This dog comes to you if you sneeze!

@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
January 23, 2019 6:19am CST
Okami, our border collie, likes nothing better than being let off the lead in open countryside or woodland and charging off on her own to explore whatever looks or smells interesting. We have estimated that she must cover about ten times the distance we do when the family goes for these walks! However, one of her failings is that she is not at all good at coming when called for. She suspects - with good reason - that the summons often marks the end of her fun - the lead goes back on and she has to go back in the car or be made to walk along a road back towards home. However, I have discovered a so far foolproof way of getting her rapt attention. This is to sneeze! My sneezes are of a particularly violent kind - a series of "Ahhs" of progressively higher pitch followed by a veritable explosion. By around the third "Ahh" I have a dog climbing all over me with an anxious expression on her face. The way of getting her to return to you at the end of a walk is therefore to pretend to sneeze. It works every time! However, she is an intelligent dog and surely it cannot be long before she realizes that we are playing a trick on her. We therefore need a Plan B to cover us for this eventuality. Any suggestions?
3 people like this
2 responses
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jan 19
It sounds like she thinks you are really in trouble. Can you concoct a really good groan or yell of supposed pain? Like you, I can't see the sneeze working for too long. Does she get a treat when she returns to you?
2 people like this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
23 Jan 19
Oh yes - she always gets a treat! The groan signs like a good idea, because she clearly has a kind nature and wants to show sympathy. However, if there are other people around, I wouldn't want somebody to phone for an ambulance!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jan 19
@indexer You need to check out who is around first.
@Fleura (35093)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 19
You just have to call her over more times, not just when it's home time. Just call her over, give her a little treat then let her go again.
1 person likes this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
23 Jan 19
Worth a try maybe!
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35093)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 19
@indexer Then she won't know whether it's home time or not, and more often she will get a treat and be allowed to go again, so it ought to work - let us know!