Sunday 8 September 2013

Swap me for a German Shepherd?

So this strange man forced his way through the back door last night, and into our kitchen. He seemed friendly, patted me on the head, gave me a yummy treat and told me to be a quiet pup and not to disturb anyone. I followed him into the study and watched him put Gail's MacBook into a big bag, along with her purse.

Gail has lately been complaining about how the computer is now slower than an abacus, so I guessed that this chappie had come to take it away for repairs. Although I did (silently) wonder why he had arrived at three in the morning and why he would take her purse too...

After he left, I settled down on the sofa - so much more comfortable than the cushion on the kitchen floor - and happily went back to sleep until Gail came downstairs at about seven o'clock, all red in the face (her, not me), and asked me what kind of a guard dog was I, didn't I realise that we'd been burgled and how would I like to be exchanged for a German Shepherd?

Well what to do to calm her down?

I gave her my cutest look and licked her hand, and after a few moments she said "Oh well Bertie, at least I still have the most precious thing in this house" and gave me a hug.

PS from Gail: there will be a blogging hiatus while I sort out a new computer. Meanwhile, I never imagined I'd be asking for readers' tips on how to get my wire haired fox terrier to bark a bit more...

23 comments:

  1. Bertie! *Gasp* Such a shocking thing to have happen! We are so upset, but happy both you and Gail are fine.

    Gail, do you suppose the robber had a treat which may have distracted the wee lad from making a fuss at the stranger in the house?

    Our Mum thinks it might be easier to buy an alarm system than to try and re-train or teach "appropriate" barking. Yikes.

    Arroooo!
    Buzzy McDuff and the Pip

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  2. OMD no. How awful. Bertie you may be going to some classes for Homeland Security. Thank God joking aside Gail and you were OK. Nasty thief ...I am imagining biting his ankles and some other stuff right now. Take care.
    Best wishes Molly



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  3. We are so sorry about this theft. We are glad you are both safe and the bad man only took things that can be replaced. Our Lady says she has the opposite problem, she wishes we would bark less. Good luck getting a new computer. Lee and Phod

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  4. Hari OM
    OMD this is terrible Bertie - you are just too much of a gentledog, letting all and sundry walk about the place. I mean really - you like strangers that much??

    Seriously though, Gail, I am glad to read this was a relatively 'tame' B&E - I dread to think if he hadn't liked dogs.

    As a matter of interest, I had minichimes on al my openable ports; mainly because I like them moving in the breeze - but this proved useful on one occasion when the J's were sleeping on the job, as it were. The fellow trying to enter the house IN BROAD DAYLIGHT (!) - got a bit of a shock I think. He didn't hang around long enough for me to enquire as to that...

    Be safe! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  5. OMD Bertie, glad both you and Gail is ok!
    Mum said perhaps a little bell on the door might encourage you to bark, before someone comes in, but hopefully it wont happen again! You might not have done intruder barking because you could tell there danger and the best thing to so be to stay safe and quiet and unnoticed?
    Good luck with the crime reports and all that.
    ~Lickies, Ludo

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  6. BERTIE.... WE are So VERY MUCH sorry to hear that you had an INVASION by a horrid person. BUTT we are also GLAD that you and Miss Gail are SAFE. STUFFS can be replaced... you two CAN'T.
    We hope that the PoPo Catch and PUNISH him. Did you call Scotland Yard???

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  7. BERTIE...YES I'M SHOUTING IN FELINE HORROR...OH MY CATS/DOGS/HORSES/PIGGIES YOUR HOME AND SAFE HAVEN WAS INVADED WE ARE JUST SO VERY VERY VERY SORRY BUT OH MY GOSH WE ARE MOST THANKFUL YOU AND GAIL WERE NOT HARMED.

    BERTIE I HAVE TO WONDER IF IT WAS SOMEONE YOU KNEW...FOR YOU TO BE QUIET AND FOR THE HORRID PERSON TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE GAIL'S PURSE AND MACBOOK WERE LOCATED...GEEZZZZ WHAT A SCARY THING TO FIND FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

    WE WILL BE HERE WHEN YOU GET THINGS SORTED.
    LOTS OF MADI AND MOM HUGS AND PURRS AS YOU SORT THROUGH THIS MESS.

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  8. SHE always says that I Daisy would welcome anyone and show them where to find the valuables. But Bella would rip their ankles off.

