Monday, September 10, 2012

We have a new dog in the neighborhood. A large dog by the sound of him. He lives somewhere to the east of us. I mention him because he has a distinctive bark.

Raf [drop an octave] Rolf__

That's it. The sum total of his repertoire. Over and over. Raf Rolf, Raf Rolf. He serenades all afternoon and evening, most days of the week.

When Mattie first heard him, she went off like a bottle rocket and barked her head off. I presumed this was in example of the possibilities available but to no avail [alas] because if you think listening to regular barking for extended periods is annoying try Raf Rolf for a few hours.

Anyway just a few days ago he learned a new note...well not really. It's more an addition. Now he sings Raf__Rolf Rolf. Well! How about that! We were so impressed that after a few times we realized he was creating a beat and we started to dance, my dog and I.

11 comments:

  1. LOL... you have a much better perspective on this than I think I would!

    Our previous neighbours had two large dogs mostly free range in the back yard... every I so much as changed a lightbulb those two would bolt at the fence and give off lengthy warnings at me.

    Sophie would go up to the fence and stare at them till they stopped.. heh she was good at that with them.

    Now the new neighbours moved in... and they have a little dog.. Rollo... he charges at the fence and he and Sophie have sniff offs ... seldom do they bark.. except the neighbours themselves are super nice... and very chatty... I don't like to be in my backyard anymore.. *hangs head* give me barking dogs over chatty neighbours any day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know exactly what you're talking about. This is why you must develop the chronic larengylic [nope, not a word] throat condition [coff, hack] which you can symbolize by wearing a scarf wrapped around your poor froat. The only drawback is you then have to teach Sophie a whole new set of signals other than vocal ones.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You should hear Brandy bark! Since her laryngeal surgery she sounds like she's imported from Brooklyn. lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love all animals and always have but, not a barking dog. That rattles my bones. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are truly one awesome flamingo. My Sunny has a high pitched bark. I encourage him to NOT bark because I swear he could move me to madness. The neighbour has TWO high pitched wee barkers. The only way I can deal with it with a smile on my face is to tell myself that the dogs are doing what they see as their job -- pointing out stuff that's happening (again, and again and again).

    ReplyDelete
  6. If he was closer I'm sure I wouldn't sound quite so benevolent.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maybe he's lonely up there in them mountains ...

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have never been bothered much by barkers. We have a poodle across the street that gets tied to a picnic table (thus keeping him in the yard and giving him shelter, I guess) and barks a lot. Poor little guy... poodles are really house dogs, it seems cruel to leave him outside so much. I think, though, he is the only barker we have in the area, most dogs are inside. Even the neighbors next door kept their monster hairless collie and the two beagles inside...and they rarely spoke when outside.

    I have no idea what I'm babbling about...I should be in bed. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. He's quiet today. It must be his owners day off. Either that or when Mattie was out earlier and got all the dogs on the mt barking, which is her one social talent__I believe it is that distinctive beagle yodel, he got intimidated.

    ReplyDelete
  10. My neighbors like me, so I have adjusted my barking motivation. I used to bark at the neighbors to let everyone know they were moving about and likely to steal something or do some other dumb thing. With the new neighbors, I go stand by the fence to get noticed. If they don't notice me and pay attention within 30 seconds or so, I bark at them until they do.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That's very pro-active of you, Augie. I'm sure they appreciate it. LoL

    ReplyDelete