The F Word
Thank goodness for the F word – and no, it’s not what you’re thinking. Yes, it is a four letter word but it’s Fish. I think Pebbles has already told you that sardines are the one thing she likes about all else. She might not respond to most of Mum’s training commands, but she does normally come running if there is the possibility of a sardine. Mum decided the word was too long, she also felt a fraud when there was a substitute tin of mackerel, so she prefers the word fish. If Mum shouts ‘fish’ then Pebbles leaves what she’s doing and goes to find Mum. I’m expecting to find half the local cats join the party, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Mum has been working with Pebbles walking on a lead. Pebbles tends to chew the lead and try to grab it, so Mum has gone back to basics with her. They were out in the front garden and the plan was to walk up and down the drive. Somehow, Pebbles slipped her lead and ran out into the road. I don’t know what the neighbours thought, but suddenly Mum was going out into the street shouting ‘FISH’ at the top of her voice. Thankfully, it worked before any harm was done. Pebbles came in to eat her fish, oblivious of the panic. Mum had to sit in a darkened room until she calmed down.
The doorbell
Obviously we like to react to the house doorbell, but I’m not talking about that. Because we don’t have an outside door from the kitchen and Pebbles spends a lot of time in there with Mum, we also have a dog doorbell. Mum installed it on the wall of the kitchen so that Pebbles can tell her when she wants to go out. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Given how keen on training Pebbles has been so far, that is never going to work. You’d be wrong. Pebbles learns some things very quickly and the doorbell is one of them.
Mum showed her how it works by pressing it and then immediately heading for the back door to open it and go out. She had no idea if Pebbles had really understood, but it turns out she has. They were in the kitchen and Pebbles scratched at the door. When Mum didn’t move, Pebbles moved round her to the bell and pressed it with her nose. Out then went and Pebbles immediately found somewhere to go to the toilet. She was quite happy to come straight back in afterwards. Let’s hope she doesn’t start using it just for fun – although a dog ‘crying wolf’ would be quite funny.
Love and licks
Wilma
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