This got a bit ranty....but AUUUUUUUGH it's like trying to talk to a particularly stupid brick wall.....and I need to find a different approach.

We have one particular groundskeeper who works in our complex who doesn't really knock before coming into the apartments even when I'm home (my room is in the back...I don't always hear the door and while Ryuk will tell me there's someone at the door he's not usually vocal until they try the door.

Now there are two guys that usually handle the stuff in our part of the complex. There's the one above who I'm afraid is going to get bitten if he keeps doing this, and the other one I like and is fine. While I'm not there Ryuk is crated and okay. When I'm there however and can't hear the door he's loose in the apartment. The visit are usually unannounced.

What happens is, the two guys let themselves in. Ryuk (I'm not in the room) will charge them barking. Guy who's going to get bitten does what he does in all the other apartments with dogs and throws treats in his face. Now....Ryuk doesn't usually accept food from strangers and wouldn't stop barking and growling for a steak...he's not going to stop for a handful of crappy milkbones. The other guy immediatly steps back out in to the hallway and calls for me...though usually I'm already there to let him in.

So far my timing has been good with the stupid guy. I get out there before he tries to push past my dog to get where he needs to (usually to our temperamental fridge in the kitchen). The few times it's just been the smart one Ryuk will stand and bark at him lazily as long as he stays in the hallway, if he steps inside he gets a sort of "a spring up and bark at you" thing. This guy is smart. He waits out in the hall way usually saying "Oh hey Ryuk...your mom home?" and waits until I get out there where upon I invite him in and instantly he and my dog are best friends (Ryuk loves this guy...still won't let him in without my permission though...). Stupid guy will try just to walk through my dog....he hasn't gotten the chance yet...but he will.

I've tried to explain to the stupid one that the treat thing won't work with my dog and if he continues forward after Ryuk's warning barks I would not be surprised if my dog bit him. This guy is honestly under the impression that because my dog is NOT a pitbull and is not a "police dog" (I think he means german shepherd or doberman) that he will not bite him. He's openly said that my dog is to small to do damage. My dog is now 60lbs....he can hit with the force of a freight train. He is not trained for bitework....but the two times he was truly confronted with a real threat (the threat was to me) he acted (I was not discouraging him from acting...I was fighting off an attacker, the moment I got away and called him he released and escaped with me). I can trust him with anyone when I"M THERE, he's never shown any other aggression, as soon as I say they can come in he's instantly friendly which I think is damaging my explanation that he WILL BITE this guy. He sees that he's friendly when I invite them in and assumes it's all just bluff....

I don't want to get this guy in trouble...he's very nice and quite helpful (totally willing to take calls in the middle of the night when our plumbing rebells and is always there in minutes when we call him) but he's as dumb as a brick in cases like this and I don't want my dog in trouble. Ryuk shouldn't have to be restrained at all times IN his house just in case of unannounced groundskeeper visits but COME ON.

Is there a better way I could get this through this guy's thick skull....AAAAAUUUUURGH

WOW! I have lived in an apartment with my dogs and I understand your frustrations.
In my view, it is completely unacceptable to walk into my house unannounced. What if I'm naked!?!? Two men are just going to waltz in? I don't think so!
I totally understand your reservations to get your 'handy man' in trouble. Starting a war with him would suck. However, that doesn't compare to the problems/emotions you will face when Ryuk reaches the tipping point. Aggression always escalates if not mitigated.
The only way to mitigate this problem (as I see it) is to make sure that dunce knocks on the dang door (like the cops if he has to), and allows you to leash up your pooch. My 2 cents.

Wow is right! I think that in most states entering without calling ahead and getting permission is against the law.

I would have a talk with him and tell him that you insist on being notified before he enters the apartment( as in phone call and asking if you will be home between a certain time) and for good reasons but the most prominent one would be to protect yourself in case Ryuk decided to charge and bite him one day... a real possibility if you are in the other room and didn't hear this guy coming in.

He needs to understand that it is a liability for you and for him to come in unannounced.

That's the thing, ALL THE GUY HAS TO DO IS WAIT A FEW SECONDS IN THE HALL WAY. Ryuk is find with that. He just sort of stands by the door and barks (not aggressively, it's completely passive until they come through the door) that's what the other guy does and it's fine. The MOMENT I tell my dog "it's okay, let them in" he backs away from the door and sits until they're in....then greets them like any happy family pet would.


These apartments are very poorly designed...it is impossible to hear anything from the back bedroom....even if you were to sound an airhorn in the hallway you could here is. I actually don't mind them opening the door...just wait a few damn seconds while I get out there....10 seconds is all I need!!!!!!

Strip naked, come out of your room and ask "Whats up?".

What the super is doing is actually illegal. Tell him clearly that he is not to come into your home ever again without notice. Have him call you if he needs to get in. Tell him straight out that as a safety and privacy issue that you will have to complain to his higher up if he does it again.

Wow! If that is not illegal where you live it certainly should be. I'd be calling the management company and complaining. I'd also have a deadbolt installed (tell the management you're doing it and why).

No one should be walking in on you unannounced.

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.just wait a few damn seconds while I get out there....10 seconds is all I need!!!!!!

For sure! Insist he waits until you answer the door and in the future when he calls to tell you he will be entering your apartment, and if you won't be home, you can tell him.
Otherwise he needs to call ahead, and wait until you answer your door. It's ok to insist on this Jamie, it's your home.

 Quote: lauren jeffery

Strip naked, come out of your room and ask "Whats up?".

What the super is doing is actually illegal. Tell him clearly that he is not too come into your home ever again without notice. Tell him straight out that as a safety and privacy issue that you will have to complain to his higher up if he does it again.

ditto 'cept the nekkid part, and jam a shotgun in his face if he "surprises" you again, I got a bad vibe on this one

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If that is not illegal where you live it certainly should be. I'd be calling the management company and complaining. I'd also have a deadbolt installed (tell the management you're doing it and why).

Exactly! This is what you should do.

 Quote: lauren jeffery

Strip naked, come out of your room and ask "Whats up?".

What the super is doing is actually illegal. Tell him clearly that he is not to come into your home ever again without notice. Have him call you if he needs to get in. Tell him straight out that as a safety and privacy issue that you will have to complain to his higher up if he does it again.

I actually didn't know it was illegal....I remember something in the rental agreement about "unexpected visits" they give notice if it's an apartment wide check (by which I mean everyone' getting something checked or done) however if it's something little or building specific (there are 6 units to a building area) they usually don't give a heads up. Also, they don't in an emergency situation. The smarter of the two does make the attempt to call when he can, and he has from the other side of the door. Luckily the way the apartments are the chances of them walking in on nakedness is pretty low unless you cook naked (I have a housemate....so that's never been an issue...also cooking naked a good way to lose things lol). I think they most awkward issue I've ever had is I was working on a high fetish sculpture for a client and had it on the counter when they walked in...the expressions where GREAT XD....I'll call the office and figure out what I can do...at the same time I don't want to tell the front office WHY they're in danger since a growling dog could get me kicked out and I have no where to go...