In article , George says...

MRS. CLEAN wrote:


I was, and remain, very careful to keep the dogs inside when I was gone
and to watch constantly because my fear was poison over the fence.
Things settled down when my neighbor's daughter moved out of her
mother's house and took Sierra with her. At no time did Sierra's
barking ever bother me. I considered it a warning to would be
criminals, and felt safe when she was barking. Occasionally, Sierra
visits and the barking starts all over again. I am sure to reward her
with a pig ear. The only thing worse would be no Sierra. She has a rod
iron gate which allows her to see and bark at everything on the street.

Dogs are a deterrent. My neighbors should be pleased that I am willing
to go through the trouble of having, caring, and feeding the animals
that keep THEIR homes safe.


I read your post two different ways. You say that you are careful about
controlling the dogs and then you mention that the dog barks at
everything on the street.

Yup. I think it's an example of unclear thinking.

Two contentions:

1. I keep my dogs inside their barking doesn' bother any neighbors.
2. My dog barks at all intruders, even those near neighboring houses, thus they
are a deterrent.

Huh?

Y'know, when I see this kind of thinking, I see a person trying to rationalize.



Dogs are a deterrent but within reason. I don't want to be in "alert
mode" for hours on end each day as a dog barks at every car, squirrel
and falling leaf.

Right. And it should be a person's choice as to how they provide for that
security. Alarm systems are designed to be a lot more precise than a dog that
barks at whoever!

Banty