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<DIV>Oh boy! One of my favorite topics. Over the years various bassets knew
various words depending on their IQ. The current gang knows to come in
from the yard if I rap three times on the sliding door (if they can hear me over
their barking.) Or if I call out Supper (if they can hear me over the barking.)
or I yell TREAT (if they can hear me over the barking) and my favorite is "DUCK"
for the special duck jerky they get but again if they can hear me etc. Jordan
knows "crate" but after three years does not have a clue about "OFF!"
meaning me as she tries to climb up my leg. "Back in the house" gets everyone
out of the laundry room mostly. "Give it up" allows me to pry contraband out of
basset mouths. Sandi's all purpose "Hey" usually gets the attention of a basset
contemplating the counter or kitchen table and they sheepishly wander over to
see what I want. The one command I wish I could get them to understand is "MOVE"
meaning let me through! Every where I go, they are with me but when I need to go
from one room to another, usually Crackers is about 3 inches in front of me and
sloooooowwwllllly ambles no matter what which is why most phone calls end up on
my voice mail because I cannot get around him. </DIV>
<DIV>On the plus side they no longer react to my doorbell because it is the same
as the Orkin and Papa Johns commercials and after a few hundred times of me
saying TV as they all headed for the door, they don't even lift their heads now
even if it is really my bell! But when I sign off the internet and the AOL
voice says "Goodbye" pandemonium reigns so I mostly keep the speakers turned
off!</DIV>
<DIV>Kathy with Crackers, the slow, Loki the nitwit and Jordan the clinger.
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