OMG, the dogs are driving me nuts

[nomad100]

Is there doggie Valium?  If so, I need to get some for next year.  Or maybe I need some human Valium for me. 

They love.love.love kids and so go nutso every time the doorbell rings because they know there are kids out there.

They do not do this when we have adults over for dinner and they ring the bell or when the UPS man rings the bell and delivers a package. 

Now they are whining because it has been 5 minutes since a kid rang the bell. 

We tried putting them in the bedroom but the whining increases and then there was howling.  So we moved them to their crates with Kongs.  Yup, more whining and crying. 

Less than an hour to go until we are done with TOTing.  It can't come soon enough.

[jane6672]

My inlaws use this for their poodle.
www.vetriscience.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=900780060


It doesn't do shit.

[nomad100]

jane6672 Crap.

And it isn't that they are stressed in a bad way, really. They just get so freaking excited when the kids from the hood, that they visit with and get petted by on their walks, actually come to the house.

It is sweet but geez, settle down.

[bonquiqui]

I would not be handing out candy if this were the case lol

[miniroller]

We got ONE t-or-t'er & my pup barked for the 5 mins that I shoveled 1/2 of my bowlful of candy into his bag (1st Halloween @ this house, so didn't know how many to expect & WAY over-estimated). Continued barking continuously for about 10 mins & he's now (45 mins later) intermittently yelp-barking every 3-5 mins.
Basically, the fear of more doorbell rings has suppressed any disappointment of not getting anymore cutie visitors...
In conclusion, I would pay $$$ for Dog Valium.

[nomad100]

Oct 31, 2013 18:29:20 GMT -5 bonquiqui said:

I would not be handing out candy if this were the case lol

It would be worse if we didn't answer the door.  Once we answer, they are all "look at how cute we are. Pet us" and soak up all the attention.  (and don't make a single peep).  It is when they see kids walking past the yard and NOT coming to see them that it gets loud (pacing, whining, howling but strangely no barking.  They are not barky dogs, thank the Lord.)

So DH and I have a routine now.  He grabs their leashes and I open the door and handle the candy.  After the kids get their candy, they can pet the dogs. 

Everyone is much calmer now. Willow is chewing on her Nylabone in the FR and Cricket is laying at my feet in the DR. 

[dexteroni]

This is Sadie's first Halloween and she lost her mind every time kids came to the door. Like she was leaping almost as high as my head. The kids were highly amused though!

[ralphlauren]

I will keep my dogs in their crates or outside when the kids come.

[rosiedozie]

Yea, our dogs are up in their crates. They bark every once in a while but it's easier to deal with that than their excitement every time someone comes to the door.

[nomad100]

Oct 31, 2013 19:11:44 GMT -5 ralphlauren said:

I will keep my dogs in their crates or outside when the kids come.

Yeah, we tried the crates and it was so freaking loud.  Thus the routine we came up with that seemed to work well since that at least kept them quiet.  If they knew they would get to see the kids at the door, they were freakishly silent. 

Cricket, out pittie mix, can get over our 6-ft fence with little effort so no backyard while unsupervised for him.  Shoot, even when DH or I are in the yard with him he will take a shot at clearing it if he thinks there is something in the front yard that he wants to investigate.

On the plus side, they are both so pooped now from all the excitement, they are laying down.  Sweet blissful silence has fallen across the home. 

[ralphlauren]

Oh bummer.... That would make me so stressed out.

[So_Fetch]

I feel your pain. My two dogs went to a halloween sleepover at daycare. No doorbells.

[Deleted]

Oct 31, 2013 23:22:06 GMT -5 @gracie6414 said:

The last few years I just stand on the front step, tie the beagle to the door knob and chill out. Couple years ago me and the neighbour did it together with all three beagles tied to the door while we chatted and handed out candy. People can let the dogs, I have 2 free hands. Everyone was happy!

I think this is what I'm going to do next year. There was a stampede every time the bell rang.

[nomad100]

OMG, the snoring last night from both dogs (and DH) almost made me go sleep in the guest room.

All the excitement of kids visiting pooped them right out.

Thankfully Halloween is only once a year!