Do dogs understand?? Light hearted - maybe.....!

[Excitedannie]

I have just spent 4 whole minutes telling my dog why she isn't allowed to jump around or climb stairs, and why it's short lead walks for a few days until her hip feels better. I'm sure she listened and understood ever word! I also spent another good few moments explaining what the loud bang was next door that made her bark!

My daughter thinks I'm bonkers but I literally chat to my dog alllll the time - I love to think that they understand ever word and their brains are saying "ah OK mum - I understand now"!!!!!!

Mind you, she doesn't seem to understand "SSTTTTOOOPPPP" when she sees a squirrel........

Mind you, she doesn't seem to understand "SSTTTTOOOPPPP" when she sees a squirrel........

I know some dog trainers like to imply that dogs don't follow instructions purely because they don't understand them but often it's a entirely conscious decision to ignore 😂

You're absolutely right! Honestly - there needs to be a study done of the similarities between dogs and teenagers - the defiance, the ignoring, the constant need for food and sulking - it's there in black and white!

I think they understand! But if you’re talking in a reassuring way while things are a little different for her, even if she doesn’t understand I think she’ll be picking up on how you’re talking to her and will be thinking ‘mum knows what’s going on and I trust her so I’ll behave myself for a wee while’.

Just to add, I’m not a dog trainer, I just have a dog and I wonder often if he understands what waving is.

Have you seen the talking dogs with buttons? They absolutely understand way more than we have ever imagined.

As for stopping for a squirrel, instinct and prey drive takes over too quickly, or they understand but choose to to do their own thing 😉 especially if it's a terrier!

I think realistically they understand tone and body language not words but they do understand those things very well albeit some dogs are definitely cleverer than others. Dogs evolved very closely with humans and they are expert at reading humans. Mine knows when someone is cross with him or sad and needs some love. He also knows how to get treats and who to pester for them

If dogs understand instructions like sit or here etc etc then surely they understand what you're saying about other things? Although it is probably the soothing voice and attention they are responding to.

Yes my dog understands some routine things. If I say ‘where’s your kong?’ He runs looking for it and often brings it to me. Equally if I say ‘granny and granda is coming over’ he’ll run to the door and wait.

I've been telling my dog for 12 weeks that she has to stop bouncing/jumping/leaping/acting like a twat as she'll damage her leg. If she understands, she doesn't care.

But I am often amazed at things they do understand that they haven't been specifically taught. One of mine always carries a toy outside and leaves it there. The other day I told her to "Go and fetch your toy" and she did.

Mine understands every word I say and I will not hear otherwise 😁
Okay, mine doesnt, but a friend of mine had a dog that had an alarming level of understanding, sometimes you can go 'well, they didnt understand what you said, it was tone/what you said sounded similar to another command/habit etc' but this one would do things where you couldnt reasonably explain them away!

Yes my dog understands where is this and that and will go get it he is able to work out differences between ball and rope and chew, he also knows his dog walkers name and seems to know when she is coming he is only out with her twice a week, i must have a different routine those days.

Although my last dog couldn't give a hoot and was as thick as mince!

These are making me smile - especially this one! How did you know I've got a spaniel?! Every now and again she does something and her poor hip complains!!! Does she care?! Does she hell!!!!!!!!!

I like to think that hundreds of years for now, they'll be able to talk back - or do I?!😂

Constant talking to your dog will lead to selective hearing,as he will simply tune out the white noise of your voice. This is serious if you need an immediate stop or recall.

edited to add

that’s not to say some highly intelligent breeds like collies don’t understand conversational commands, because they definitely do.

I live alone with two dogs, and I spend my life chatting away to them. I like to think that they understand every word I say.

My favourite is when I ask them for a cuddle, and they jump on the sofa and snuggle in. Bliss.

@Excitedannie My cocker had surgery for a ruptured cruciate ligament and has been on crate rest. During one of her 5 minute walks, she saw some children across the park and, in her bouncy excitement, managed to dislocate her hip. Even that didn't really slow her down. She's been an absolute nightmare!

(I hope she doesn't understand everything I say, because I've called her a few mean words over the past three months. 🙊 😂)

What i want to know is how they tell the time🤔 my friend has a golden retriever, he isn't the brightest but adorable! He knows when it's 5 o'clock (teatime), comes and sits in front of you giving side eye............which definitely says are you going to get up and get my food👀

Routine and Ceradyn rythim, so body clock kicks in.

My dog understands everything I say to her and, furthermore, agrees with me.

I constantly talk to my dog. I’m convinced she understands. Last night muttered under her breath as I left after telling her to stop doing something. She also recently gave my DC and I side eye when we were being too noisy during a match. She knows exactly what’s what!

The question I often wonder is do they understand when you apologise?

I regularly have to apologise- tripping over her when she’s underfoot etc.

This could be rubbish as it's something I read, but dogs know when it's time for you to come home as your scent diminishes. So when you leave the house your scent is everywhere, but as the day goes on your scent gets less, and they recognise the point when you should be arriving back home.

That doesn't explain the dinner thing. My dogs literally burn me with their eyes at 5pm demanding their dinner.

@Belladog1 That's interesting. My old neighbours told me they could set their watch by my dogs, as they always started barking at 3pm just before we were due home.

The food thing I put down to being hungry. Same way we know when dinner time is.

I want to know how mine knew it was 5pm (also dinner time) to the minute when the clocks changed. Is quite amazing.

Have you seen the dog that talks using buttons? She understands time like 'later, this afternoon, this morning, tomorrow' etc.

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Our dog trainer is also a behaviourist she said they understand the changes in tone
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