Ah, William and Grayson (puppies) have just passed their second birthday (yes they're still puppies to me!) but they somehow seem a little more grown-up, a bit more sensible if you like and much more likely to take notice of what I say.
In fact, after 2 years of training myself to be more of a pack leader, I think I've just about got the hang of it. Here's an example. For all their 'grown-upness', they still do have something against the dog next door. Bless it, it's only 18” high! If they catch it in its own back garden, sniffing the other side of our fence (how very dare they!), they do still rush at it like they're protecting fort knox!
In previous months, it's taken nothing short of yelling like a fish wife at the top of my voice to get the pups to take any notice of me and come to heel, ignoring afore mentioned killer dog next door. Not very pack leaderish granted...but it worked!
Yesterday I made a decision. Now they're older, a bit more decorum from yours truly is called for. So...as they predictably both ran hurtling towards next doors fence at the faintest whiff of Buster (18” high killer dog), I stood calmly at the back door and whistled in a low, calm, authoritative tone. Not you're whacking huge wharf whistle (I couldn't if I tried!), simply a low steady, 'I want your attention subtly' whistle.
Instantly, they both stopped barking, turned to look at me and came straight to heel and sat down staring up at me..ha ha! Bingo! It worked! Cool!
Biscuits were called for. Later on, off they ran back to the same spot on the fence but instead of rolling my eyes in frustration, I simply did the same, a cool calm whistle that brought them straight to me last time. It worked again! Ha! Who knew?
2 hours later, there I am sat with The Husband and exactly on queue, the boys hear 18” high killer dog and run hell for leather into the back garden barking for their lives.
Just as The Husband drew breath to start his tyraid of 'Oi!', 'Get back here!' (soooo uncoothe!), I simply raised my finger and said 'Watch this' as I strolled confidently to the back door.
Out came my low, calm whistle ....(dogs took absolutely no notice, Husband stares at me in his very best 'What are you doing?' look). 'No, no this works', I explain confidently...I try again...louder this time, my very best calm, assertive, yet commanding whistle. ...Nadda...Nothing...Absolutely no effect on now hysterically barking dogs!
For the sake of neighbourhood peace and quiet, I shifted into 'yelling like a fish wife' mode as they ran straight back to me...Husband hiding a smirk.
Un-flippin-believable!
Comments