Whistle training

Ever since Ann lost me last Wednesday, she's been worrying about what she can do to ensure that it never, ever, happens again. Obviously a 'tracker' would at least locate me if it ever happened again. And she's still thinking about that one. It wouldn't however, solve the problem.................. which is..................... I didn't come back to Ann when she called me, because chasing deer was much more fun than obeying Ann.


A few people have since suggested that Ann 'whistle train' me. Mmmmm........... Ann tried that when I was a weeny, teeny puppy, but the 'whistle' wasn't that great and Ann didn't persevere, because at the time, toilet training me took preference. OMG?! Can anyone remember how long it took to toilet train me? 6 whole months.


Fast forward, four years and apparently she's going to try 'whistle training' me again. And guess what?....................... she remembered she had a rather lovely whistle lying in the bottom of her rucksack that she bought when she started walking the 'SWCP' in 2010. At that time mobile coverage still wasn't that great and as she was walking by herself, her sister told her to take a whistle, that she could blow if she got into difficulties.


The whistle has never been used and it's a bit rusty now. But, it still whistles.


Ann was thinking about buying a sheepdog whistle to train me with, but seriously..................... sheepdog whistles appear to be very difficult to use. You wouldn't believe the no of Youtube videos she's been watching. And Ann doesn't want to train me to round up sheep. She just wants me to come back to her, even when I'm chasing.


She's found what she thinks is a brilliant website but who knows?!! Anyone with a bit of techy) knowledge can make a brilliant website can't they?


Heyho.................. Ann's convinced my 'chasing deer' last week was a 'one off' and she's never, ever going to put me in a situation where there are so many deer again. BUT.................... I'm a Collie and Collie's chase. That's what we do.


…................What my human needs to do.................. is teach me that she's much more important to me, than any short term chasing is...................


#watchthisspace


And in other news............................. my human is still trying to get through to the TAX OFFICE (See last last Monday's BLIP). She needs to pay a couple of years voluntary NI contributions so that she gets a full state pension when she's 66 in two years time. All she wants, is a 'class 3 NI ref no.' and then she's more than happy to do the rest of it online. She's going to use BLIP as a record of how many times she's tried to get in contact with the TAX OFFICE and will be posting an update every Monday until she gets a reply........................


Sooooooo................................ since last Monday she has phoned the TAX OFFICE 8 times (and got cut off 8 times) and has emailed twice and as yet has no reply. Just found an address for snail mail. Might try that next. Check back here next Monday if you're interested.


Toodles. xxx