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Showing property in Red Feather Lakes, CO

Real Estate Agent with United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

September 05, 2011 08:32 AM

The buyers and I were driving by the cabin near the lake when the listing agent called with the lockbox code. “There’s a Rottweiler in the house, but don’t worry, she’s friendly”, he said.

I opened the lockbox and with key in hand approached the door, working on my “show no fear attitude” with every step. I’ve shown many homes with dogs in them but you never know how they will react when their space is being invaded.

Lucky for me, Red Feather is a small Village and a man stopped to see what we were doing at the house. He didn’t live there but he knew the dog well and offered to let the dog out into the yard while I showed the cabin. It was my job to let her back in before locking up and she was fine.

Funny, I'm probably more timid around strange dogs than I am with the wildlife here!

Most wild animals will simply avoid humans, given the chance...

Like this bear that my husband and I ran across on the way back from the Poudre Canyon -

S/he skedattled from view almost before we could stop the car and focus (?) the camera.

My husband said it was the first time he'd seen a bear "in the wild" (as opposed to seeing one in our neighborhood) LOL

I never go out without seeing some wildlife, it may be birds or chipmunks or deer.

These 2 chaps are busy keeping the grasses neatly trimmed around one of my listings.

I just love what I do and I have to say, I work in a pretty great area!

*************************************************************************

Mary Douglas, your Mountain Broker-Associate and REALTOR®

United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, CO

www.marydouglas-redfeatherlakes.net

800-531-2195

“A Day in the Mountains will always soothe your city soul”

I specialize in the Red Feather Lakes area, Crystal Lakes and Glacier View Meadows Subdivisions, if you are interested in buying or selling your mountain home, please give me a call, I’m here to help you.

The information contained in Mary’s blog is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and the opinions and views expressed in these articles are solely those of the author.

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Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I love dogs, but I will NOT show a house with dog loose. NOPE, I'm not afraid, but also not about to let a buyer get bit.

Now those chaps... I might have had to shoot them with something other than a camera.

Sep 05, 2011 04:01 PM

Mary Douglas

United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO

REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Thanks Sharon, it was a work day, for me but I met some nice people today and took them out to see a few cabins. I hope you had a restful weekend!

Lanre I'm glad you didn't get chewed up- good grief. It's nice to see you today, it's been awhile and thank you for stopping by Lanre, I hope you had a great Labor Day.

Thank you Evan, I couldn't agree with you more! I have had a dog have a hold of my forearm before; luckily I had on a heavy coat.

Hi Sandy, I think it's true that they can be more protective of their homes- where the wildlife usually justs "moves over" LOL It was nice to have the man offer to help, you're right! On another note - how was the surfing contest? HAHA!! :-) Thanks Sandy!

Hi Lou, I hope you had a very nice Labor Day weekend, thank you!

Sep 05, 2011 05:14 PM

Thanks Carol, I'm glad to see you. You have beautiful scenery in Murphy, too- We are fortunate, aren't we?

Hi Barbara, Thank you! You're right, we have to be careful - I love my dog but I would never let a stranger walk into our house alone. I don't know how she would react! I've met a lot of dogs when showing homes here though!

Hi Tammy, oh I wouldn't let a buyer get bitten either- that's why I go in first. LOL It's a little unnerving at first and really I feel sorry for the dogs who aren't quite sure about what's going on. Thanks for your thoughts on it, I appreciate that. You wouldn't really shoot Bambi would you, Tammy? - they were still pretty little!

Sep 05, 2011 05:31 PM

Debbie Walsh

Shahar Management - Middletown, NY

Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Great photos Mary! I am working with a client right now who is extremely fearful of dogs. As I unlock doors if she hears a noise she runs the other way!

Sep 07, 2011 12:35 AM

Cherise Selley

Selley Group Real Estate, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realtor

Mary,

Amazingly, it seems like we're seeing all kinds of wildlife in surrounding neighborhoods, including the wilder versions of coyote, fox and bear. But I must say, sometimes Cherise, who loves animals, has more problems with the dogs on showings as well... g

Sep 07, 2011 05:10 AM

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty

Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL

Florida Space Coast Homes

beautiful pictures...though I would not be interested in showing with the bear near my car...lol

Sep 07, 2011 06:11 AM

Thanks Debra, a lot of people are frightened by dogs so if at all possible I think the little doggies ( and big ones) shouldn't be there to greet the prospective buyers! On the other hand, I've had several buyers who love dogs and didn't mind them at all.

Hi Gordon, I like your new profile pic! It does seem that a lot of wild animals have ventured down into more populated areas lately doesn't it? I'm with Cherise on the showings with dogs- they can be more trouble than the wildlife! Thanks for stopping in Gordon.

