Ah, yes ~ FurKids and their selective hearing ~

"Cinder": Sort of depends on where she is... Inside we respond fairly quickly (at least raise an earbone and consider a response ). If the Master's Voice comes from the kitchen; don't get in the road - you'll get trampled! Outside, especially when running free - it's more likely "Chill, Dad; I'm busy right now." When she does finally decide to wander toward the voice, she'll ALWAYS pause, when within sight, to go through the motions of *go pee*. Her way of explaining why she couldn't come immediately.

"Smokey": Inside, outside; doesn't matter... "I'ma commin, Dad ; whatcha need!?" Wag, Wag, Wag!!

"Boots, the Kat": With two exceptions, the reaction is the same - "Huh? Kats don't *come*; ya oughta know that by now!" First exception: opening the bathroom closet (where his krunchies are kept) gets you a kat within 30 seconds from anywhere in the house. Second exception: opening the fridge and rustling the wrapper on a slice of cheese - gets you a kat, ON the counter and waving a paw, within 20 seconds!

Similar results can be had with the dawgs if either the biskit jar is just *bumped*, the cabinet where the biskit box is stored is opened (only cabinet with DOUBLE magnet latches - they hear the double-click!), and lastly if the hall closet (where the dog krunchie metal can is stored) is opened.

The most amazing sound they respond to is when the computer at work is being shut down prior to departing towards the home Ranch and dinner... Both mutts can be sound - really SOUND - asleep under the puter desk. Click Windows shut-down and the program starts packing up, closing files and gets ready to stop spinning the hard drive. They HEAR the hard drive slow down! Paws an Tails start to fly - it's a wonder they don't kill each other in the scramble to get out from under the desk!

Selective hearing? It's an art form practiced by every FurKid I've even known!

[ July 21, 2001: Message edited by: Cinder & Smoke ]