On Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:39:03 -0500, Boater wrote:

Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:
Eisboch wrote:
"Boater" wrote in message
...

Oh...what would you do with an intruder in your house who was
threatening you? Call Eisboch for a consult? :)


Although I do have a shotgun in my house, I like to think I will never
use it.

Dogs are a great deterrent to home intruders, especially when they can
be heard and
there's obviously more than one.

Sam will bark loudly at strange noises ... he even recognizes
unfamiliar cars coming up the driveway.
Problem is, if someone broke in, I think Sam would probably lick him
to death. He likes people.

However, Sam has a more silent friend named Fudge, the dog Mrs.E. took
in. Fudge lets Sam do all the barking, most of the time. But Fudge
doesn't like strangers and doesn't hesitate to go into attack mode.
Even people he somewhat knows but doesn't see regularly will set him
off and either Mrs.E. or I have to demonstrate that the visitor is
OK. Only then will Fudge relax. The other day my oldest son went out
into the garage area to get something, not realizing that Sam and
Fudge were out there. He came flying back into the house doing about
Mach 2, with Fudge on his tail, snarling and growling with foam all
over his mouth. It's scary to see.

Don't be fooled by this picture. He may look scholarly, but it's an act:

http://www.eisboch.com/fudgebook.jpg

Eisboch


A dog, even a small lapdog is much more of a deterrent than a gun.
A burglar wants an easy mark, a loud barking dog encourages a burglar to
move to another home.

Yes, that's the conventional wisdom, and sometimes it is true and
sometimes it is not. Too many burglars today are hopped up on drugs, and
may not react in the conventional way to a yapping dogs. Others may be
in the mood for a little of the old ultra violence, and simply kill the
dog, too.

Way back in New Haven days, we had a prowler on our back porch who was
scared away by my mother's yapping Pomeranian, Shirley. These days, some
of those prowlers might just try to shoot the dog through the door.

A burglar is hoping to find an empty house. If there are people home, it
is an entirely different crime with much worse outcomes.

It's funny. Even here in Washington DC, where we get our share of
burglaries, I've never heard of a burglar shooting a dog and then breaking
in. I've not heard of a break-in followed by a dog shooting either.

Yet, you make it sound like it's pretty common. I tried looking in the
Huntingtown newspaper, but couldn't find it.
--
John H.

Eisboch wrote:
"Boater" wrote in message
...
Way back in New Haven days, we had a prowler on our back porch who was
scared away by my mother's yapping Pomeranian, Shirley. These days, some
of those prowlers might just try to shoot the dog through the door.


Mrs.E.'s dog, "Fudge" doesn't yap and rarely barks. He just waits quietly
until you enter the dark room, then attempts to tear your head off, unless
we restrain him. He doesn't have a half throttle mode. He's either chilled
out or unbelievably visious in his attack mode. I shudder sometimes
thinking of him escaping and running across a stranger. His temperment with
strangers caused us to invest in $11k worth of new fencing in the back yard
to make sure he stayed where he belongs.

When visitors come over we put him in a large dog crate in the garage. (Sam
has one too).
If unfamiliar people go over to the crates and stick their fingers in it,
Sam will lick, Fudge will try to devour. At night, Fudge roams the house
on patrol. Sam snores on a couch or on one of my leather chairs that he
has adopted for his own.

With Mrs.E. and I, "Fudge" is one of the sweetest tempered, lovable dog
you can imagine. He loves to be hugged, petted and is constantly giving us
kisses. But he is big, powerfully built, very athletic and has an
overdeveloped sense of protectionism.

As a puppy he was abused, beaten and treated poorly (which is the main
reason Mrs.E. "had" to have him.
He has taken to us, but God help anyone else who comes around.

Eisboch



Well, you deserve praise for saving the dog, but I'd sure invest in a
bit of professional training for him. If he gets loose on your property
or off, he might turn out to be a very expensive liability.

"Boater" wrote in message
...



Well, you deserve praise for saving the dog, but I'd sure invest in a bit
of professional training for him. If he gets loose on your property or
off, he might turn out to be a very expensive liability.


We did. Or I should say MrsE. did. For about three months she and Fudge
attended a school twice a week for obedience training. It worked, although
it teaches the humans more that it teaches the dog.

He listens and obeys every command we give. Wish I could say the same about
Sam Adams. Fudge just has no use for strangers. Even the trainer was taken
back a little in how protective he was of Mrs.E.

