We all know that kids tend to bug their parents when parents talk on the phone. Whether it's because the kids want a lollipop or want to pinch their sister, maybe play a video game they’ve already been told “no” about, they know that if mom's on the phone, the immediate reaction won't be as bad as if she were off the phone. And even if it happens when she’s off, who cares!
Well, my precious Nala has bad phone behavior, too. And the weird thing is, only when I talk to certain people. My kids tell me I have different phone voices for different people - a business voice, a voice for my mom, a few for different friends. Anyway, any time the phone rings, Nala comes to check out who’s calling, and I guess she knows those voices, too. If it’s my mom, she starts to bark (Nala, not my mom). I’ve had to walk away from my kids when I’m on the phone because of the pestering and I’ve had to walk away from Nala, even put her in the upstairs bedroom (or put myself there), because she just barks, and sometimes she even starts that crazy run around growly thing she does.
Don’t get me wrong, I know perfectly well why she does this. I’ve created this bad dog behavior, me, it’s all me. When she was a puppy, I would often take her out when I was on the phone. So now she knows, phone= mini walk. And what dog doesn’t like a walk, even a mini one.
So I still do it. I know - wrong thing for a mom to do. It’s like giving your three old the lollipop she asked for when you’re on the phone because it’s easier than saying “no”and listening to crying/arguing/screaming. So I take Nala out - still. It’s easier than listening to her bark/snarl/ run around. And she usually actually does her dog business, comes in feeling good and refreshed. And if I’m still on the phone, she barks again when we come inside and her leash is off. And guess what - against my better judgement, I go ahead and give her that biscuit!