Totally with you on this one. Penny is nearly 14 and her hearings going. I know have to go and fetch her for dinner, if I call her she just doesn't hear me. Unlike Pepper though, Penny is a little madam, and even though she knows the hand signals, she quite often chooses not to do as she's told! Particularly out on walks, or getting in the car she really milks the "oh I'm a poor old dog, I don't have to do as I'm told any more!" routine!