Doggone, Grandma
When I moved to “Hysteria Lane”, I thought the neighborhood was going to be a peaceful one, anything had to be better than where I used to live. Loud music, police sirens, rowdy kids and barking dogs.
My previous neighbor had a dog that stayed outside everyday, sometimes even in the rain and it barked constantly. Several people complained about the dog to each other, but not to the owner. To do so was more of a dare than a “neighborly request.”
During one of my sleepless nights, I decided to write a letter to my former neighbor pretending to be a young child and mail it to them. I’m not ambidextrous, but for pleas and threats, I write with my left hand. The wording is not exact, but it read something like the letter1 to the right.
Eventually not only did the barking stop, but the dog was gone too. I saw my neighbor days later and asked about the dog, (like I really cared, I was happy in my serenity now like state). He said he let the dog go because he didn’t have time to take care of it. Uh, okay?
I don’t think that’s the case with my current neighbor who lives behind me. She has a new dog, but this dog doesn’t stay outside and bark nearly as long as the other one.
I was looking out the window, watching filming the barking dog and up pulls a black car and out rolls grandma from the back seat. She’s happy to see her dog and his tail says he’s happy to see her too.
Darn, now what am I supposed to do! I can’t write granny a letter, what could I possibly say about her annoying barking dog.
“Keep FIDO quiet or you won’t be allowed into Bingo.”
“Your senior citizen discount is in jeopardy.”
“I’ll get you, my pretty and your little dog too.”
It wasn’t until I looked at the bench outside of her home that I realized that this is the same lady that used to walk around the neighborhood with her elderly husband, hand in hand. Gee, I haven’t seen him in a while and oh my word….that explains the dog. I’m thinking either that’s one heck of a make-up job or grandma knows how to keep the real witch quiet. I will leave this one alone.
EDIT: I thought this story was interesting.
Dog photo by ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com
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“I will leave this one alone.”
Yeah, I think that would be the right thing to do.
Neighbors tend to be annoying, don’t they?
Vered’s last blog post..Aging: May I Please Get Off This Path Now?
It always seems to happen to me that I think some awful thought about someone and then wish I could take it back ala your g-ma story. Just the other day a guy came into a bar and tried to hit on me. He was OBVIOUSLY drunk because he was slurring his speech and could barely walk. I treated him with complete disdain and then sat there thinking awful thoughts when I took a closer look and realized that he is mentally challenged and has a small physical disability. ~shaking head in disbelief~ I felt like an ass.
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pleeease leave that one alone. Hopefully the dog won’t be as bad as you remember
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Hi Natural,
Yes, good idea. Leave it alone.
We had neighbors just like that. They would walk hand in hand with their dog. The husband died, and now the woman walks with the dog. She looks real lonely. My heart goes out to her every time I see her. That dog is all she has left.
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Ouch. Good job you spotted it before you sent the letter.
Ouch. When you get the courage to tell someone about an annoying dog or other things, you are too mad to be polite.
But you letter is not too much - IMO. But you should be polite as the letter is. Maybe she could have the dog indoors at night instead. Sometimes we all are annoying to someone, but we would show some consideration if only we knew.
Hi Natural - The letter you sent was brilliant. But I can understand why you’re not going to bother that old dear.
By the way - do you really live in a street called Hysteria Lane?
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..What Sort Of Freelance Writer Are You?
So … is your neighbour ‘Grandma’, or has the neighbour taken on the dog for Grandma and she has visiting rights?
Poor Grandma… there was a couple in the village here like that, the old lady got Alzheimers and her husband took such care of her, until one day she was gone and he was walking alone. So sad.
As to the dog, I’d open up a dialogue. I’d say something like ‘I see you got a new dog?’ to the neighbour and see if you can find out what the deal is. Then you can be sympathetic and perhaps work in somewhere that he’s disturbing you with his barking. If you say nice things about the dog too, they won’t take it too badly (hopefully) and you can work on a solution with them. I’d hate to see the old lady lose her dog, but there should be a way to make him happier so he doesn’t bark so much.
Some suggestions I’d make are: leave the TV/radio on for him, give him more exercise, do some ‘alone training’ with him, leave him a kong, or other amusing toy/game, put in a dog door, find him a dog walker, get him a companion. Perhaps you can find a ‘dog person’ to go with you?
