Coming Home to Story

Captain Midnight here with exciting news.

I’ve entered Himself for the obedience class at Kingscote Village Fete. It was that or the agility class and – frankly – that was never going to work. I mean look at him, he’s about as agile as a hippo (and that’s doing a disservice to my river dwelling friends who are quite nippy when needs must).

I had an idea this morning for a new manoeuvre. The idea is to make him open the back door for me to go out. It works like this…

I take one of his socks from the heap of clothes on the bedroom floor, making sure he sees what I’m doing, and head off. Himself can’t resist the lure and follows me downstairs to the kitchen calling out: “Oi you, give me back my sock!” This is good because you score extra points for getting your human to vocalise,

He still has an unfortunate tendency to lunge for the sock (definite loss of points for that behaviour) but I discourage him by picking up speed on the staircase. Then I stand, sock in mouth, and paw at the door. This is what they call a ‘silent command’ and is permitted under Owner Club rules.

With bit of luck, Himself will now turn the key and open the door for me. At which point (once he says “Thank You” of course) I will release said hosiery, now pleasingly moistened by my saliva, into his outstretched hand and exit into the garden.

He’s not very bright but he is learning. I used to have to chew actual holes in his socks to get his attention but after only four and a half years of training, the mere threat of damage is sufficient to propel him into action.

Et voila…

Royaume Unis – Dix Points!