I like our clerks too much to put the call onto them, so I typically make the call at the end of the day for another delivery location. The owner's are the amazing denominator here, and one more reason I make the call to hear the total BS & argumentitive attitude some of them have.
It's a 50/50 generally for me, half are so sorry for their dog, but the others are pissed about the missed delivery. I explain to these that I think it's unreasonable that I could potentially lose time off of my job, and loss of income because they are incapable of or unwilling to control their animal. Some of them get it, yet others are unyeilding, and give me a valuable window to exactly who I'm dealing with and how to treat their deliveries in the future.
I try the dog treats, most of the time this works, or at least allows me the latitude to get to the door and back. Swung the diad a few times, carried a spray bottle of ammonia (that worked pretty well until the bottle froze & broke).
I really like the stops where the dog wants nothing to do with me when no one is home, but feels compelled to make a show when they are. The owner sees this aggression, and immediately begins to discipline the animal. I try to explain to them that when they do that, how do you think the dog is going to feel the next time I roll up? Happy? Or prepared for another round of fine tuning? My interventions have no purchase & generally it gets to the call at the end of the day.
I really like the air horn idea though, I think I'm going to get one. If nothing else it may scare their fat ass'es off of the couch to see some real reality show!