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Health & Fitness

I Speak Dog…

It is the name of my company, but let’s talk about how dogs speak, and how they listen. 

Dogs do not naturally understand English.  We have to train them to associate a certain activity or situation with a word.  If we say “dinner” every time we get out the dog food Spot will soon make the association that the word “dinner” means something delicious is going to end up in his bowl.  It may surprise you the same is true for a dog’s name.  Spot does not know that is “his name”, but you have trained him to pay attention when he hears it.  (Side note: This is why it is perfectly fine to adopt a dog and change his name – it is just a word to him.)  

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Now dogs do “speak” constantly, but barking is a very small part of it.  They speak with their body language, the position of their tails, how they hold their heads, by licking their lips, or hardening their gaze, among other things.  It is often subtle, to us, but if we want to understand our dogs and what they are thinking, we need to learn how to “listen”.

Dogs also “listen” to us constantly.  They “hear” messages we may not even notice we are giving them.  You may put on a certain type of shoe and your dog knows it is time for a walk.  Maybe you find your dog at the foot of the stairs five minutes before you decide to go upstairs for the night.  How does that happen?  Your dog isn’t telepathic, or even a genius – sorry! -- but he has spent hundreds of nights listening to the sound of your computer shutting down, and knowing within a few minutes, after doing a few more things, you will head upstairs.  Dogs spend hours everyday sitting on the sidelines, watching our every move, looking for clues and patterns.  Unlike us humans they are focused on what is happening in that moment.  When they look at you, they are always looking for clues as to what you are thinking and what your next move may be.  Also unlike humans, they are not thinking about the report they have due tomorrow, what time to pick up the kids, or the new movie coming out this weekend.

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So stop and think about the conversation you are having with your dog every moment you are with him.  Remember you may be able to “speak” louder through your actions and body language than with words.

To learn more about the South Shore dog trainers at I Speak Dog, visit us at www.ispeakdogtraining.com

I Speak Dog 56 Depot St. #1232 Duxbury, MA  02331 (617) 513-8826

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