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Status:
"Confidently Confused...."
(set 21 days ago)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lake Ariel Pa
2,590 posts, read 2,494,809 times
Reputation: 959
dog understanding of English
I am 47 and have owned a dog for 3 years. This is my first dog, and I was wondering if she is exceptional or average in her understanding of the English language. My daughter makes fun of me because I talk to the dog all the time, but I honestly feel that she understand a large amount of what I say!! She knows the sounds of our 3 cars when they are coming , at least a minute before I can hear anything also. These are some of the things she knows:
Want a snack? (goes to where snacks are kept)
Want to eat? Goes to kitchen sink where I prepare food
Go for a walk
Go for a ride
Get your bone
Go to bed
Get in the back (When she is trying to drive my car)
Wait
Sit
Lay Down
No
Get down (when she is laying on my bed!) Most times I can give her a look alone and she will get down when caught.
she knows both my kids names, go by jessica, or go by Michelle
I just never thought a dog could be so smart. Are they all smart and try to act like humans?
I think with a little work, you'll really be impressed how smart dogs are. I have a pair of labs (8 months old) and that recognize "nappy time", go running for the bed, hop on, lay down. The funniest thing is they know there is no playing..at all, during nappy time. Sounds like you're enjoying your pup..have fun!
We have a sheltie (herding dog) that is ever so smart. When our lab wants to tarry in the yard, I tell sheltie to go get Dusty and he runs out there, takes Dusty by his long floppy ear (ouch!) and brings him into the house.
Dogs will understand a lot of words, whatever language you speak. They also pick up on your feelings, and are tuned into your tone of voice.
The more we interact with them, the more human they do become :>>
SouthWard
We've had to actually spell many words between ourselves (biscuit, cookie, bath, out...), even disguising those after a while.
In a roomful of people, I'd tell our one dog "go tell so & so" and he'd go to whomever's name I'd say. Our Shepherd also knew his many different toys by name and would get them on request.
I think it's all about how much time you spend interacting with your dog. The more you put into your pet, the more you get back. Part of it is you learning to understand DOG too!
The more we interact with them, the more human they do become :>>
SouthWard
We've had to actually spell many words between ourselves (biscuit, cookie, bath, out...), even disguising those after a while.
In a roomful of people, I'd tell our one dog "go tell so & so" and he'd go to whomever's name I'd say. Our Shepherd also knew his many different toys by name and would get them on request.
No kidding! We have to spell things too, if we don't want them to understand what we are discussing. "Remember to buy some biscuits when you're out" will send them spinning in circles and salivating on the floor.
I read somewhere that dogs can grow to recognize as many as 300 words.
Last edited by southward bound; 06-10-2007 at 08:27 PM..
Reason: add line
Status:
"Confidently Confused...."
(set 21 days ago)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lake Ariel Pa
2,590 posts, read 2,494,809 times
Reputation: 959
I guess I just sound like the typical bragging mother then! I guess all the time I spend talking to the dog actually helps! She was already 2 when we got her, so I didn't think I would see much change, she is a beagle mix and was an outdoor hunting dog before we got her. She really enjoys the indoors now! If we are in, she wants to be in. She has changed so much in the 3 yrs. we have had her.
Our 1st Australian Cattle Dog learned what "squirrel" meant, even though we did not teach it to her. She would bark at the back door, and I guess we would say-to another person-"it's just a squirrel". Pretty soon, if we said the word squirrel, she would run expectantly to the back door.
Our current ACD mix knows sit,stay,roll-over,talk,lay down,high-5,come, and shake both in commands and hand signals alone.She learned to go under the fence, open the gates and climb the fence, so now she wears an electronic collar which beeps if she gets too close, then shocks if she continues to approach the fence-which she doesn't. Until the battery quits and she can't hear the beep. Then she's gone. Too smart. We had a 6-foot stretch of fence NOT covered by the electronic fence, and she figured it out.
People laugh when I say I apologize if I accidentally step on her tail. But even if she doesn't understand the words, she understands from my actions and tone that I didn't MEAN to hurt her.
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
dog understanding of English
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