It was beautiful outside yesterday, so the boys and I took advantage of the nice weather and spent some time in the yard playing fetch... and all was well, until my neighbor from across the street decided to come over and join us.
As soon as he opened the gate the exitement level went through the roof, a lot of jumping, running, and yelling ensued... and my poor, poor flowerbed was getting trampled to pieces. UGH!
So, I decided to call upon everything I've ever learned from the dog whisperer and put it into practice as follows -
1. In a very "calm but assertive" voice I ordered everyone out of my daffodils twice, but - alas - one of them completely ignored me. More flowers were being crushed.
2. To show my displeasure I then resorted to the infamous "no talk, no touch, no eye contact" until the offender realized that he would not get any attention at all by misbehaving.
Talk about either dumb, stubborn... or both. There he was, still standing in my plants.
3. On to the next method of "claiming my space" by standing tall, crossing my arms, and taking one step forward at a time, thus forcing the obstinant party to retreat and "calmly submit" to me without "showing aggression" or "trying to dominate" me.
4. It was slow going, but I drove my point home with several "ssssshhhh's", and using my hand to "simulate a bite to the shoulder", exactly like CM (and Mother Nature) would have you do.
5. Just as I was contemplating whether or not to employ the "alpha roll", and/or using the new slip lead to choke some respect into him... finally - FINALLY! - my neighbor stepped out of my tulips and decided to "recognize me as the pack leader" by going the hell back to his own house.
WOOT!!! Success!!!
I am going to speak to his wife later on - about using exercise, discipline, and affection, to get him "under control". He's human, man, Bill... in that order, and he needs to be treated that way.
Otherwise she may very well have a "red zone case" on her hands in the very near furture.
The boys (who had been quietly watching us from the porch) laughed so hard they almost peed on their feet. They know what can happen when Mom goes all Ceasar Milan on someone...