Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4696.msg57836#msg57836 date=1393663150] [quote author=Merla link=topic=4696.msg57823#msg57823 date=1393660952] Can I throw in an interesting contemplation here? Do you think it's actually the words which are 'understood' or to what extent is the dog responding to familiar body language cues, tone etc? [/quote] Charlie definitely responds to body language, hand signals and context. As far as words go, I think key sounds can be very meaningful. Charlie will Sit to: Sit, Sissors, Silly, Side and so on. My sit command is Sss now. (Yes, at one point, me and Charlie had time on our hands....) [/quote] My friend does this! He makes that Sssss sound! It drives me mad! ;D
Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) Kath you are really on it with your observation.Dexter is definately reading me all the time and responding to hand signals and body language cues... Big proof the other day ,my 5 year old nephew was putting his bowl down to him for his dinner.Dexter has to wait until he is released with Ok to go ahead and eat but I also point to the bowl with my finger as I say OK.George said Ok,Dexter didn't move and looked at me,George said it a few more times,Dexter didn't take his eyes off me.....silently I pointed and he dived into his bowl.my niece and nephew also find it hard to follow the 'say it once' rule so poor Dexter gets told sit,sit,sit,sit sit by them.if I'm standing behind them,over their heads I silently do the hand signal and he plonks down straight away. I've just read Turid Rugaas On Talking Terms with Dogs : Calming Signals ,so I've been really watching Dexter this last week and thinking about what I'm doing that he picks up on,it's been really interesting.x
Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) [quote author=heidrun link=topic=4696.msg57837#msg57837 date=1393663353] My friend does this! He makes that Sssss sound! It drives me mad! ;D [/quote] Hahaha - not as mad as my "is that for me?" would drive you! (I am going to change that, by the way ).
Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) I must say 'right' a lot too as Riley definitely perks up whenever I say it : And my sit is usually a sssssst - oops 8) I thought of some more too.... on you go is like his release when we're out and about say hello when he's allowed to greet other dogs and this way for come on stop dawdling/sniffing
Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) Things I wish Obi understood: Quiet Do NOT steal that sock!!!!
Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) [quote author=bbrown link=topic=4696.msg57849#msg57849 date=1393667782] I thought of some more too.... [/quote] Me too!they keep popping in my head...poor dog! Bed ( his own,not ours ;D) Blanket X
Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) [quote author=Merla link=topic=4696.msg57823#msg57823 date=1393660952] ... Thoughts and experiences anyone? ...[/quote] Harvey has a fairly basic vocabulary at the moment but picking up on the point about whether the words are important ... when my wife is preparing Harvey's food (be it at meal time or preparing a kong) and his enthusiasm gets in the way a single look from her accompanied by the words "Park your bum!" seems to be perfectly interchangeable with the standard "Sit" command.
Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) [quote author=Merla link=topic=4696.msg57823#msg57823 date=1393660952] Can I throw in an interesting contemplation here? Do you think it's actually the words which are 'understood' or to what extent is the dog responding to familiar body language cues, tone etc? [/quote] Interesting point. For example if I say "sit" to Lady she sits. If I say "ssss" to her she doesn't. If I say the sounded "t" she sits. So it seems it's not so much the word as a part of the sound she responds to. Just edited to say I just noticed you all said the same thing above already. :
Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) On a walk if I say "Good girl", she is there nudging my hand looking for a treat. Not so in the house. Cue words are clearly contextural
Re: What words does your dog understand (as far as you know) Nevis knows... Nevis Sit Paw/other paw Down Roll over (he'll do anything for a treat ;D ) Stay Go get (fetch) Come come come (recall) Dinner Listen ( love this as he stops everything and listens intently ) Hurry ups (pees/poo) Family names (and has an inner clock for when they arrive home) Kong Rattie (toy) Nooooooo... ( this he sits and looks proudly at me usually with something in his mouth that he's chewed : ) Working on more