For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for May 08, 2024

While we don’t know exactly what Elly is saying with her @{star}{lightning bolt}{saturn}* cursing jag, we do know that to Edgar it sounds like a recording of barking. I can only guess what the curse words must be. Unfortunately gocomics restrictions prevent me from writing my guesses in this comment.

The other possibility is the dogs are barking aggressively and Edgar knows when Elly is yelling aggressively and he can interpret threats from either. HIs response to the dogs’ barking is violence. After the way Edgar chomped on the bunny slipper a few weeks back, I have to wonder if Edgar is safe dog to have around. What if Elly starts yelling obscenities at him and he decides the proper recourse is to pounce and chomp on her?

Any other bright ideas Elly?

Well, that worked out well ….. NOT!!!

:-O

Years ago, when she was 3 or 4, Elizabeth was playing with her dolls in the yard, yelling and cursing just like her mother. Thing is, Elly was watching through the window and saw herself in Liz, yet it never occurred to her to curb her own big mouth!

Interesting how both kids and pets can pick up on parents’ traits—especially the negative ones!

Tape recording? She should have used a digital CD recording. At least with digital the dog wouldn’t be driven crazy with the high pitched tape hiss!

Edgar is dumber than a bag of hammers. At least Farley had some brains.

Maybe it’s time to hire a professional dog trainer.

Elly, it’s time to concede. Scratching at the door is Edgar’s way to tell you he needs to go outside or come inside. Just accept that as good enough. (Sighs…smh)

That’s pretty much what old hippies sounded like to those who espoused voices of reason……

From Lynn’s Comments: I actually tried this. My dog didn’t eat the tape recorder, he just waited for the small dogs to come out of it.

Maybe Edgar associates barking with getting yelled at, so he destroyed the source of the barking.

Open the door, Ellie.

If they had a recording of Farley…

…or hang a small bell by the door for Edgar to swat.

we hang bells on our door. The dogs nudge them with their noses when they need out. And if I don’t hear that, they come find me and stare me down!

Yelling at a dog only increases your anxiety and thus theirs. Being calm yet firm makes YOU the alpha dog and thus increases the chance that the dog will do as it is told. YES Edgar IS a safe dog to have around. He is NOT aggressive at all, just responding to the high anxiety Elly exhibited. You train a dog with positive reinforcement, rewarding them when they do as asked and NOT rewarding them when they don’t. Training should reward based. Service dogs, police and military , are always rewarded when they do as asked, and the reward is not always food. Playing with a favorite toy after a task is as much a reward as food. NEVER punish a dog for a mistake. That only increase a fear they may have for your reaction and thus they will avoid doing as you ask another time, fearing they may be physically punished if they make a mistake. I have trained dogs for over 55 years and have made mistakes like everyone else, yet I know what works and what doesn’t. As Cesar Milan says “There are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners”. He rehabilitates dogs and trains the owners.

Our dog doesn’t really bark, and isn’t that the desired trait? Our neighbor has one that barks nonstop and it is as annoying as anything.

Looks like Edgar is a little territorial.

Ellie had better order a copy of Dog Training for Dummies. Stat.

Good for Edgar. The only dog allowed to bark at him was Farley.

Maybe he just doesn’t want to bark

Did not work out like you expected Ellie.

Ooga Farley

Booga Farley

Googa Farley

Wooga Farley

You can’t spell “yell” without E-L-L-Y!

Wait’ll Edgar sees his reflection in the mirror and doesn’t realize it’s him…..

What’s a tape recording? (sorry, couldn’t help myself)

Looks like Edgar is recalling a time when Ellie yelled at him for barking.

I bet she’s named Elly cause it rhymes with yelly.

He’s smarter than Elly.

Since she was angry at the dog for barking, Edgar realized he needs to cut it out. Now she wants him to bark? Elly can’t have it both ways.

I question Ellie’s sanity sometimes

So, Cru-Elly had learned nothing in 20 years and is trying to raise Edgar eith the same Nazi tactics as she did Mike and Liz!

We tied a string of jingle bells to the doorknob and taught our dog to ring them when he wanted out. Worked well, now he has a doggy door.

HILARIOUS!

Wouldn’t THAT be a blessing?!

Most dogs don’t respond to sounds coming through speakers.