Does your dood understand what you're saying?

[Pat and Traveler]

I've heard some amazing things about dogs understanding what we're saying.  Aside from the commands we've worked on, they sure seem to pick up other things along the way!  One of Trav's cutest is what he does after he 'plays dead.'  We taught him to lie on his side when we say "Bang, bang--dead dog!'  That's cute.  But he usually continues to wag his tail when he's supposed to be dead--silly dood!  However, now he's learned to hold his tail still if I say, "Dead dogs don't wag their tails," which just cracks me up.

We spell some things so he won't get too excited--walk and ball, for example.  He's picked up some words that I didn't realize he was learning.  "Antler" is one.  I was keeping an antler up on the bookcase for a while.  I didn't want it lost in the yard or collected by his brother.  Much to my surprise, he started looking up at the bookcase when I said 'antler.'  He knows exactly where I keep it.  He learned 'vacuum' somewhere along the line.  He loves to bark at the vacuum and, well, I let him have his fun with it.  Now all I have to do is mutter about having to vacuum, and he trots off to the closet where it's kept.  He understands 'kitty' and 'look' and 'who's that?' and 'squirrel' and some others I'm not thinking of right now.  I put something in his bowl the other day, and when he came in from outside I told him he should look in his bowl, and he went straight to it for the snack.

Has your dog picked up any surprising or unexpected words, or body language clues?   

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

They listen better than the rest of the family does! It's like always having a close girlfriend to talk to. I know they understand emotions more than words.

[Katie and Sophie]

I love the associations they make and the patterns in our routine that they pick up on.  We have recently started a little remodeling, which made us temporarily move our dryer into the garage instead of its normal spot right next to the washer in the house.  Now, every time the girls see me go to the washer to get the clothes out they run to the door and wait so they will get to come outside with me to the dryer.  It will be funny to see if they still do it when the dryer is back in its normal spot.  They know many phrases too that they have just picked up on.  They know car ride and treat and dinner time and things like that.  They know snuggle time and they jump up and nuzzle in and get super snugly, which of course I love.  The also know "go find..." and can get things by name.  They do it with toys and people and other dogs.  We sometimes go for off leash walks with my mom and her dogs and one of hers doesn't have as good of recall and wanders farther from the group so we can tell them "go find Izzy" and they will run off looking for her and come running back with her trailing behind.  they also know that look out means to move out of the way.  I dont think I notice most of their habits, just because I am so used to them.  We are very in-synch, probably because I spend the most time with them  

[Pat and Traveler]

Katie, they're really paying attention, aren't they?  It will be interesting to see if they still want to go to the garage after the dryer is back inside.  I love the 'go find Izzy!'  Trav reacts to "Is that...."  your sister, brother, whatever, though I don't think he distinguishes who I'm talking about.  He's my first dog, and I really didn't know how tuned they become to their people.   

[Katie and Sophie]

isn't it amazing how smart they are?  Its fun to watch them learn!

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

I love Trav and his wagging tail! So smart!!

I'm always amazed at the words and phrases Jack picks up. Sometimes I'm not even talking to him and he responds! I do spend a lot of time talking to him and he sits and looks at me and cocks his head, taking it in. He knows everyone's name, Grandma's house, his toys names, etc. I have to spell words like  walk and car and park. What I've noticed lately is that he knows my next move, probably because of how he follows me. If I am taking clothes out of the dryer, he runs upstairs ahead of me because he knows that's where I'm going. And he's learned the rooms, if I have something to bring upstairs to my daughter's room, I'll tell him "This goes in Katie's room" and off he runs and waits for me there. Maybe one of these days I can give him these things to put where they belong, then he could teach my daughter! lol

[Pat and Traveler]

I love that Jack knows where you're going with the laundry!  And know which room.  That is just amazing.  They pick up so many clues--it's just so surprising to me.