Thank you Jeffrey, how are you liking your new area? The bears will move away but I do worry about running into an ornery moose. Now, do you have to watch for the gators down there!?

Sep 08, 2011 05:05 AM

Rich Cederberg

eXp Realty - Albuquerque, NM

eXp Realty Agent Albuquerque

Hi Mary, Did the Rotweiler nip you? I hate meeting strange dogs this way even though it always works out just fine. Stresses the animal too.

Sep 08, 2011 07:34 AM

Ann Allen Hoover

RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL

CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Hi Mary! I see deer from time to time but never any bears. There was a report of one sighted in Birmingham a month or so ago and it wasn't an escapee from the Zoo. Wish your little bear had posed for something more than a butt shot!

Sep 08, 2011 08:50 AM

Hi Rich, I'm like you, I really do not like meeting strange dogs this way! The dog didn't nip and like you said all of my encounters have worked out just fine, too. You're right, it really does create stress for the dog. I wonder if they're thinking "OK if they start hauling out the good stuff, then I'll bite 'em!" Thanks Rich :-]

Hi Ann, I agree, I saw his face but the second he saw us he decided he would exit stage left. (That's what I like about the wild animals) What happened to the Birmingham bear? It always interesting when they make their way into the city, isn't it? Thanks for stopping in today, Ann.

Sep 08, 2011 03:04 PM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Realtor Top 1%

RE/MAX Gold - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Some insurance companies won't even insure a home where a rottweiler lives, and you were ready to open the door to face a strange dog on his own territory? You've got more guts than I do, Mary. But love your wild animal photos. As for wild animals in Sacramento, we have cops shooting attacking raccoons out of trees downtown. Huge skunk invasion, too.

Sep 09, 2011 04:11 AM

Myrl Jeffcoat

GreatWest Realty - Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Real Estate Agent

Wonderful pictures, Mary! I'm especially fond of the picture with the little bear, because it is unusual to encounter them in the wild here. I do remember one trip to the high country of Yosemite, in the late 1960s. I saw a mama with her cub, and I grabbed the camera and ran straight toward both of them with camera clicking away. I was a bride back then, and husband was yelling bloody murder for me to get back into the car. All the while mama bear was lunging at me. Still she didn't harm, and her actions were more to intimidate me away, to protect her cub. All's well that ends well. I need to post those old faded out pictures one of these days:-)

Sep 09, 2011 03:07 PM

Hi Elizabeth, I trust this agent and I knew that he wouldn't tell me the dog was friendly if she wasn't...still I was nervous about it because they can smell FEAR! LOL Speaking of smell....I do not like skunks, we lived in a few areas with many skunks and our dog at the time never learned - she went after them everytime she saw one! Thanks for stopping in - attack raccoons? Yikes.

Thank you Myrl, you crack me up and you probably wouldn't run straight toward a sow and her cub today! Ah, those wild and crazy days when we were young and fearless...I'm glad you have the photos to show for it :-}

Sep 10, 2011 03:35 AM

Linda Jandura

Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC

Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

Great shots of the wildlife, but no pics of the Rotweiller? That I would be more fearful of then the deer. Have a great weekend!

Sep 10, 2011 03:49 AM

Not Bambi, but I would shoot his dad. Oh that sounds bad when I say it. But I do love deer meat.

Sep 12, 2011 12:36 PM

Ann Hayden 636-399-7544

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Chesterfield, MO

SelectAnn.com

Always a good idea to approach the dog in the house with caution.

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

Sep 14, 2011 03:29 AM

Suzanne McLaughlin

Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN

Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Mary, you are much braver than I. I would have not shown the property with a Rottweiler running loose.

I know they are great dogs.....for the owners.

Beautiful photos....stop it already. I so want to live near there.

Sep 15, 2011 08:28 AM

Did the bear get you???

Sep 20, 2011 04:42 PM

Are you out fishing or what?

Ann Hayden wondering in Wildwood, MO

Sep 21, 2011 03:48 PM

Hi Linda, Sorry I didn't think to get a picture of the dog and I apologize for getting back here so late! Thanks for stopping by Linda, I appreciate it.

Tammy, are you hunting this year? I was talking to a hunter the other day that got a buck, she said the meat was delicious.

Suzanne- "stop it already" :-] I was trying to muster all the bravery I had! I was really glad that the man helped me out with the dog, but I also trust the agent who told me the dog was friendly....

HAHA Ann, you're comments alerted me to come back here - not fishing and no, the bear didn't get me either! I've been occupied working on a deal and taking a mini-break from hovering over the computer for too many hours in the day.(and night) Thanks for checking up on me Ann!

Sep 22, 2011 03:18 AM

Showing property in Red Feather Lakes, CO

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