Saturday, December 4, 2010

Alert!

Yesterday a couple of men arrived to repair the roof that was badly installed by the house's previous owners. Here's how it goes.

A truck pulls into the driveway.

Bark bark. BARKBARKBARK. Stranger alert! Gotta bark, gotta bark. The human is barking back at us; there must be something really important to bark at. She walks away. Wait, look! People!

One of the men comes to the door to tell me they have arrived. I smile at him while struggling to haul back two dogs. Not much point trying to talk--Airedales are very loud.

Hey hey hey! He's on the porch! He's leaving the porch! I can just about get up on the window sill--urg, who's strangling me?

The men disappear around the other side of the house and the dogs quiet down. Then one reappears.

Stranger! Bark bark! Rark rark ruff ruff. RUFFRUFF!

He disappears. Dogs settle down. The same man walks past the window again.

Stranger! Alert alert! BARKBARKBARK.

No matter how many times the same man walks into view, the dogs react as if a complete stranger were prowling around their territory. They sleep through the pounding on the roof. I start to settle at my desk. BARKBARKBARK and I spring three inches into the air, prevented from going higher only by my legs slamming into the underside of the desk.

The roofers didn't complete the work yesterday and are coming back today. The sun is out--meaning we'll get about three hours of sunlight today-- but the blinds are shut. I want to keep that ALERT switch in the doggie brain off.
A round of bitey-face relieves the stress. For them.

12 comments:

  1. What a cute pair! Doing their job, too! Good dogs!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog...21guinea pigs! Haha! The most I have had is 14! But Tooey is the very best of all!

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  2. Louie barks even if the blinds are shut I think he recognised what is and isn't normal and if it isn't normal then off he goes!
    I am a new follower and I hope to get to know you better.
    Helen
    -x-
    www.acraftykindoftruffle.blogspot.com

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  3. Just stopping by to say hi from the Pet Blogger Hop....look forward to reading your blog!

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  4. Having strange people coming to your house sure makes thing interesting with all the bark-bark-bark, right?
    I do the barking thing once. Then, I just wag my tail to them everytime I see them again!... I guess I don't qualify for the best guardian dog!
    Take care
    Kises and hugs
    Lorenza

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  5. My Dales, Sasha & Savannah, react just like your Dales do. Barkbarkbark...makes me jump out of my skin sometimes. Holding two Dales back while trying to answer the door has proven to be a difficult, if not nearly impossible task. I'm relieved to see that I am not the only one with airedale "terrors." LOL!

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  6. Miro and Alanis-

    Here is a tip for you Airedales. Go outside and make friends with the roofers. Then, when they let their guard down and leave the door open to their van....you sneak in there and eat their lunch!! Works for us...last time, we got pork sandwiches and cookies!
    BOL
    Wyatt and Stanzie

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  7. It's just the same here hehe. Good job Miro & Alanis.

    Noah Willow Tess Lucy

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  8. You guys are just doin' your job. We think this calls for a round of treats!

    Love ya lots,
    Maggie and Mitch

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  9. I can only imagine my dog would be much the same. *sigh* Closing the blinds is probably the best solution. I hope your roof is fixed without any more trouble!

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  10. Wyatt & Stanzies idea of making friends and then getting sarnies sounds brillo!

    Great photo. Hope the roof is soon fixed.

    Big Nose Pokes
    The Thugletsx

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  11. Glad to see that you are both guarding your grounds and keeping your mama safe. That's our job, n'est-ce pas? Bitie face is always a good stress buster. Good thinkin'!
    Smooches,
    BabyRD and Hootie

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  12. I hope you got your roof finished okay.
    A bit of bitey face play is a good stress reliever. :D

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