Vered, I plan to. Only because she elderly and I’m almost sure her husband passed. I know most the dogs in the neighborhood, so when I heard another one barking, I’m thinking when did she get a dog and then it hit me. Not touching it.
RBV, Oh no. it happens sometimes. We make the wrong assumptions. Even though the barking is annoying, the dog does not stay out overnight. He’s outside when she leaves, early morning (weekends mostly) and early evening (daily).
Roschelle, I would never send grandma a letter, but I’m glad I picked up on that. The bench tipped me off. I’ll deal.
Barbara, they looked quite happy together (she and the dog). It looks like a pit bull too, but that can’t be right, can it? She’s not afraid. He’s there for protection and companionship, I won’t encroach on that….but don’t dare leave him out over night. I can’t be responsible for my actions when my sleep is disturbed.
Solomon, like you, I am grateful for a good night’s sleep. Nope. The letter or a similar one was sent to my previous neighbors in another town who left their barking dog outside day and night….this one was not meant for grandma.
Jens Dalsgaard, it won’t be by my hand. I could get over to her place and end up baking her a cake and running errands. The dog is inside during the late night, so for the time he is outside barking, I will close the windows.
Hi Natural - loved the letter, and could it be Wisteria Lane?
What an awkward situation! Good luck!
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Probably like most people, I can sympathize with the barking dog issue but as you say, this one’s probably best left alone.
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I guess it has been said a number of times…leave it alone I suppose?
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Hi Natural,
That was a pretty awesome left-handed letter, and it did an even greater good than just quieting the dog.
Pretty sad story about Grandma and her dog though. Clearly the same approach won’t work. Not sure how annoying the dog is, so it might be tolerable to leave it alone. You might still have to address it if it’s not tolerable though, and in that case you might have no choice but to engage with grandma to find out what the situation is and to see what choices there are.
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That letter is so funny!
Many years ago a friend of mine had a barking dog problem and she actually went to the neighbor directly about it. That really only made the situation worse but in the end the dogs were removed by the Pet Police for neglect.
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I live in a building that is very quiet. The problem is that there’s a construction right outside my window and I can hear pounding noises and construction workers calling out all day long (unless I go to simplynoise.com and use “white noise” to block the ruckus). I think that in order to live in society we need to put up with a certain level of inconvenience from others. The thing is knowing at one point the inconvenience seizes to be “a reasonable cost” of living in society and turns into a nuisance. There are also mitigating circumstances that need to be taken into account, as in this case the fact that it is an elderly woman who may have just lost her husband. Is that analysis too lawyerly for you?
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I think everyone should have a dog whisperer. With the old lady, wise choice, sometimes it’s best left unsaid. I like the note idea, writing with your left. My neighbors dog is bugging me. I don’t know if they know that when they leave their dog it cries for hours, and it’s one annoying crying. Now the other neighbor behind our house has gotten them self a little dog. At first I thought it was a stray when it followed me, but nah it belongs to them and it’s there casing havoc with the other dogs “little dog syndrome”.
“Several people complained about the dog to each other, but not to the owner. To do so was more of a dare than a “neighborly request.”
Granted I don’t know the nature of this neighbor - but often people treat us how we teach them to do so. If no one complains to the person with the dog directly, why would they stop? I will say, I really dislike the behavior of being loud at the expense of the peace and sleep of neighbors. It’s profoundly selfish.
I wish you an abundance of peace and quiet.
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“I’ll get you, my pretty and your little dog too.” I laughed like crazy at this one
I can understand you leaving this one alone. That first letter was a great idea though.
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Cath, I neglected to tell a little information about me, thinking I would save it for another post, but I write letters, mostly to get refunds when I think I deserve one or to complain. That letter was a similar one I wrote to my previous neighbor, I don’t know of its brilliance, but I did get a kick out of it. Normally I would write a letter to a neighbor, but after seeing who it was, I decided to leave it alone. No I don’t live on Hysteria Lane, I say that with “affection” and because they act so….stank.
Jay, my neighbor is Grandma. I’m not going over to her house without a cup of sugar and a cake. There are actually two stories in this post, a past and present. Grandma does not leave her dog outside all night like my previous neighbor and is one of the reasons I will deal with it. If she tries anything overnight, I have a clear shot of the dog. (kidding)
Robin, that letter is just me being ridiculous.
