Rooney & Stuart are outta here!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I can't take another Florida summer!  I've been trying to jog a bit in an effort to lose weight (no such luck, now I'm just a fit, fat person) and even going out the door at the crack of dawn leaves me trying to run in 90 degree heat with 85 percent humidity, not an easy task for a chubby almost 55 yr old.  So this Thursday the puppy hauler 2011 is pulling out of the drive way for the 22 hour drive to Michigan.  Thankfully dd lives in Atlanta and we will pit stop there for the weekend before that last 12 hour leg to arrive in Michigan on Monday.   I'm driving the boys up myself - dh will fly to MI a bit later.  Truthfully - he would have rode with us but I am going to have the suv packed to the roof with all the dog beds, toys, food (can't get Orijen in our little town), so I couldn't spare the space - besides - since his job loss - he is with us 100% of the time and I am looking forward to a little me & the boys time.  So cooler weather - here we come - the boys are going to LOVE that!

I have a few concerns though.  We have never been able to get our beachfront condo sold and so that is where we are staying.  I see no issues with Rooney but Stuart is going to provide some challenges.  We are on the 5th floor with balconies off the beach side and the river/town side. 

A baby Stuart last year on the balcony. 

Because our condo is right at the edge of a public park, and a long pier - there are always lots of people walking, having picnics, weddings in the pavilion, etc.  Stuart is a barker watch dog, who feels the need to let me know when anyone or anything is near.  I'm worried that he might cause problems barking.  I hate to leave the a.c. on but I might have to resort to closing the sliders, and the shades so that he can't see the activity. Stuart was only at the condo once before when he was a baby and only for a week.  When I'm in the condo I should be able to quiet him down but I want to be able to leave them while I run, bike or whatever, I'm worried that they'll hear someone in the hallway waiting for the elevator and go nuts - I'll be lurking out there trying to see how they behave, pretending to have left - the neighbors are going think I'm a nut job. 

Rooney on the pier last summer - look at all that water.

Also the river is right there and I will NOT be able to let Stuart get loose as I'm scared to death that he might jump in, that boy loves to swim!  This is a big river with boats coming and going and it is in a channel so once in - unless you can climb a latter there is no way to get out.  I can see the Coast Guard station from my place - they are always scooping people (sometimes dead) out of the river and lake so this is a big concern. 

Any advise from apartment or condo livers would be most welcome!  I see a wonderful summer ahead of fun, family and friends but with some challenges as well.   

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Interesting idea - call me skeptical but I don't understand how this would work although I'll do some further investigation.  In my mind barking is a dog behavior - even Rooney will bark once in a while (usually when Stuart is barking like mad and convinces Rooney that there IS an emergency - lol), that all dogs have to one degree or another.  Stuart doesn't have any seperation anxiety, is not distructive - just feels the need to alert us to the fact that someone is going past our house within his eyesight.  I know people that have used a "bark collar" to shock them but after our e fence - I'm not going to go that route, too cruel in my book.  I like Jane's idea of the bitter apple spray.  Camus sounds like Stuart - they just enjoy the barking - ha ha.  Life is so simple for them.

[Christine & Camus]

Yes, Camus does love to bark and his bark is just as big as he is. It seems to be his way of greeting, cannot understand why no one seems to like his hello. LOL

I think the citronella collar is designed to spray citronella at the dogs nose when they bark, so it must have a vibration sensor of some type. The idea is similar to what Jane does, it is just automatic.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Please let me know if this works! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

One plus is that citronella repels bugs, too. :)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Sunset off our balcony - every evening is just this beautiful.  I should be getting some sunset shot advice from our photography group!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

No advice here on barking and certainly not how to get abetter sunset shot than this gorgeous one. Good luck on your trip.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

How great to head to MI for the summer! The photos look beautiful! Travel safe!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, Safe travels to you. I don't blame you for heading North. I hate the heat :) Sometimes, I run a fan to mute outside noises.

[Rose Ann and Amante]

I would love to have oppurtunity to meet you!!!! My husband take the kids on a no moms allowed camping trip every summer. Perhaps I could come across and have a visit.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Well by all means - come on over and bring Amante!!!!! 

[Rose Ann and Amante]

That would be awesome!!! I wanted to go somewhere with my doodle while they were gone, hmmmmmm!!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I grew up in Michigan, just north of Detroit.  I spent summers with my grandma and aunt at Houghton Lake.  Only bad thing about Michigan in the summer is the mosquitos.

Here are the many things I have tried with Roo who is compelled to tell me if anyone or anything crosses his line of vision or smell. 

Squirt bottle of water - joke he loved it

Squirt bottle of bitter apple - no sense of smell apparently, thought it was a game

Citronella collar - unaware of it, Tigger didn't like it when it went off on Roo

Birdhouse that emitted a high pitched "only the dog can hear it" noise when barking occurred.  Didn't work, changed batteries repeatedly, how can you tell it works if you can't hear it.  Tigger didn't seem to notice it either.

Electronic bark collar - worked great on Tigger after about two days, but then he forgot, still not a big barker though  Did not work on Roo, he either did not mind it or did not feel it or it was more important to bark

Large zogoflex bone - Roo loves this bone, so I taught him to only great people with it in his mouth and only to bark with it in his mouth -took awhile.  Still barks, but is somewhat muffled by bone. 

Now working on allowing him one or two barks and then must go to "his chair" and lay down with bone  - a work in progress

Open to suggestions also