    What a pain to sort out that mess.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  9. Ohmygoodgoogleymoogley! How SKEERY! So glad you two are ok. Time to invest in a very strong deadbolt for the door and an alarm system. We have motion lights by the doors, but she has to turn them off at bedtime cuz we bark when they come on and the palm trees waving in the breeze set them off. We are so sorry your sense of security has been violated.

    Bonnie n Kenzie, the wee Scottie girlies that bark at anything that moves.

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  10. OMG! What a nightmare!! You are so lucky Bertie not to have been taken on a terrible adventure. Horatio will teach you some tricks in barking at everything that moves never mind burglars! You free for a walk next Sunday? Well head to Balmoral on Friday.

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  11. That is a seriously scary story. What an awful feeling for Your Gail to know that somebody was in your house. Icky. I am so glad that you are both OK.

    Kisses,
    Dexter

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  12. Ooooh my goodness perhaps the burgular did have a treat. Very scary and thank goodness you are ok. Right after we moved to our house, bake when we were a four dog family, we took everyone for a walk and came back to find our lap tops and my wallet stolen, so quite scary. We are thinking of you

    urban hounds

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  13. Security Systems are "it" these days and I am very happy no harm came to anyone in your home.
    Even the Watch Dog!

    Could this be a theft of your work life? How horrible! Hope all works out for you?

    Jo

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  14. Bertie we are glad nobody was hurt. That is very scary, very scary! Tell your Gail that if she does want a scrity system, she doesn't have to spend a lot. Here in the states, we have Lowes and Home Depot; but, in England, Carrefour or something similar might have door alarms and a battery or electric powered. Mommy bought ours for 40 dollars. It is great, and it works really well. When Mommy forgets to turn it off at night, and then she goes to let Andy out in the morning(he goes out first); then, we hear "rah rah rah rah." So, they are loud. Bertie, your a good Wirey Man. You were lucky, he or she didn't hurt you.
    Sally Ann and Andy

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  15. He was the perfect watch dog...he watched as the burglar came and went. That is seriously scary though but we glad you are both okay

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  16. Oh Bertie,

    I am so glad you and Gail are safe. Perhaps if you had barked, then Gail would have met up with the burglar, so we think maybe it was better he took things that can be replaced and you are both OK (although we know it is a major inconvenience to cancel or replace everything in a handbag and to also have to set up a new computer) even though you will never hear the end of how she really needed a GS that night.

    Enzo likes to sleep curled up, in a tiny ball, against the house door. He only does this at night and we are not sure if he wants to stop us getting out or is there to stop someone coming without him knowing. When I was young Mum taught me to bark on command with just a hand signal (it meant she could get me to know when it was good for me to stop barking) and she uses this if she hears something outside or a stranger comes to our front door late at night, and then she puts her finger to her lips to get me to be quiet. I learnt to bark when someone opens the gate, or is at the door, then I stop when she indicates. Enzo just barks randomly, and when he barks at 3am (at something like the wind) and she is alone with us she gets more worried, so maybe barking like a big dog isn't such a good idea after all.

    Give Gail lots of cuddles.
    Woofs,
    Riley

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  17. We are so glad you and Gail are safe. What a bummer!

    Maybe if you give her the license number that you wrote down on the pad in the pantry she will be OK and not look for a German Shepard.

    love
    Gus n Teka

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  18. We are so sorry. All I can say is it happens everywhere. Hope you don't suffer too many sleepless nights. Bertie will be on hyper alert fom now on !

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  19. OMD! How skeery! Bertie, buddy, I'm very glad that you're doing okay. I've heard that some burglars bring treats with poison on them when there are big barky guard dogs. You were just being quiet to save your life, I'm sure!

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  20. Dear Bertie, Dear Gail -- I think you were very lucky he didn't hurt either one of you!

    In fact, Bertie, not barking may have saved your life.

    Anyway, we're very sorry you had this awful experience.

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  21. Oh my gosh Bertie, this is terrible!! I'm glad you and Gail are ok, but Gail must feel sick about her purse and computer! What a disgusting human he was, tricking you like that! But, I don't think you should be swapped, and as for barking, I'm sure you would have barked if he hasn't given you a treat. Oh, this is absolutely awful! We hope Gail got something done about her credit cards and stuff and that we see some blogging soon. Do you know if he broke into any other houses?

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  22. Oh no!!!! Bertie don't you let Gail know when visitors come? Of course by patting you this dastardly villain put you off guard, but still...I guess the upside is knowing that you are still the most precious thing in the house

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  23. Omigosh, that's scary stuff. So grateful that the thief just gave Bertie a treat and not something more dastardly. You're absolutely right, what was taken is easily replaced. Phew!

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