I’m the only one who calls my town Hysteria Lane, there is no such town, that I know of. Thanks.
Lana, I plan to, but there’s always my unless……
Mark, yep, I will. Right now she brings the dog in at night, so we’re cool.
Al, I wondered where the dog came from and don’t remember seeing one at that house…it all came together. This dog, although sometimes annoying, is tolerable.
Monique, if I had gotten that letter in the mail, I might have busted a gut. I was serious, but it was also meant for my laughing pleasure. LOL. That’s what I was afraid of with my previous neighbors. Even when you approach people nice, their pride and feelings are automatically on the defense, like who the heck are you to be telling me about my dog. I knew them well enough to say hello and keep it moving. We’re not friendly like that.
Marelisa, I agree that when we live in a society we need to put up a certain level of inconvenience from others…I accept that, I expect to hear kids outside, loud music, I like knowing the neighborhood is alive, but the neighborhood also has to go to sleep. It’s simple consideration to me.
Tondy, not sure what that is, the dog whisperer, but it sounds quiet. : ) It’s wrong to let a dog bark all day everyday and night, if that’s what you (not you) want, go live in the country away from other people. Little dog syndrome. Heheh.
Bamboo Forest, uh “to do so was more of a dare than a “neighborly request” was an indication of the type of neighbor I had. I think it’s safe to say, you don’t know the nature of that neighborhood. I find it hard to believe that a grown up NEEDS to be told that a barking dog (day and night) is a nuisance, I expect that from a child or from someone who simply doesn’t care. The neighbor himself would come outside and scream for the dog to shut up, but never let him in the house.
The Sounds of Barking Dog is just not track on the Soothing Sounds CD.
Thanks Bamboo Forest, you are right though in that if there is a problem, the owner should be told. Unfortunately, THAT neighbor wasn’t one for listening.
Davina, LOL…grandma rules! She’s untouchable in my book, for now
Natural
Loved your creativity with the first letter, but this new situation just makes me feel sad. barking dogs are enough to make your brain explode, but just think how this woman would feel without him, or probably if you even criticized him! Good decision to leave one pretty, snapping painful dog go about its business. Sometimes it’s hard being virtuous.
Kelly
Thanks for adding the Seinfeld clips. You know how much I love me some of that!
I think you need to leave that old lady and her dog alone too!
xxoo
meleah rebeccah’s last blog post..So Yeah…
I was thinking maybe having her Walmart seniors card pulled..:)))
but I think your right best to leave this one alone..
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My dogs bark only when little grandmas come to my door?? love sandy
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Kelly, I don’t know where I get these ideas from..they amuse me. Barking dogs are annoying, but especially so when you are trying to sleep.
Meleah, I love Senifeld. Grandma’s safe. Grandma’s safe.
Robert Bourne, good idea. The WalMart seniors card is like the black Amex Card.
Sandy, that would be fine by me. Maybe the dog see pictures of grandma on blades of grass….that’s why he barks. Hmmm?
We all need companionship and sometimes we need people to understand what we are going through…Yes, leave it alone.
chris’s last blog post..5 Movies That Make Me Cry
Looks like I’m late to the party, so I guess there’s no need for me to repeat the sentiments of the other commenters. Instead, I’ll suggest the idea that this dog now gives you the right to do whatever you please (within reason) without any regard for your neighbors. Have you thought about taking up the piano? Or maybe signing up for jackhammer lessons?
<– I’ve got nothing
TOPolk’s last blog post..The Magic Bullet
Nice ending. Good for you!
Our daughter and her boyfriend recently got their first dog. While really friendly with them right away, it goes ballistic anytime they bring any of their friends into the backyard, so we were a little concerned when we stopped to visit them in Little Rock a couple of weeks ago. Our daughter looked absolutely amazed when the dog came right up to us like she had known us all of her life. They finally figured out that it was probably because we went into the backyard from the house where everyone else had entered through the gate.
Dogs are kind of neat…, except for having to take care of them.
