I realize we are outnumbered. There are more pets than people in America today - 380 million and 300 million respectively. 63% of all households have at least one pet. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It is a "dog-eat dog world out there" though, with about 75 million cuddly, friendly, furry, canines populating our homes. I suspect that at least 60% of households in my Parker neighborhood have dogs. Could our community literally have "gone to the dogs?"

My wife and I love pets, especially pets that don't bark incessantly. There are four or five dogs in our neighborhood that bark incessantly. We've heard that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," but "that dog won't hunt." There are many ways to train most dogs to stop the incessant barking. Go online and do a Google search for Barking Dogs and you will get 7,340,000 results. This confirms that we have a problem of epidemic proportions.

If there is one thing that really gets my "dander" up, it is minding my own business, in my own yard, and being barked at incessantly by a cute canine three houses away. Are the owners at work and oblivious to the incessant barking? Are they at home and just totally immune to the noise or to the annoyance their neighbors feel? I can understand the depth of affection that many owners feel for their beloved pets. After all an estimated 1 million dogs in the USA have been named the primary beneficiary in their owner's wills. Some "dogs do have their day." We just hope that the beneficiaries get good financial advice.

They say that "a barking dog doesn't bite," but we are "dog tired" of the incessant barking. Now - if those dogs could be trained to chase rabbits that would be a different matter - added value so to speak. Andy Rooney once said, "If dogs could talk, it would take all the fun out of owning one." Are some dogs so miserable in their owner's homes that they have to bark incessantly to relieve their pent-up tensions and frustrations? Maybe if they realized that Americans spend 4 times more on pet food each year than on baby food, they might reconsider their lot in life.

A survey by the National Pet Products Manufacturers Association determined that 75% of dog owners consider their pet as a child or family member and 70% of pet owners sign their pet's names on greeting cards. Could there be a survey question next time on how many neighbors of dog owners resent the incessant barking of these family members? Or, how many dog owners realize their pet is barking incessantly?

There are ways to stop problem barking in many cases. First there are just basic training methods requiring patience and persistence. Citronella anti-bark collars, and de-barking surgery, in extreme cases, will work. There are other creative methods such as the use of Sonic Dog Repellant (looks like a garage door opener) and I read about one satisfied dog owner who bought a boat air horn on E-Bay for $12. They emit a high pitched sound that dogs hate. A water pistol loaded with water and a little Windex or vinegar can work, but it has limited range. A garden hose can be used if the incessant barking is next door. There is always Animal Control if you want to end up "in the dog house" yourself.

Maybe I'm "barking up the wrong tree." Americans spend $425 million a year on oral hygiene products. Not for themselves, but for their pets. Total spending on pets reached $36 billion in 2005. Maybe I can spend a few dollars on some earplugs and just "let sleeping dogs lie."

A note to the neighbors on Woodside Lane who have two dogs that bay like Bassett Hounds - The Citronella collar can be effective.