Lately, when I let the dogs out in the morning, LilGirl sometimes gets distracted. She’s our alpha dog and will bark or howl or snarl at any creature that she things may pose a threat to her humans inside. I think there must be a family of rabbits on the other side of the back fence, because she sits in the back corner and just barks. And barks. And barks. AND BARKS.

This doesn’t usually phase me as I’m running around the house in the mornings and can’t even hear her. However, MrZ is still sleeping at this time and can hear her loud and clear. This has inspired him to grace me with his presence earlier-than-usual some mornings by running out of our room and onto the back porch to try to call LilGirl back in. He does this all wearing his boxers which makes me less motivated to keep the dog from barking. My husband is very cute, you know.

But - my neighbors are probably not as cute - and I’m certain they find the morning barking just as annoying. So, I’ve been trying to find ways to get her back inside when she starts her barking fits at the vicious rabbits trying to kill us in the backyard. It’s not as easy as calling her in, because she is like my other kids and very good at ignoring her mother. And my neighbors are probably less impressed with my screaming than with LilGirl’s barking.

So, my new technique has been to take the treat cannister outside and shake it. I hope that the smell and temptation of treats will motivate her to come inside. And it works most mornings. And I’m thinking I’m on to something. Do you realize how much quicker I would get out of bed in the mornings if someone was shaking a plate of bacon in front of my face? Or how quickly I would get off the couch and fold the laundry if there was a bucket of hot wings waiting in the laundry room. And let’s not even get started about what I’d be willing to do for a rack or ribs.