To think some dogs can actually pick human language?

[Bronsons]

I don’t mean the usual “come, sit, stay” stuff that most dogs can learn … I mean stuff they have never been taught but appear to have picked up like a person would pick up a language.

Im convinced my dog has picked up basic English. I can talk to her in the way id talk to a person and she seems to know exactly what I mean - obviously I don’t mean I discuss politics with her 😂 or she talks back to me etc … I’m not totally nuts …

but for example if she’s chewing her bone on a hard surface and making a racket I’ll say “move that onto the carpet Margaret” and she’ll immediately pick it up and move it onto the carpet. She’s never been taught this, I don’t even know how it happened. I’ve just gotten so used to it that when other people act surprised I’m reminded of how it maybe isn’t normal?!

Just now I was sat and she was sprawled across me but I couldn’t find the remote so I said to her “just get up a minute so I can find the remote” so she stood up, waited until I got the remote and then came back. I’ve never had a dog that seems to understand normal communication like this, my other dog doesn’t.

AIBU to think certain dogs of the intelligent kind can actually pick up the basics of a language that goes beyond “commands”?

I think so!

My dads got a small breed dog. I look after her at my house once a week while dad works.

I had a shopping delivery last time I had her (before Christmas) and gave her a treat to get her out from under my feet said "Take it in the other room please" she dutifily did

Until just before Christmas, I would have said you were being unreasonable and it was all about your dog understanding your normal body language etc etc. I am not a dog person at all, and would have assumed you were being a bit soppy.

However! About a week ago, me and the kids were heading out the front door whilst having a conversation about biscuits - we'd just shared some home-baked biscuits with neighbours, unplanned, and we were saying how nice it was to have the biscuits already made and be able to share them. A man we don't know was walking past with his dog, and the dog absolutely understood that we were talking about biscuits! Before, I would have assumed a dog would understand its owner saying "biscuits" but not a random person on the street.

It was hilarious, the dog was walking with his head turned sideways to look at us and our promising alternative life, and nearly walked smack into a lamp-post. The man was so embarrassed, he burrowed his head into his scarf and tried his hardest to pretend we weren't there. 😂