kensloft
12-18-2004, 05:10 PM
My pit bull, Zeus, was about a year old when a visitor came to my (our) home. Like all dogs the knock at the door was a signal for him to bark. I opened the door and invited a person, that I had known from the community, to come in and discuss whatever he was there to discuss.
After he was seated in the front room Zeus had still not stopped barking. I admonished, spoke loudly and finally I moved him to another room. Out of sight. Out of mind.
Well, the barking continued. It was quite strident. The "ignore him and he'll stop" phase kicked in but it didn't work. He kept up his barking.
Finally the guest said that he should leave. I, of course, didn't want him to feel that the dog's behaviour should cut short his visit and that he should discuss what he wanted to discuss with me. Not wanting to be a bad host I offered him something but by now (Zeus is still barking in the background) he was adamant that he would prefer to come bye later and finish telling me the reason that he had dropped bye.
I relented and said that that was fine. He left and Zeus stopped barking.
He did not return but a couple of weeks later he was in the news because he had just been arrested for several bank robberies and sales and possession of heroin and cocaine.
A big hug and thank you went to Zeus. As well, I asked him to understand that us humans aren't as smart as we like to think we are and that it would be good if he forgave me my foibles.
A big lick, a wiggle of the behind and that pit bull smile told me that he understood and was happy that I understood that his aggression was not because he was an empty-headed weapon about to go off without notice or provocation but my friend.
After he was seated in the front room Zeus had still not stopped barking. I admonished, spoke loudly and finally I moved him to another room. Out of sight. Out of mind.
Well, the barking continued. It was quite strident. The "ignore him and he'll stop" phase kicked in but it didn't work. He kept up his barking.
Finally the guest said that he should leave. I, of course, didn't want him to feel that the dog's behaviour should cut short his visit and that he should discuss what he wanted to discuss with me. Not wanting to be a bad host I offered him something but by now (Zeus is still barking in the background) he was adamant that he would prefer to come bye later and finish telling me the reason that he had dropped bye.
I relented and said that that was fine. He left and Zeus stopped barking.
He did not return but a couple of weeks later he was in the news because he had just been arrested for several bank robberies and sales and possession of heroin and cocaine.
A big hug and thank you went to Zeus. As well, I asked him to understand that us humans aren't as smart as we like to think we are and that it would be good if he forgave me my foibles.
A big lick, a wiggle of the behind and that pit bull smile told me that he understood and was happy that I understood that his aggression was not because he was an empty-headed weapon about to go off without notice or provocation but my friend.