BustopherJones Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 We went through a scare with Annie yesterday. While Annie is a sweet and loving dog when she is off her property or has become accustomed to someone on our property, she is an absolute terror if anyone encroaches on our land without her permission. To a degree, this is a desirable feature, as her actions are a deterrent to intruders (and I know for a fact that she has on at least two occasions scared off suburban terrorists, otherwise known as teenaged vandals). She begins barking wildly at anyone (or anything) she does not recognize, but usually desists with a simple “Good girl! That’ll do.” Yesterday, DW left the front door open (with the glass storm door closed), but was down in the lower-level family room. She heard Annie go ballistic, but with her limited mobility took some time to get upstairs to see what was going on. She arrived upstairs to find two very startled Jehovah’s Witnesses at the front door, and a limping Annie; apparently, the dog must have injured herself, either by hitting the door or catching a leg in the pneumatic door closer (which is mounted at the bottom of the storm door). We tried to keep her calm for the rest of the day (not an easy assignment with a Border Collie). Last night, I kept her on the bed with me, and kept her calm; I also carried her up and down the stairs when she had to go out to relieve herself. This morning, DW took Annie to the vet. No permanent damage, just a minor sprain; by the time she got home, Annie was back to pretty much normal. But DW now knows to keep the front door closed when she is downstairs. And I am going to move the pneumatic door closer to the top of the storm door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1sheepdoggal Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 Glad she will be alright Bustopher. My GSD ( head of security around the place) will not alarm bark, and instead quietly comes and alerts me if he thinks there is some thing I need to know about. Its some thing maybe the two of you can work with Anne on when she starts to go crazy about some thing. When she starts to bark, or you see that she is getting ready to, or see some thing going on outside that she hasnt seen yet, send her to "go get" mom or dad instead, and allow her to quietly accompany you to the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afrancis Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 ... She arrived upstairs to find two very startled Jehovah’s Witnesses at the front door, and a limping Annie; apparently, the dog must have injured herself, either by hitting the door or catching a leg in the pneumatic door closer (which is mounted at the bottom of the storm door). That happened to my Riley once when she lunged at the door, it opened, and then closed on her front leg. No serious damage, but she never did that again! Glad Annie is ok -- I wonder if she will have done her job and ensured that your house is now a JW-free zone . Ailsa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb Scott Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 Just another reason why uninvited GUESTS should not go door to door! Politicians and religious people included. Barb S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4ever Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Scooter has become quite the alarm barker. Someone came to the door and rang the bell the other day, Scooter went nuts,(he sounds ferocious due to the echo from the cathedral ceiling and hardwood floors in the foyer) and by the time I had gotten downstairs to see who was there, they had retreated from the porch and were standing on the sidewalk. He was selling something, and I just shook my head no. He didn't argue. We have a sign on the door that says, "Please be patient. Dog in training," from his early training years. We just left it up. We've had many a pizza or flower delivery person ask warily, "In training for what?" One day, feeling particularly evil, I told a salesman when he asked, "He's learned to open the door and chase away strangers! Wanna see? He's really good. You know those Border Collies...." I don't think he even heard the last part! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachdogz Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 We have a sign on the door that says, "Please be patient. Dog in training," from his early training years. You know, that's quite a good idea! I was told there was a liability issue with signs such as "Beware of Dog" (as you are acknowledging the dog is "dangerous".) A sign like yours gives notice that there is a dog, but does not acknowledge any kind of dangerous dog. My GSDs were trained well enough to sit and stay - and be quiet - when I answered the door. I think it was more ominous when someone was talking to me at the door and there was a GSD just sitting there in the backgound, just looking at you, not barking, just looking. I think that might have been scarier than a wildly barking dog. Many times I said, "oh he's trained" and they also said with a gulp, "for what?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1sheepdoggal Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 You know, that's quite a good idea! I was told there was a liability issue with signs such as "Beware of Dog" (as you are acknowledging the dog is "dangerous".) A sign like yours gives notice that there is a dog, but does not acknowledge any kind of dangerous dog. My GSDs were trained well enough to sit and stay - and be quiet - when I answered the door. I think it was more ominous when someone was talking to me at the door and there was a GSD just sitting there in the backgound, just looking at you, not barking, just looking. I think that might have been scarier than a wildly barking dog. Many times I said, "oh he's trained" and they also said with a gulp, "for what?" Yep! 110lbs of big GSD sitting quietly at your side just staring, does appear to have the desired effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 "Please be patient. Dog in training," from his early training years. We just left it up. We've had many a pizza or flower delivery person ask warily, "In training for what?" One day, feeling particularly evil, I told a salesman when he asked, "He's learned to open the door and chase away strangers! Wanna see? He's really good. You know those Border Collies...." I don't think he even heard the last part! Now that is funny!