Anyone who has ever been in my house, met my dog, or even probably had a phone conversation with me knows that Lucy barks a lot. She barks at random noises in the house, delivery trucks just passing by, people walking on the street, and on occasion, her own reflection in the back door. She's a beagle. She likes to bark. When things get really serious -- like the delivery man stops out front and brings a package to the door -- the fur at her collar and her tail stands up. I'm sure, if she could just get through that front door, she would like...jump on him and lick him endlessly. Nonetheless, the barking can get tiresome. It's very loud, and she doesn't stop after announcing whatever she's seen outside. She just keeps barking. We have some natural dog pheromones that supposed to help calm her, and also a bark collar that gives her a mild zap if she barks too loudly. The latter usually works to some degree, but Wes is constantly taking it off her after she stops barking -- which means that it's not in place when she starts barking at the next thing.
Last night, I came up with a new plan. I remembered the one thing that freaks Lucy out almost more than anything -- the sound of Ollie's plastic harmonica. She will run to the opposite side of the house, tail between her legs, if Ollie so much as puts the things to his lips. (She responds similarly to the sound of someone blowing across the top of an empty glass soda bottle.) So for several hours last night, we implemented our new, more humane anti-barking regimen. Every time she barks -- even one little yip that's not part of playtime -- I whip out the harmonica and play a note.
At the moment, Lucy is laying on her big blue bed upstairs where I am working today, snoring loudly and oblivious to any life elsewhere in the house or outside. But just in case, I have my trusty harmonica next to my tea.
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