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Natural,
What a powerful post! It always amazes me when a perception just flips on me! I had a similar experience when my first daughter was born. I was in a tiny house, tiny lots, everybody could hear everything. And right behind us lived 2 German Shepards who barked from 6am until around midnight. I was at a loss. My infant wasn’t sleeping, and the noise was driving me a bit, well…
I decided to pay a visit to my “neighbors” to get the specific addresses, so that I could phone the Animal Warden. We DO have noise laws in out town!
Imagine my surprise: one dog belonged to the Chief Detective in Burglary - the other belonged to…THE ANIMAL WARDEN!
We moved. No kidding.
Rita
Barking dogs are a type of noise pollution that can make your head hurt. And then again, dogs are more often than not the only companionship for lonely souls–a wonderful thing. Hmmm, a paradox, like many things in life. Solution: get to know the dog and its owner, make friends with both of them, and there is a good chance that the barking will abate and you will feel better…about a lot of things.
peace,
mike
livelife365
I Miss My Hair
Mike Foster’s last blog post..Why Oatmeal Rules!
Well it was a good way to get your old neighbour to stop the dog keeping you awake. And Hysteria Lane sounds really bad. I had some really bad neighbours when i was younger and the kids were babies - the loud music, all hours kind - two houses in a row. My husband was in the forces and they thought it was ok to house young families beside - single delinquents. But I wasn’t as polite as you when I banged on the wall and shouted at them.
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Chris, I don’t know how she feels, but I understand. Sometimes I feel like I’m always the one doing the “understanding”….one day my brain is going to explode. I’m cool.
TOPolk, LOL. Well I have a set of speakers that could wake the dead. Actually I’m probably disturbing someone’s peace right now… I kinda almost dare anyone to knock on my door too. Dog is okay right now, he was only out for a while this evening. I need a drink.
MikeG, wow, that little change made a difference, huh. cool. I like dogs okay, I prefer cats, you don’t have to walk them, stroke ‘em a few times, feed ‘em. Easy and they work too…they catch mice. Dogs bark at squirrels they can’t catch.
Rita, that’s funny but not. LOL, you moved! Try telling them their dogs are disturbing the peace and see what happens.
MikeF, I just know my brains will end up on the walls at the post office because of this one day. I’m very fond of the elderly, I hang out with the elderly, but I can’t take on another one right now.
Thanks for the suggestion….this dog is annoying but not half as bad as the other one, I can deal.
CathL, “Hysteria Lane” is supposed to be one of the best towns in NJ to live, but my block and sometimes the town cracks me up. Does being too nice pay off or am I a ticking time bomb?
Good!! You be NICE to gramma and her new dog!!
meleah rebeccah’s last blog post..I Am So Tired…
i am going to be nice, meleah. that’s me, well some of me. i’m in a bad mood though right now. i feel a 2nd head growing out of my neck. he was out there this evening, but he’s in the house now.
Natural’s last blog post..Doggone, Grandma
OMG, you really wrote that note in a child’s handwriting? You never cease to amaze me. I am in awe. We have a very dangerous dog next door. At least that’s what the old man who owns the dog tells us, in all seriousness. I am sorry, it’s a white poodley thing with a mohawk. The Lion and I pretend to be afraid of it to make the old man happy.
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Maybe you should watch the movie ‘A fish called Wanda’. A couple of great tips on how to deal with old ladies with dogs!
Urbane Lion’s last blog post..How dirty are you?
Brilliant idea. I love your idea in pretending to be a li’l kid, who would resist you anyway hehehe
Holy crap, that is an AWEsome idea about writing a letter as a little kid. I’m going to try that this week.
Deer Naybor:
Your loud music skares me at night and I cant sleep. Pleez turn down the f-ing volume or I’ll come over there with a lead pipe and . . .
Hmmm. Maybe that doesn’t work for everyone.
JD at I Do Things’s last blog post..I Did Things in Canada so you don’t have to
Rather than being all passive-aggressive, why not show some real empathy, get to know her a little, and be honest about your feelings about the dog? People respond to loving honesty. What prevents you from that?
Urban Panther, I wrote that with my left hand, it does resemble a child’s handwriting, doesn’t it. That’s funny, the old man thinks his dog is dangerous, the dog is probably as cute as ever.
Urban Lion, I heard of that movie. Come on tell me what happened.
Cielo, I’ll just chuck that letter up to my creative side. : ) Thanks.
JD, people resond to kids differently than they do adults. Oh I forgot the misspellings. Darn!
