May 31st 2007 10:39 am
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I've gotten talked to in a firm voice for the first time in 4 years. I'm seven now, and don't do much to get in trouble, mainly because I'm too lazy to get off the bed or couch, except for food- and the occasional trip outside to relieve myself; not that I'm not lovable and such- quite the contrary, I just know that everyone always comes to me (I sure have them trained!). My brothers will bark at noises, leaves falling, squirrels, cats, etc.- I will sound off a couple gruff barks- sounds more like I'm clearing my throat, but I wont even get up to see if it's anything important.
However, lately; for the past 2 weeks- I have been taking my brother's position as the bark master. I still don't bark at noises, or squirrels- I sit holding up the wall, looking at absolutly nothing in the privacy fence enclosed backyard. I do it in the day, sometimes at night- mom thinks that if I really want to bark that I should get off my lazy butt and go outside to do something about what I am barking about. She thought it might be my reflection in the french doors, but I stand just inside sometimes and bark out the open door too. In fact, my barking is so much at nothing; that my brothers, who look for opportunities to bark- started out running to bark with me, thinking that if I got up to bark at something- it must be really important. Now, I've "cried wolf" so many times that they don't even give it a second thought- they know I'm just delusional or something. They don't even lift their head or perk their ears, they act like they don't hear a sound! I haven't had a barking problem since I was 3 and we used to live in a trendy town in MI called Royal Oak. Then, I had an excuse for my barking, as we lived on a main street that was mainly pedestrian traffic- or bikes, and outdoor cafes, even parades on our street on some holidays where people would congregate on our front lawn to watch! There was a small college directly across the street- and the 3 story parking garage always had lots to bark at. We lived in an old resored home that was built in the 1800's, it was full of windows- which was one of the reasons that mom and dad loved it. Once we moved in, it was one of the reasons that they couldn't wait to move, they got tired of having to shut the blinds to curb my barking! I haven't barked except to follow in my brother's lead since then. Mom is wondering what is up!