In Need of Advice

[wisdom_3_5]

You might try giving her a book to read while you’re reading yours. She’ll either be quiet and read or be bored and go away. Just a thought.

I kinda know what you’re going through too. A family with 3 boys moved in next door to us ( I have 2 girls, 2 & 5) and I was really looking forward to spending time outside in our yard with them, pool, sandbox etc. As soon as I even open the door the boys are on our porch ready to go. I find myself being “daycare” to kids who are extremely undisciplined. Example: mom says “stop doing “x” or you’re going home” Bobby continues to do “x” and never goes home. At first I was apprehensive about disciplining them, but hey, they’re in my yard, my rules, ya know? If they don’t like it, don’t come over.

Just be firm, consistent and patient with Sara, much of the qualities you have from training your dogs, right? Perhaps Sara needs some of that in her life right now.

 

[JCPhoenix]

Thank you all for your suggestions!

I am well aware of where most dog bites come from…I’m constantly warning other lax owners! And as one of my sweet dogs (not a current one) once was involved in an incident, and the “victim” lied through his teeth and at the hearing subsequently shot himself in the foot, I am also a HUGE advocate of VERY responsible dog ownership. We won hands down, but should not have had to experience the hearing or have allowed the dog to get into a position where we had to defend her nature.

But that’s not to say that I have any ground to stand on when for the most part Sara is appropriate with the dogs. Tikaani pulled her stake out of the ground the other day and I did point this out to Sara VERY firmly, telling her if she sees the dogs agitated at all, even if not directed at her, then she needs to leave RIGHT AWAY no questions. Her mother backed me up on this. Unfortunately, that family is now overreacting and RUSHING toward the dog when she barks at the neighbor’s dog.

It was a one time event and I’m actually happy it occurred because I feel it has instilled some respect of my dogs and their/my space. The stake became loosened when the Shepherd, over several weeks, pulled it in all directions in her agitation over territorial rights. Well, she finally loosened it enough…and when released, went after the other dog. Thank God she is not aggressive…she had NO IDEA what to do when she actually ARRIVED at the other dog. But I think the incident was enough to help me establish my boundaries.

I am going to be very careful that it never happens again. I want to use both of my dogs as therapy dogs and I need to be sure they don’t have any kind of negative label! (Oh, and I use this as well…Sara used to play roughly with Tikaani until I told her not to touch the dog if I wasnt’ around. I had to be really kind of witchy to her and when she didn’t obey me I brought the dog in…and had to kennel her due to the project I was working on inside at the time. So the dog was punished for the child, essentially).

Before, I coudn’t claim without skepticism on their part any ill behavior on the part of my dogs. (The Greyhound is still shy and I’m doing my best to protect him from them.) Now I can use that stake-pulling event and recommend she stay away. At least when I’m on my time.

As far as the poop…well, that happens only on walks, rarely in the yard, and as it is a townhome, the yard is shared. But I WILL encourage Sara to pick up poop (sometimes other neighbors leave messes) in exchange for petting the dogs. GREAT IDEA!

I hate to say it, but I really feel like I’m turning into a witch (with a “B” over this situation.) I really do like kids, but it’s stuff like this that only reaffirms my desire to have NONE.

God preserve all of us from being parents without boundaries.