This is a story about my dog. Which I think many dog parents can relate to, in particular, those that try to work from their home. Especially those that share a home with a dog that barks,,, a lot. I hope that you enjoy it.
I don’t need a doorbell. Here’s why.
I have a dog. I also have a husband who used to work from home. He had to to abandon that dream recently…on account of the dog/doorbell.
Several years ago, our doorbell broke and was replaced… by my then 16 year old daughter. Not sure where the adults were that week…nor what possessed her to decide to splice wires and such that particular day. Nonetheless, it was installed. And now when it rings (I use that term loosely).. when it meekly buzzes… we can only hear it if we are standing directly in front of the door. The visual aid of a human being seen pressing the “doorbell” through the glass is another essential tip off that it has been rung.
But these details are irrelevant. If my dog India is in the house…SHE alerts us to the sound. We don’t actually need a doorbell… because she barks…(correction: screams like a raving lunatic),…if someone comes near our front porch. She also goes crazy when she can see someone or something moving past our home on the sidewalk. Thanks to her extraordinary dog hearing capabilities… she knows the school bus has arrived a few minutes before the children traipse past our home. Heaven forbid someone walks a dog near our house! She propels her body into the door glass, and then bounces back onto the runner. She then somehow manages, with her 22 lb body, to fold the runner onto itself, which I proceed to trip over if not paying attention. Blocking out the view through the glass to her height doesn’t help since she stands like a sentry at all levels of the stairs leading up to the second floor. She positions herself with the sun as it travels up the stairs..like a canine sundial of sorts. Thus, she can see both sides of the door, and above it through the large window, depending upon the time of day and what stair she is resting on.
She is an equal opportunity barker. What she lacks in discretion she makes up for in volume.
She’s cute isn’t she! Ha! Think again. She may be cute, but she should be licensed to kill or annoy in several states!
She doesn’t only present a health hazard to us… tripping on the rugs and such. But…. she makes it impossible to have a serious conference call if she is in the building. Keeping her in the room with my husband is almost worse because she still “hears”. So the barking is in the same room, super loud, and super startling. His complaint that he cannot work with her at home is valid. The threat that she may kill him or his heart from the unexpected barking is…. I suppose, a genuine possibility.
It affects my job as well. When I call a client with results… she drowns out my voice. But veterinary clients are generally more understanding.
So last week, my husband threw in the towel and took a position with some days out of the home. He says that the peace and quiet he enjoys in bumper to bumper traffic on I-95 is just what he needed. I get it!
Dr. Dawn
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