You know how sometimes someone says something to you that you can’t respond to and you stew about it all night? That’s me tonight.
Shane is at his monthly poker night so it’s just me, Beau, Rowdy, and Sami holding down the fort. Whenever Shane is out at night the dogs get antsy, a little more nervous, and a lot more annoying. I do enjoy these nights “alone” but dread being alone with the dogs because of their change in character, even though I know they are just on guard duty. Anyway, while giving Beau a bath in our bathroom I realize that the dogs are barking more than usual (they aren’t the type of dogs to bark incessantly nor do they bark when other dogs bark) so I shush them from the window and call them inside…only to have the lady who is visiting the neighbors yell up toward the window “Can you do something about them? Whenever I come out here they bark at me.” So, I get Beau out of the bath, wrap his soapy self into a towel, trudge downstairs, drag the noisy ones inside (not easy when one noisy one is 150 pounds), close the dog door, head back upstairs, plop Beau back into the bath, and continue my night.
Now I can’t get this lady out of my mind and of course I can’t go next door and explain to her about dogs. What I’d like to tell her is that when she yells over the 8′ block wall to the dogs to be quite they will bark back because they are getting a reaction from her. Ignore the dogs and they’ll ignore you. The funny thing is that the people with whom she is staying spend the mornings in their hot tub or just hanging out in their backyard and the dogs don’t bark at them. Even though I’m a dog owner I completely understand how annoying dogs can be to others. We don’t want to hear dogs bark and bark any more than anyone else does.
Honestly, I’m not frustrated at this mystery lady for wanting the dogs to stop barking at her, I’m frustrated at her approach. If she would have actually come to the front door and told me how she felt, I wouldn’t be stewing about it all evening But, the way she yelled from the yard next door, into my master bedroom window, upstairs, felt invasive. If you’re going to complain to me, complain to my face.
Gee, there I go again making a short story long! Thanks for letting me vent. I feel stupid for blowing this whole incident (okay, it wasn’t even an incident…) out of proportion and even more stupid for blogging about it. Oh well.
Thauna says
Urgh….I would have been stewing all evening about it too. What a snippy woman.
Holli says
How rude! I mean really….get off your ass and come over and say something then if its that big a deal to you…..and who cares if your dogs are barking? That’s what they are SUPPOSED to be doing…its what makes dogs good watchdogs…that lady is ridiculous!
shelby says
You so much nicer than I am. I would tell her to kiss it. I don’t blame you a bit for stewing!
teri says
haha Holli you are cracking me up. As for the hog caller next door, haven’t you noticed animals always pick up on peoples’ personalities? The dogs probably sniffed a rat (her) and started barking to warn you about her. She’s just worried that someone would uncovered her true self.
Lizzi says
Glad you all agree with me!
Teri- you’re totally right about dogs and personalities. All night whenever the visitors were in the driveway, getting something from their car, and even when they were leaving, the dogs would start barking, and that was with all windows and blinds closed. So glad they’re gone!
Brandie says
Lizzi…I can COMPLETELY relate to this post!! My dogs are the same way when my husband is not around (they drive me insane). And our idiot neighbor thinks it’s funny to come outside when my dog is out back and then antagonizes him so he barks…and all I want him to do is go to the damn bathroom!! Happened to me yesterday and I was so pissed at the neighbor because he thinks it’s funny when he gets my dog all riled up. I totally understand why you were stewing…I would too!!