So true! And a very easy trap to fall into. I've even noticed that if, say, I'm out with the dogs and walking along talking on my mobile, it will take longer to get my dogs' attention after I've finished my conversation - simply because they've tuned out the "blah blah blah" of my voice. Ditto if I'm walking along chatting to a dog-walking friend.

For the same reason, the children are banned from calling the dogs when we're out for a walk; otherwise the dogs find themselves being called from two different directions at once and within a VERY short time, there is a danger that their name ceases to be "special".