We almost gave up at one point and considered putting him down for the
safety of everybody. But, since the training, he is controllable and Mrs.E.
wouldn't give him up for the world. She has the stupid dog trained to
"dance" with her, going through routines where he sits while she circles
him, then she stands, and he circles her, goes between her legs, etc., all
in time to music.

Eisboch

JohnH wrote:

It's funny. Even here in Washington DC, where we get our share of
burglaries,


You don't live in Washington, D.C. You live in Alexandria, Virginia, on
the cusp of Springfield. And you certainly get your share of burglaries
and violent crimes. thanks in no small part to La Mara Salvatrucha,
which is quite active in your area. If you think otherwise, just head on
over to Springfield Mall, or, closer, that Wal-Mart on South Van Dorn,
or, if you are too lazy to go there, the Safeway shopping center across
Franconia Road from you.

I've never had a lot of respect for the Fairfax County Police. When I
had my office in your neighborhood, I actually witnessed a drug deal
taking place across the parking lot. I called the cops; they showed up
45 minutes later, and the police station is right down the road a bit.
The county cops seem to spend most of their time looking for cars sans
county stickers.

If I lived in your neighborhood, I'd move.

On Fri, 5 Dec 2008 04:44:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

Sam will bark loudly at strange noises ... he even recognizes unfamiliar
cars coming up the driveway.

My dogs bark at *all* noises.
They don't take any chances.
Ever vigilant.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
On Fri, 5 Dec 2008 04:44:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:
Sam will bark loudly at strange noises ... he even recognizes unfamiliar
cars coming up the driveway.

My dogs bark at *all* noises.
They don't take any chances.
Ever vigilant.

--Vic




I've got that beat. One of my cats will cozy up to any stranger, rub up
against he or she, lapjump and start purring, et cetera.

He's our helpful WatchCat. If anyone breaks in, he'll show the perps
where our stuff is, and hold the door for them while they carry it out.

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 5 Dec 2008 04:44:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

Sam will bark loudly at strange noises ... he even recognizes unfamiliar
cars coming up the driveway.

My dogs bark at *all* noises.
They don't take any chances.
Ever vigilant.

--Vic



I remember the first time Sam actually growled and barked. He was just a
puppy and usually made all the typical puppy yelps and whines. One day he
heard something outside, gave a short, deep growl and a real bark and it
scared the **** out of him. He ran and hid under my chair.

Eisboch

On Fri, 5 Dec 2008 11:10:43 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 5 Dec 2008 04:44:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

Sam will bark loudly at strange noises ... he even recognizes unfamiliar
cars coming up the driveway.

My dogs bark at *all* noises.
They don't take any chances.
Ever vigilant.

--Vic



I remember the first time Sam actually growled and barked. He was just a
puppy and usually made all the typical puppy yelps and whines. One day he
heard something outside, gave a short, deep growl and a real bark and it
scared the **** out of him. He ran and hid under my chair.

LOL

"Tim" wrote in message
...
Hmm, what do we have here?

Unbelievable!

http://www.snidelyworld.com/Humor/Upgrade.htm

On Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:47:51 -0500, Boater wrote:

JohnH wrote:

It's funny. Even here in Washington DC, where we get our share of
burglaries,


You don't live in Washington, D.C. You live in Alexandria, Virginia,

Well, excuuuuuse me! I live close enough to DC that I see the local DC news
every night. You snipped the part about the dogs, Harry.

Again, how come I've never heard of any burglars shooting dogs, as you
suggest is so prevalent?


the cusp of Springfield. And you certainly get your share of burglaries
and violent crimes. thanks in no small part to La Mara Salvatrucha,
which is quite active in your area. If you think otherwise, just head on
over to Springfield Mall, or, closer, that Wal-Mart on South Van Dorn,
or, if you are too lazy to go there, the Safeway shopping center across
Franconia Road from you.

I've never had a lot of respect for the Fairfax County Police. When I
had my office in your neighborhood, I actually witnessed a drug deal
taking place across the parking lot. I called the cops; they showed up
45 minutes later, and the police station is right down the road a bit.
The county cops seem to spend most of their time looking for cars sans
county stickers.

If I lived in your neighborhood, I'd move.

What is it about liberals that causes them to demur, change the subject, or
start with the personal insults when asked a specific question?

Do you honestly think someone gives a rat's ass what you think of the
Fairfax County Police? Would you hold the Prince George's County Police up
as a fine example? Hee hee!

BTW, county stickers haven't been a requirement here for quite a while.

Whoops!
--
John H.