The title sort of gives it all away, doesn't it?
I hired a yard service this year, since the yard takes 5 hours a week, minimum. 5 hours I would rather spend at the river! The deal was, the yard guys would call 30 minutes before they arrived, so I could make sure the dogs were securely inside, and ready for a few hours indoors or somewhere else. Since all the gates are open while they mow, the dogs could easily get out. I also don't want flying debris from a trimmer to hit a dog. So that's the deal, they call first.
They usually come on Thursday mornings at 8:30-9, my paperwork morning, so I'm always home. The first few weeks all went as planned.
Today, at 6:50 am, I'm asleep but dreaming about lawn tractors. I startle awake to realize they are mowing my lawn! It's going to be hot today, maybe they got an early start? The dogs are loose, meaning they have the run of the house/yard. 6:50 am? I sit there and shake my head, thinking I must be imagining this! Too early! But no. And there are no dogs in my room. Not good.
I reach the kitchen and look out in the back yard, and Tau is standing at alert in front of a lawn tractor. Standing at full attention (beautiful pose, really), staring down the yard guy. No bark, no growl, just a clear message that the guy was not authorized to move. Stare down. The guy is standing on the seat of his tractor, with his cell phone to his ear. Somehow I think he got a reminder to call me!
The other dogs are basically behaving themselves. I realize this is Tau's first season for both lawn and sprinkler services, he came to us in October when the season was over, so he's never seen lawn tractors before. When the lawn guys were here before, all the dogs were inside or at the park, because they had CALLED FIRST!
Now the good part. Not only is my hair totally bed-head, I'm in jammies, and really marginal jammies. An orange T-shirt of my daughter's (her high school colors were orange and black, so we have a few of these still hanging around). And some "on sale" orange and pink plaid yoga pants that really, anyone with any self respect at all would not be seen dead in. My lucky day.
I take a deep breath, step onto the porch, and the yard guy starts gesturing wildly, in case I didn't notice why he is standing on top of his lawn tractor.
Tau is like a statue, keeping eye contact with this guy. At 9 months old, Tau is easily 115 pounds, and probably 31". His adult coat is coming in, thick enough that he actually looks bigger than 115 pounds. He's going to be one huge Shiloh. The guy standing on the lawn tractor is looking like he's going to wet himself any second. Seriously.
I call Tau, just once. He backs away from the lawn guy, keeping eye contact for a few steps, then trots up and does a perfect "front". I am beyond impressed. No sound at all. These dogs are amazing.
The guy starts to get off his tractor, rethinks his decision, and just starts up the mower and goes back to work. Whew! Don't want to talk to anyone in these jammies!
The dogs come inside, and I go find my toothbrush. If this is the start, it should be an interesting day.
I'm wondering if I should look for a new lawn service. This could have been a disaster.
On the other hand, my guess is whether they start work early or not, the yard guys will be calling in advance from now on. What do you think? Is this grounds for firing these bozos?
I hired a yard service this year, since the yard takes 5 hours a week, minimum. 5 hours I would rather spend at the river! The deal was, the yard guys would call 30 minutes before they arrived, so I could make sure the dogs were securely inside, and ready for a few hours indoors or somewhere else. Since all the gates are open while they mow, the dogs could easily get out. I also don't want flying debris from a trimmer to hit a dog. So that's the deal, they call first.
They usually come on Thursday mornings at 8:30-9, my paperwork morning, so I'm always home. The first few weeks all went as planned.
Today, at 6:50 am, I'm asleep but dreaming about lawn tractors. I startle awake to realize they are mowing my lawn! It's going to be hot today, maybe they got an early start? The dogs are loose, meaning they have the run of the house/yard. 6:50 am? I sit there and shake my head, thinking I must be imagining this! Too early! But no. And there are no dogs in my room. Not good.
I reach the kitchen and look out in the back yard, and Tau is standing at alert in front of a lawn tractor. Standing at full attention (beautiful pose, really), staring down the yard guy. No bark, no growl, just a clear message that the guy was not authorized to move. Stare down. The guy is standing on the seat of his tractor, with his cell phone to his ear. Somehow I think he got a reminder to call me!
The other dogs are basically behaving themselves. I realize this is Tau's first season for both lawn and sprinkler services, he came to us in October when the season was over, so he's never seen lawn tractors before. When the lawn guys were here before, all the dogs were inside or at the park, because they had CALLED FIRST!
Now the good part. Not only is my hair totally bed-head, I'm in jammies, and really marginal jammies. An orange T-shirt of my daughter's (her high school colors were orange and black, so we have a few of these still hanging around). And some "on sale" orange and pink plaid yoga pants that really, anyone with any self respect at all would not be seen dead in. My lucky day.
I take a deep breath, step onto the porch, and the yard guy starts gesturing wildly, in case I didn't notice why he is standing on top of his lawn tractor.
Tau is like a statue, keeping eye contact with this guy. At 9 months old, Tau is easily 115 pounds, and probably 31". His adult coat is coming in, thick enough that he actually looks bigger than 115 pounds. He's going to be one huge Shiloh. The guy standing on the lawn tractor is looking like he's going to wet himself any second. Seriously.
I call Tau, just once. He backs away from the lawn guy, keeping eye contact for a few steps, then trots up and does a perfect "front". I am beyond impressed. No sound at all. These dogs are amazing.
The guy starts to get off his tractor, rethinks his decision, and just starts up the mower and goes back to work. Whew! Don't want to talk to anyone in these jammies!
The dogs come inside, and I go find my toothbrush. If this is the start, it should be an interesting day.
I'm wondering if I should look for a new lawn service. This could have been a disaster.
On the other hand, my guess is whether they start work early or not, the yard guys will be calling in advance from now on. What do you think? Is this grounds for firing these bozos?
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