Dogs actually understand EVERYTHING we say to them. I have proof.

I'm just mopping; just finished the kitchen floor, working my way to the living room, going to head round the wall and do the main entry is a second...(all tile floors, very pretty).

There are 3 doors to the terrace, the main, front door, the french glass kitchen doors and the french glass master bedroom doors. Very nice. Faces east, love the morning sun. Shows all the coffee drops and dust balls just so I can plan each day around them.

So, the kitchen doors are open, as is the main entry door, and Lola (there really is a point to this, and it's about her) my 9 month old Pomeranian of Pure Delight, has finished roaming the grounds, assuring we're safe from Voxanna, the calico who thrives on tormenting her. I'm swishing away with the mop, and Lola stands in the kitchen door, ready to inspect. Without stopping I say, "Lola, can you use the other door? The floor is wet." She turns, and comes in the other door and continues to watch me.

*sigh*.

She's done this before. I'll ask her to do things in a regular, non-command-the-doggie tone of voice and... she does them.

Now if I could JUST get her to put her toys away.

I had another maltese that was the same way. I had witnesses.

"Molly, enough of that racket, get up on the couch and lay down so John and I can finish this conversation..."

She did.

John about messed his pants.

My daughter thinks I'm magic.

Your dogs certainly seem to be some kind of geniuses.

Surely you have seen the Far Side cartoon about what dogs actually hear when we talk to them? "Blah blah blah GINGER blah blah GINGER blah blah blah blah GINGER blah..."

decide whether they want to respond or not.

I can think of a bunch of things you could tell them. That's pretty cute about your dog; do you ever feel like she's about to answer you? Now if THAT happens, please PM me!

;)

known to start vocalizing.. little yelps and whines, a kind of doggie chatter.

Looking you dead in the eye.

Mind you, this is a doggie who's only 'trick' is to spin in circles like a top. I didn't bother to train her to sit or stay or anything useful.

:)

Because they hear what we ask them to do but know that whatever we say is probably wrong and they are always right so they ignore us anyways.

BTW, what adorable dogs!

My Lolly girl. She totally understands what I am saying. Not only that she tattles on the other dogs when they are doing something wrong. After hurricane Katrina, I was trying to get ready for work. She kept coming in the bedroom barking and turning in circles and trying to get me to follow her. I just kind of ignored her and went about getting dressed. She came in the room again and did the same thing. So finally I followed her outside. The other 2 dogs found a dead rat that the hurricane either killed or blew into my yard. They were tossing it around like a toy. Eeeew!! But nevertheless, she knew they weren't supposed to have it and she wouldn't rest until I went out there to see what they were doing!! She really is a genius! :)

each other??? I love that!

I love it most when doggies have pals and best buddies though.

can't stand each other, but when one isn't around, they mope around and whimper all day!

during the several that have wandered through our lives.

I even get confused and call them by each others names. I'll call Liv (my human daughter) by the dogs' names all the time.

So to really torture her (the human child), last year on Valentine's day I got her a really sweet card, and on the envelope wrote "To Winky" (my maltese), crossed it out, and wrote "to OLIVIA" on it.

She's never forgiven me for that... we still laugh about it.

When I tell her (the human child) to do something for or with her 'sisters' she usually does it, but once in a while remembers and GLARES at me and yells "I'M NOT RELATED".

Scarred for life, she'll be, that one.

:)