I can't go down and get him because he'd probably redirect onto me and certainly would if I grabbed his collar.
T'other night he was barking his head off and wouldn't come in, ignoring calls of his name, 'Sausage!', 'Wassis?' and so on. Eventually, though I don't like using his whistle when I don't think he'll respond, I called his name again and gave the usual three peeps on the whistle... and he came running in!
Naturally, we then threw a party as if he'd just got a first in astrophysics, with lots of sausage being served!This, I think, is down to keeping the whistle in reserve for 'special occasions', not doing it when I'm pretty sure it won't work, doing it usually just once but at a maximum twice (the first for him to lift his head and say 'Did I just hear something important?', the second 'Yes! My Mum NEEDS me!'), to reward VERY heavily with lots of praise and, if possible, not putting him straight back on lead so the fun ends.
