozen peanut butter should keep you too occupied to bark for quite some time. Or howsabout one of those toys that you can push around, and pieces of kibble fall out for you to eat? And if you’re barking at birds and cats and such, maybe closing your curtains/blinds so you can’t see outside would help?
Listen, I sympathize with you about complainers, because our next door neighbor complained about Bernie Bin Laden. Admittedly, BBL is a barker, but no one likes a complainer!
Good luck to you Sparky. I don’t want you to be in trouble, so I hope all the suggestions you’ve gotten here today can really help you!!
DEAR PEOPLES
OH! YOU ARE SUCH NICE AND NICE PEOPLES! YOU GIVED TO US LOTS OF IDEAS! WE WILL TRY THE IDEAS. THEN WE WILL TELL TO YOU HOW THEY WORK OK?
THANK YOU FROM SPARKY BARKY AND MOMMY
oooh, and another thing that we learned from cometdog…put a little canned dog food in a yogurt container (or other little plastic dish), mix with some water and freeze. these are great treats, keep them hydrated and take for ever to lick, lick, lick (unless sparky is like felony melanie who crunches through the ice in 3 minutes…) – our sam will lick on one of these forever!!!
charon & spirit gayle
Oh Sparky I just saw this, I’m so sorry! Tell that lady what would she rather hear, a barking dog or a crying baby? Me, I’ll take the barking dog ANY day!
We know you’re not a bad dawg.
I agree, the citronella collar might be the trick. You’ll also smell good and it will keep mosquitoes away. Bonus!
Of course, keeping you entertained with lots of treats is helpful too!
I’m sorry you have a crabby neighbor. You want me to go talk to her?