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phej Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Glad to know that Annie is ok! You must have been worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane allen Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Glad Annie is OK, but I agree with "nobody should go door to door." My story follows.... I had a malamute/shepherd/something mix: about 80 pounds, kinda mean looking but a total sweetheart/marshmallow. Friend was at my house, expecting his friend to show up. Dogs always bark when knocks are heard, so when someone knocked, off they went into bark-land. Friend opened door, expecting his friend, with big dog at his heel. Before looking, he said, "Kill!" then realizes it is religious types. Then, backpedaling, says, "Oh, I was expecting someone else." YIKES! To my knowledge, they haven't been back since! diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Does this count... Our drive way is about 1/2 mile long, we live way out. Neighbors are a couple miles away. Who is going to come door to door.... I see 2 nicely dressed ladies walking down the drive, in dresses with hair up in buns, should have been a dead give away but I was hot and worried that the house wasn't as clean as it should be for anyone to come inside and look. I had been out trying to get the steers out of the nieghbors huge herd in the 90 degree heat. I was so hot that I jumped in the shower and put on a really short dress (I think it was so short casue i've gotten wider) There I sit on the couch trying to cool off when I see the ladies going by my front window. My house is forsale, been forsale for months. So not wanting to discourage anyone coming to see the house, I jump up and answer the door. My dogs do the happy greet new people dance and proceed to go out on the porch and Mick jumps on Dew (Mick is fixed and Dew was in heat) They tumble into the ladies and thre the are tied. It was then I realized they weren't here to see the house. We all stand around while I'm trying to scoot the 2 hussies off the ladies shoes. I told them I was Catholic (I'm not but couldn't think of anything else to say) they told me what a beautiful house and lake I had, never looking down at their feet. We all went our respective ways excpet the dogs, who were happily tied on the porch! I've never seen the the ladies again. UH OH.....poor Becca is not going to like this story is she! If you can't tell, I'm getting real lonely out here in the boonies. Haven't seen my DH since July. I promice I'll quit posting now for a couple days! BTW...glad to hear Annie is ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4ever Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Didn't mean to go off in a different direction Bustopher. Hope Annie is still doing okay today. It is scary when they get hurt. That's when I really wish they could talk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BustopherJones Posted October 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 That's when I really wish they could talk! Agreed. Therein lies the problem with many new dog owners. Those unfamiliar with the pack instinct that suppresses any sign of weakness expect that dogs will, either through vocal complaint or physical signs, demonstrate that they have a problem. They don't realize that even the most subtle signs can be an indicator of extreme distress. When Missy destroyed her leg years ago, for instance, of course she could not walk on the leg; but despite being in excrutiating pain, she never complained and never even let out a whimper. My concern was that Annie might be far more injured that the signs might indicate; perhaps my experience with Missy made me paranoid, but sometimes a little paranoia can be a healthy thing. (Annie was still limping today when she first got up, but is improving, and is pretty much normal once she gets up and around for a bit.) But it would be great if our dogs could tell us that they are hurt, and where, and how bad. On the other hand, experience gives us the ability to understand the subtleties of our dogs' actions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kibbles Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Glad Annie is ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BustopherJones Posted October 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 "Please be patient. Dog in training" I prefer the sign that has a picture of a BC on it and says, "I can make it to the fence in 2.6 seconds. Can YOU?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4ever Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 I prefer the sign that has a picture of a BC on it and says, "I can make it to the fence in 2.6 seconds. Can YOU?" Ohhhh! I love that one too!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby the Puppy Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 My trainer has a sign on her door that says 'Ring the door bell and run...the dogs need exercise" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc4ever Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 My trainer has a sign on her door that says 'Ring the door bell and run...the dogs need exercise" LOL! That one's good too. Maybe I need to replace our boring "Please be patient. Dog in training" sign! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LyndaB Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 I wonder if she will have done her job and ensured that your house is now a JW-free zone .Ailsa I'm liking that idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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