Zap the Yap!

FINALLY!  My parents bought a bark collar for my sister, Dixie!  I know some of you are shocked (pun intended), but Dixie's incessant barking has taken a toll on Mommy and she was the one who finally made the big decision.  Mommy told Daddy if she'd known it would work this well, she'd have bought one seven years ago!

The excess collar hasn't been cut off yet!

Dixie doesn't bark all the time.  Yes, she barks if she suspects someone is on the other side of the fence and yes, she barks when we're in the front bedroom and someone walks by outside, but that's okay.  Mommy said she doesn't want to take away Dixie's natural protective instincts!  The barking that needed to STOP was the "play with me" bark.  Mommy says it's more like a nag!  (Daddy says Mommy would know all about nagging!)

Dixie loves to drop her ball and then wait on Mommy to pick it up and throw it.  If Mommy isn't fast enough, Dixie starts barking.  And it's very shrill!  Even if Mommy is trying to pick up the ball, Dixie will grab the ball, then drop it and bark at her to throw it.  Mommy finally said enough was enough.  Seriously?  It took this long to figure it out???

It's been interesting watching this new bark collar play out.  Our parents chose a collar by a reputable company that starts off automatically on the lowest setting and grows in intensity if the dawg ignores the stimulation it receives.  Dixie can usually get about 3-4 barks off before the collar really zaps her.
The first time Dixie got zapped, she ran over to Mommy and literally jumped in Mommy's arms for some snuggles!  I thought it was pretty funny from where I was watching.  Mommy felt soooo bad for Dixie!  She kneeled down to catch Dixie and loved all over her. Is THIS what a dawg has to do in order to be loved around here?  Just kidding.  We're the most loved dawgs in the world!  (With or without the bark collar!)

The really funny part (in my opinion) is that when she's wearing the bark collar, Dixie seems to lose the will to play.  As soon as she's zapped once, she runs to the shade of the patio and just hangs out.  No amount of calling or coercing from Mommy can make her budge.

Or she'll sit under the eaves of the house and just watch life go by . . .

For those who fear Dixie is being tortured constantly, have no fear.  Mommy only puts the collar on when we're going to play ball.  Sometimes the collar stays on Dixie's neck for longer than that, but Mommy turns it off.  Except for that time the UPS truck came by . . .

Apparently Mommy forgot to turn the collar off and Dixie let out a bark to say hello to the delivery guy.  Next thing we knew, Dixie was under the desk and at Mommy's feet!

My poor sister has no idea she's getting zapped because of Mommy!!!!  They say ignorance is bliss . . . I'm still debating on whether to tell her or not . . .

On the bright side, the needless barking has stopped for the most part.  There are times when I can tell Dixie wants to let one rip, but she restrains herself.  Sometimes the collar is on and sometimes it's not.  Most online reviews of the collar said it only took a few days to teach the dawg not to bark and then it was no longer needed.  That seems to be the case with Dixie too!

Until I tell Dixie that Mommy is zapping her . . . then she really might have something to bark about!
Jenna

PS: Happy Father's Day to Daddy, Grandaddy, and Poppa . . . hopefully you won't receive a bark collar for your gift!