Can You Communicate With Your Dog?

Photo byBaptist StandaertonUnsplash

Do you think communication between humans and animals is possible? If you say no, you should watch the video about the man who taught his dog sign language, or one of the many videos about teaching vocabulary with recordings that the dog can push. Would you be surprised if I told you communication is even simpler than that? Let me tell you about my dog.

Three years ago, my neighbor Lynn, who is a dog trainer, rescued a Border Collie, and asked if we would take him. I didn’t know anything about this breed, but when I met four-month-old Bandit, he ran straight to me, and my heart was lost. The next three days were a little rough because I soon discovered how much energy Border Collies have, and Bandit was acting just like the toddler he was. I also realized how smart he was, and I told Lynn I wasn’t sure I was good enough for him. She gave me wonderful advice when she said, “Talk to him. He’ll figure out what you are saying.”

I worked consistently on commands, and I talked to him constantly. I would tell him what we were going to do, and where we were going. He went through a phase around two-years-old when even though he heard my command, he would try to ignore me. I would say, “I know you hear me!”

I am amazed now at how many vocabulary words and phrases he knows. If I say, “Go find your bone.” He perks up and takes off to find it, and always comes back with it. If I say, “We are going in the back.” He tears off to the back yard. If he is not sure what you are saying, he turns his head as if to listen better.

Some communication is through physical cues. I know he is scared when he moves in between my legs for safety. He wants attention when he comes over and plops his head on my lap.

I am amazed at how much he can read my emotions. He knows when I’m sad or tired, and that is when he wants to give kisses, or sit on my lap.

It’s possible to not be open to communication with an animal. My husband does not feel a connection to Bandit, and I have had to explain why he does some things. Sometimes, if we go out the front door, Bandit tears off into the woods behind our neighbor’s house. The first time my husband saw this, he started to freak out. I told him, “Honey, it’s okay. He’s running off the crazy. He’ll come back” As I said that Bandit came trotting back to us. My husband said, “Oh.”

The possibilities for communication are endless, so have some fun and learn together.