Behold -- The Power of the Shake Can!

Now that the weather is cooling off some, we've been thrilled to be able to have the house open most of the time.  I like to be able to keep the front door open onto the front porch where we can watch the world go by our little corner.  It's one of my favorite things about the arrival of Spring and Fall.

This year, however, things have been a little different.  In specific, that would be the arrival of Miss Morgan.  There are a lot of people who walk past our house and she does not like it.  A favorite evening's entertainment for her is running back and forth from the kitchen window to the front door, barking at any person, dog or leaf that goes past our house.  I really find this less that amusing or charming.  The Greyhounds appear to be less than entertained as well, especially when she leaps over them as they lie on the floor doing their best speed bump impressions. 

I already hear some of the Shepherd people out there getting ready to advise us to redirect her.  Believe me, we're on it.  I started with calling her to me with a simple sit command that I know she understands.  That is not strong enough a lure for her when the Border Collie puppy from down the street walks by.  He could be a closet terrorist, you know!

So, Mr. Taleteller reached into his bag of tricks and pulled out the squirt bottle.  Just the sound of the water sloshing in said bottle strikes fear into the hearts of the Greyhounds -- well, Blueberry and Bunny anyway.  Lilac doesn't hear it and she's shameless anyway.  As Morgan stood barking at the front door and avoiding eye contact with him, which somehow means in her mind that she does not have to listen to a command, he squirted her with the bottle.  In a million to one shot, he got her right in the behind.  Morgan leapt into the air, did a half turn and glared at him in shock.  He told her to be quiet and knock it off.  She replied by giving one final woof.  Ahhh, the joys of the teenage years! 

The other night, I was offering suggestions to a friend about a problem she's had with one of her dogs and I suggested trying a shake can.  Then, like a beam of celestial light, I felt myself illuminated by my own wisdom.  I decided to try a shake can the next time Morgan started her shenanigans.  For those who don't know, a shake can is a metal can left after you get canned fruit or vegetables.  You slice off the open end, fill it with pennies, washers or beebees, then cover it with duct tape.  Sure enough, after dinner was over and we were all settling in to relax for the evening, Morgan's patrol alerted her to possible danger.  I picked up the can and gave it a loud shake.  Morgan froze in her tracks and nearly fell over on the floor.  I told her to knock it off and she did.  Every time she got started and ready to bark, I shook it and she got quiet.  Two days later, she didn't offer to bark at all.  She still patrols from time to time, but so far, nobody on the sidewalk near our house has had heart palpitations or wet their pants.  I consider this one small victory for me, although I know it's possible it won't last.  She looks awfully angelic laying on the dog bed with her nose tucked under her tail for a change!

We're also participating in this Saturday's Pet Blog Hop, hosting by Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume.  If you'd like to participate, please follow the rules and follow your three hosts, add your blog to the Linky and copy and paste the html code into your html editor.  Thanks again to our hosts for putting on the hop!