Toads and other scary things....
One of the things we are trying to teach our new "puppies" is to discern when to bark and when not to bark! This is a difficult concept for them to get, as you can imagine. Since they live outside in the dog run with field fencing around the perimeter, anything unusual catches their attention. And being new to living in the country, almost everything is unusual!
A couple of nights ago, Teddy with his high barks and yelps, and little TJ in a deep baritone voice were raising a ruckus. It was 11:00 p.m.; so I threw on my robe, grabbed the flashlight and ran out to their run. After several minutes I finally found what they were barking at...a big toad was jumping across the pavement a few feet away on the other side of the fence. Really, a toad??
"Teddy! TJ!" I exclaimed, "This is not scary! It is a toad! NO BARKING!"
I had to stay with them until they calmed down and then went back to bed. Obviously there are times when we want them to bark. Good watchdogs are important, especially out in the country. So our strategy is so go outside at the first sounds of trouble, saying something like, "What is it? Is this scary?" Then, "No, this isn't scary. It's just a ...cow, deer, bird, our neighbor Frank etc" or "Yes, this is a stranger.Thank you for barking!"
This may sound a little silly, but they do seem to understand. Talking to them in a serious, calm tone seems to communicate and helps them settle down.
I wonder if the Lord doesn't chuckle sometimes at the things which throw us into a tizzy. Thank goodness he is here with us 24/7 just waiting for us to call upon him for help. When we do, he calms us down, gives us his peace and the assurance that he is in control. Always! He loves us!
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 NIV
PS Will try to get some current pictures of Teddy & TJ to post soon. Thanks for reading this. Comments?
A couple of nights ago, Teddy with his high barks and yelps, and little TJ in a deep baritone voice were raising a ruckus. It was 11:00 p.m.; so I threw on my robe, grabbed the flashlight and ran out to their run. After several minutes I finally found what they were barking at...a big toad was jumping across the pavement a few feet away on the other side of the fence. Really, a toad??
"Teddy! TJ!" I exclaimed, "This is not scary! It is a toad! NO BARKING!"
I had to stay with them until they calmed down and then went back to bed. Obviously there are times when we want them to bark. Good watchdogs are important, especially out in the country. So our strategy is so go outside at the first sounds of trouble, saying something like, "What is it? Is this scary?" Then, "No, this isn't scary. It's just a ...cow, deer, bird, our neighbor Frank etc" or "Yes, this is a stranger.Thank you for barking!"
This may sound a little silly, but they do seem to understand. Talking to them in a serious, calm tone seems to communicate and helps them settle down.
I wonder if the Lord doesn't chuckle sometimes at the things which throw us into a tizzy. Thank goodness he is here with us 24/7 just waiting for us to call upon him for help. When we do, he calms us down, gives us his peace and the assurance that he is in control. Always! He loves us!
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 NIV
PS Will try to get some current pictures of Teddy & TJ to post soon. Thanks for reading this. Comments?
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