I agree that tone of voice matters. But I swear if I say "Grandma is here" he will go to the window. If I say "Bob is here" he will look at me like I'm crazy. He definitely understands both "grandma" and "is here" Just like "do you want to" and "go for a walk/go in the car/eat dinner" because he will run to different places. He also understands things that have no "object" like "all done."

1. I believe they don't understand all of our language, but they know a great deal. Probably more than we think they do.
2. I think after they hear certain things enough they can just associate the word with whatever happens next. Or they might just like the sound it makes so they cock their head (Rusty does this haha).
3. I'm not sure if you can teach them every thing. But if there are certain words you want them to know, like dinner for example. Just say "dinner!" while you are preparing their food and when you set it down for them.
4. I'm not sure! Tucker doesn't do it much unless he's being scolded haha. Maddie has conversations with me. But I think Rusty is just a really good listener and the bond between us is so strong that we could just sit there and look each other in the eye all day. :)

The way I taught Jake to identify different toys was easy. While we were playing with a toy, I would keep saying what the toy was....like, I would say "you like your squirrel, don't you?" or I'd toss it and say "get the squirrel". When he brings a toy to me to play with, I just make sure I keep saying what it is as we're playing. I'm amazed at how fast he catches on!

Edited to add: I don't actually "name" his toys, but I just say what they are. But, he can also distinguish between "big ball" and "little ball". He has learned the words just from me using the same words to describe the toy as we're playing. I hope that makes sense.

Izzie knows a few commands and understands...I can ask her to bring me:

Bobo / Lamakins / Her Ball / Snugga Wubba / Wubba and she knows exactly what toy to go get...

She also will twirl around in a circle if you ask her if she wants to go outside... She also knows if she has been a good girl by going on her potty pad...cuz she gets a treat....and she DOES let me know when she has gone....I get no peace till I give her "Her" treat :p

I think it's amazing just how smart these lil ones are....:animal36

When we got Cody the the loofah dog i would say get bobo. bring him back. and it didnt take long and he caught on. he does the same with his soccer ball and other toys.

he knows "Nana" (my mom) i'll say wheres Nana and he will go to the door or room looking for.


i just need to get him to understand Come. cause when he is in trouble he has me chase him down and wont come when i ask.


but he understands everything else i say

One of my yorkies, Chico, knows his toys by name and understands a lot of what we say. He is very active and always wants to play. My other one, Bitsy, is much more mellow and not as toy crazy. She's learned fewer words and is content just to sit around and look pretty. Anyway, whenever Chico gets something new, we give it a name and keep saying it while we play with him and he just learns it. We can say "go get your "cat"...I think it is upstairs (or outside, or in the garage)" and he'll go there and bring back his stuffed cat. Lots of fun. Good luck

Key Words
 

I have 3, 1 male Artie, my female Abigail and their Puppy Tiffany Aloha......Artie seems to understand every word and action I say and do?
Especially key words like; Go, Petsmart, Walmart, DogPark, go get Abigail or Tiffany? I have a command in "Japanese" too, the meaning translates to stop
what you are doing and act right? I was told by a fellow Yorkie owner that they can understand up to 200 words, of course I don't know how true this is? When we are outdoors around other people with their Pets, I try to teach them the other Pets names too, so they will learn more!
All 3 are constantly looking at me, so it seems like they are listening and paying attention? I even play a game with them where I wink my eyes at them and they wink the same eye back. The 2 girls will do it too, but he tends to out do them, he always makes an effort to impress me, he is definitely more attentive. Also when I do any activity like go to the "Beach"
or it's "Raining" etc. I try to use the same words so I feel like I'm actually teaching them something?

My Mini Schnauzer used to lay with her head on the other pillow (when I was single) I would tell her everything and I just swear she looked into my eyes like she understoood. She was a very good listener!

Oh yeah, mine know 'BED' so I have to spell it now else they want to go it even when its still light out!! They know:

'wanna go to bed?'
'wanna take a walk?'
'Are you hungry?'
'Pick up those crumbs!' (they leave crumbs behind when I give them a treat and I just say that and they go and pick up their crumbs LOL)
the obvious 'want a treat?'
'wanna take a bath?' - for some crazy reason I dont see them for awhile when I throw that one out there! haha
they know one word commands like
'kitchen' and they go in the kitchen
'outside' - they go on the deck
'up up' and they will jump on the bed
'under' - they will go under the covers

they know some people, like my ex's name and they know 'grandma'! They LOOOVVEEEE grandma!

If i say 'get me your new squeaky toy' they will bring the new squeaky toy! kind of funny to me, actually I think that any 'new' toy is a favorite, so when I say bring me the new squeaky toy, they understand toy and bring me the 'favorite' of the moment! haha

they are soooo cute! they cock their heads and the ears go right up when they understand what I said!

they also know certain things like in the morning I go to the bathroom first, they know to go into the bathroom first thing (habit I know)
they know when Im near the garbage that Im going to put a new bag into it (one is deathly afriad of those new trash bags and hides)
they know when Im going to run the dishwasher through, just by what cabinet door i open (same thing, total terror on their part)

its all funny how smart they REALLY are!! Can't pull the wool over their eyes! haha

i def. think dogs understand alot more than are given credit for. :) i think it also depends on the dog(just like people.. some are smarter/brighter than others in certain areas)
My moms dog Lexie(boxer/terrier mix) is soo soo smart.. she will move your arm on her head when she wants you to pet her and so many other things like that(its really funny) we swear she is a human.
Avery knows not to play in her water(so if she randomly feels the need to do that.. she will look over at us, as she is getting ready to get in her water bowl.. then after she sees us looking at her, she immediately pretends she's drinking her water!! :p its soo funny)
Dogs are super smart!! and if given attention and training can be almost human-like. <3

I am positive that Valentino knows what I am saying to him...and is very selective about what he wants to "hear" and what he doesn't want to "hear". I cannot even remember a time when he didn't come running when I asked," Tino want to go to the park?"

Also...he also hides under the bed when he hears me running water for the bath, just like a child. :p

haha.:p

I talk to all of mine like they are my kids.. they do know.. especially words like "potty" "outside" "cheese" be quiet(but that doesnt mean they listen)
they know the sounds of which car is pulling up and who is walking in the door, you can tell by their barks, they all have different barks for different people..
they dont like the Mother In Law very much... LOL
d

My boys look at me when I talk to them. They know: go outside, go potty - biscuit, cheese, bye bye, go to bed, Buster(their best friend that visits), grandma, girlfriend, and bubby.

I swear mojo knows everything we say to him. If he doesnt he sure acts like it!! He thinks he is a very small, very hairy human. When you talk to him he gets right beside you and "listens" to you. He will even talk back. He makes these throaty sounds and looks right at you and "talks". LOL...