Hi New Age, I really don’t have time to get to know another elderly person. I already assist several of them. There are two different stories in this post…as I mentioned in the post and comments that my current neighbor (grandma) DOES NOT leave her dog outside OVERNIGHT and everyday, so other than being bothered in the early morning or evening, there would be no reason for me to say or do anything to her.
Real empathy? I don’t know how much more I can be taught about empathy, I live a life of nothing BUT compassion and I use that empathy to help others everyday. I wear it everyday, it’s who I am. We can talk about the problem but my character is not open for questioning.
What prevents me from loving honesty? Well, other than having my tires slashed twice in a week for my “loving honesty”, nothing…., but Grandma and her little dog is not my night time bane. As regards my other neighbor, you ever lived in the ghetto? Walk in my shoes a little and try keeping your head up at the same time. Thanks for stopping by, come again.
You said the dog barked and was annoying. I read your post twice before commenting, and a third time now again. You said you considered sending Granny a faux-letter and then reconsidered when you guiltily discovered that maybe there was a reason and a good one (in your opinion) for the dog. What *I* was suggesting was that you take 10 minutes and go the extra whatever-it-is and show her more empathy than simply NOT writing her a passive-aggressive note.
I’m not questioning your character; I’m simply suggesting that you could step out of your box a little and continue looking down that road that you’re already headed toward.
If you had read *my* blog you’d know where I live. Or is it easier to throw stones from where you are?
New Age a barking dog IS annoying, but that’s life, we live in a community and have to put up with noise to a limit. I said: I CAN’T write granny a letter….. I was thinking out loud of what my normal response would be and was in a similar situation…and was like: I can’t do that to her.
The post was meant to be more humorous than anything else…I guess it didn’t come across that way. I couldn’t remember her having a dog and when I realized why, it all made sense. Never planned on or considered sending granny a faux paus letter but the dog IS ANNOYING. WHY should I take 10 minutes and go the extra whatever when the annoying dog is not out overnight….he’s annoying, but NOT an issue that warrants action. I said I would leave it alone - I would put up with it and deallllll.
MAYBE I took your suggestion the wrong way when you said I need to show a little more empathy and stop being passive-aggressive, AS IF I’m some uncaring, self-centerd person. I’m far from……Didn’t appreciate the insinuation and if I didn’t word the post correctly or you thought otherwise, my bad.
I don’t have to read your blog, I did look at it, you came here, so this is where I will address you. That question about the ghetto: rhetorical.
why am i still typing…………sigh.
We’ll just have to leave this as a misunderstanding and not knowing each other. ‘Kay? Have a nice day.
Natural’s last blog post..Doggone, Grandma
I downloaded your blog to my ipod and I may be crazy but your voice has changed a lot since the last time i saw you….lol
What’s up Becky! Um my voice on the Podcast….I sound like a man I bet. lol Thanks for reaching out/keeping in touch and saying hello, I sent you an email. Talk to you later.
People who leave their dogs outside 24-7 and don’t pay any attention to them are jerk faces.
I was at the pound one day (adopting my precious Suki) and some assface was surrendering HIS dog because it barked too much. Don’t try training… Just give your dog to the pound. The poor dog was just sitting in the middle of the floor with his head hanging down. One of my girlfriends is a vet tech there and she told me how many animals they euthanize every single day. I wanted to punch that man in his face. I cried all the way home.
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Awwww…. now that’s just guilt on a stick! Well, there’s always ear plugs, right? lol. You’d better go stock up!
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Corrina, doesn’t seem like a person who really wants a dog would do something like that….leave it outside 24/7…i don’t know much about dogs but if they bark too much, it has to be for a reason…i did see a story on the web though of a dog that never stopped barking. the owners decided to keep him. kudos to them. i couldn’t do it.
Fitness Diva, oh i have 3 different kinds of ear plugs…not just for dogs.
I say if you’re going to have a dog you need to take care of it! A dog is just like a child, a responsability and joy. Your dog needs to be a part of your family, not some animal you keep outside and only include when convenient for you. Dogs don’t just bark for no reason. It kills me to see (or read) that people leave their dogs out all night and are never home or attentive with their pets. Uggh!
thanks for your comment. i actually saw the dog today. i think the woman’s son was out with him while shoveling snow.