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by fawndallas on 30 November 2012 - 19:11
I am pleased to say that I was wrong to say that dogs really do not understand the commands we give them. Based on a thread I had over the summer, my assertion was that dogs have only been conditioned to respond to our commands and that they really do not comprehend what we have told them.
Scenario: Over the years, I have had to travel quite a bit for my job. Sometimes Rose can go with me, sometimes she cannot. The commands have always been:
Lets Go – time for her to go to the car and get in it.
Stay with Bob – she goes to where my husband is and lays down (very reluctantly).
Process of me leaving has always been the same. I get out a container and I put cloths in it; container and room where I do this vary.
Today, I am getting ready to go to my first trial event (so exited). I have not said either one of the commands above. I did tell her yesterday “Do not play rough with puppies. You get to go see Ali and you need to be well.” Yes, I talk to my dogs like they are human; and yes, I recognize that my words have little meaning to them (no recognized command). (Ali is one of her dog friends.)
I told her today “Are you ready to go see Ali?” Again, I gave her no real command; just chit chatting. I got down a new suit case that Rose has not seen before and started packing. Rose did her usual antsy dance to the front door. I told her “No, go back.” Next thing I know, Rose is standing in my suit case and proceeding to drop a toy and a bone in there. She has also been attached to me like glue; never letting me out of her sight.
Just thought I would share. Thank all of you that questioned my assertion this summer and made me think about this a bit more. It is never too late to learn something new.
Scenario: Over the years, I have had to travel quite a bit for my job. Sometimes Rose can go with me, sometimes she cannot. The commands have always been:
Lets Go – time for her to go to the car and get in it.
Stay with Bob – she goes to where my husband is and lays down (very reluctantly).
Process of me leaving has always been the same. I get out a container and I put cloths in it; container and room where I do this vary.
Today, I am getting ready to go to my first trial event (so exited). I have not said either one of the commands above. I did tell her yesterday “Do not play rough with puppies. You get to go see Ali and you need to be well.” Yes, I talk to my dogs like they are human; and yes, I recognize that my words have little meaning to them (no recognized command). (Ali is one of her dog friends.)
I told her today “Are you ready to go see Ali?” Again, I gave her no real command; just chit chatting. I got down a new suit case that Rose has not seen before and started packing. Rose did her usual antsy dance to the front door. I told her “No, go back.” Next thing I know, Rose is standing in my suit case and proceeding to drop a toy and a bone in there. She has also been attached to me like glue; never letting me out of her sight.
Just thought I would share. Thank all of you that questioned my assertion this summer and made me think about this a bit more. It is never too late to learn something new.
by Sunsilver on 30 November 2012 - 20:11
Fawn, they understand a lot more than we think.
One day, I was sitting at the kitchen table in a friend's farmhouse. It was summer, and the screen door was all that separated the kitchen from the outside.
My friend's mom was telling a story, and in the story, someone said, "How y'all doing in there?" I think she also might have lifted her hand a bit, as though waving at someone.
The two farm dogs immediately jumped to their feet, and ran to the door, barking, thinking she was greeting someone who'd come to the door!
Chuck Eisenmann, trainer....excuse me, EDUCATOR of the Littlest Hobo dog trained his dogs using ordinary conversation rather than individual commands such as 'SIT!' "STAY". My husband tried this with our GSD, and most of the time, she was able to pick the relevant word or phrase out of the sentence and obey it.
One way to find out if your dog is really listening to you is to preface the command with your dog's name, and see if only that dog responds. I most often do this when I'm letting my dogs in and out, as I don't want a mad, uncontrolled stampede to and from the door!
One day, I was sitting at the kitchen table in a friend's farmhouse. It was summer, and the screen door was all that separated the kitchen from the outside.
My friend's mom was telling a story, and in the story, someone said, "How y'all doing in there?" I think she also might have lifted her hand a bit, as though waving at someone.
The two farm dogs immediately jumped to their feet, and ran to the door, barking, thinking she was greeting someone who'd come to the door!
Chuck Eisenmann, trainer....excuse me, EDUCATOR of the Littlest Hobo dog trained his dogs using ordinary conversation rather than individual commands such as 'SIT!' "STAY". My husband tried this with our GSD, and most of the time, she was able to pick the relevant word or phrase out of the sentence and obey it.
One way to find out if your dog is really listening to you is to preface the command with your dog's name, and see if only that dog responds. I most often do this when I'm letting my dogs in and out, as I don't want a mad, uncontrolled stampede to and from the door!
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