I recently tuned at a home that has two dogs. As soon as I got there the owner put them in a back room somewhere, but they started barking -- no, howling -- as I tuned the temperament. Above and below that octave they were quiet, but then as I got back up there tuning unisons they started howling again. By this time owner had left for work (and thankfully turned off the judge shows) so he couldn't shush the dogs. I found that clapping my hands two or three times shushed 'em for a couple/three notes.<br> <br><div class="gmail_quote">On Feb 10, 2008 6:29 PM, <<a href="mailto:itunepiano@aol.com">itunepiano@aol.com</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> <div> <br> </div> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I like Cy's idea of handing the  Lookersons a book.    Or, I suppose one could carry a mask and put it on backwards, so the mask stared back at them for the whole tuning!  I like to tune aurally, so if I can hear them breathing, clothes rustling, or they move around behind me, (which changes the sound pattern of  the room), that annoys me.   Kids?  I just tell them they can play all they want when I'm done, and they get a quick lesson on action ergonomics.  I encourage the kids to play me a song because if they quit playing, the piano doesn't get tuned.   Animals, I love them, even when they cover me with hair and lick me to death.   All in a days work!   Bob.  </font> <div> <hr style="margin-top: 10px;"> More new features than ever. Check out the new <a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003" target="_blank">AOL Mail</a>!<br> </div> </blockquote></div><br>