Bella is a rescue. I got her at about 4 months. She was extremely undersocialised and didn't seek human attention/ affection, or make any attempt to let me know if she needed something etc.

2 years down she is a totally different dog...and is always communicating with me, and is also very responsive to my communication towards her.

For instance, I stuffed her kong with liver pate tonight (first time ever) and she LOVED It. She brought her empty kong to me, licked it and looked and me, when she had my attention she led me to the location of the liver pate tube! I will admit I did give her a tiny extra squeeze of liver pate!

She understands so much of what I say to her....or rather what I want from her. When we walk on lead, I hardly ever have to use the leash (very gently, just to guide her) as she is in tune with me and which way we are going etc. When she is off lead I hardly ever call her as she is always aware of where I am and keeping up.

I could go on forever...

the point I was trying to make, is that aside from the 'technical' aspect of dog training e.g. sit and treat...dogs are capable of understanding so much more in our tone, body lanaguage etc., outside formal training. And it is amazing how much two way communication we can actually have if we give them the chance and security.

Now, Bella is a bit speical in my eyes as she had a rough past, missed out on crucial socialisation windows, and although she has been very retarded in doing so...she is now a very communicative dog with humans. She was always fine with other dogs etc...but she didn't really know much about humans at all. For the first 6 months I had her she wouldn't even sit in the same room as us!

I had a car accident this year and on Monday my neck and back locked the doctor gave me 4 different meds including diazepam which freaked me out as the strongest pill I take is paracetamol. I took them and lay on the sofa in a bit ofba daze for the whole day and Hugo never left my side even when I went for a wee, he didn't even ask to go out for a wee. Later that afternoon Hugo got up has his first drink of water and asked for his dinner at which point I'd noticed that my back had stopped spasm and the meds had worn off! I'm sure he knew I was anxious about it and I love him even more if that's possible!

aaaaw..

When I had my wisdom teeth out my Nelson wouldn't leave my side. He didn't even get a walk that afternoon as he refused to go with my mom and leave me behind, and I wasn't well enough to take him myself.

I know what you mean, sometimes I think Rupert is telepathic

I say what I want him to do and either it comes out garbled or I change my mind half way through what I'm saying! Often enough he does what I wanted anyway

I think that's why our commands are all over the shop, need to crack down on using Rupert Come when I want him to me etc but I'm so inconsistent because he just seems to know whatever I tell him

We got some bad news about an hour and a half ago and as soon as we got told Rupert got up (I was dealing with the snaffles in his tail) and wouldn't settle, kept walking around wagging his tail getting in the way to try and I think distract from the bad news. I swear with things like that they can sense the change in emotion or something...

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sorry bout the bad news

what you say is very true!

Poppy is....to put politley is as thick as pig poop lol she is very much her own little pooch and is lovely!
vegas understands loads and tried to listen to what you say..
In the last week he has learnt to give paw, wait for mom, gove loves and kisses

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after a stay in hospital and my welcome home i soon understood taz knew lots but is smarter than me so only responds to commands when he wants.but avoids any problems so not sure is he my dog or am i his human.food for thought there folks.is your dog smarter than you?

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I also have a gsd and the lady who helped me train him warned me that he is so clever he acts thick so he doesn't have to do things!!
He proved how clever he was when walking into a pub full of drunk stag do men, I walk in casually and naive as usual and he pulled infront of me and pulled me through the crowd to the other side, a few men came over to talk to me an he growled at them they soon left!!

Harv is very intune with us me especially due to the OH working alot! but when i'm ill or upset he won't leave my side, and he has a habit of diving on me, landing on his back and wiggling about giving lots of kisses and won't let you get up until he's satisfied that you have cheered up!

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Harvey - staffy
Chance - american bulldog (rescue)

19 snakes, 5 geckos, phibs, T's, inverts, fluffies and hedgehog.

my dog ​​is stupid .. salim se .... I think dogs are the smartest animals and not for man's best Džapo called prijatreljem .. my dog ​​is not good when I sit down and sometimes wholly whine .. we are so connected and I have it only 2 years ...

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daniella