Your dog is saying more than you think

It used to be said that dogs had the memory of a goldfish and only lived in the present. 

Yes - a lot of things used to be said, which fortunately aren’t being said any more.

And there are two things wrong with that statement above - 

1. Goldfish have very good memories and respond well to training.

2. Dogs have very strong memories of what has happened in the past and they can project into the future too.

This is actually the basis of reward-based training - they do things based on the historic knowledge that there will be a consequence. 

Interspecies communication

This has become abundantly clear to the folk who are working in the area of AIC (Augmentative Interspecies Communication). They don’t confine themselves to domestic pets, but work with all kinds of animals. 

When you think about it, isn’t the very thought of interspecies communication thrilling? 😃

And doesn’t it confirm what we all know? That animals are sentient beings. They think and feel. This is law in Europe and UK amongst others - there are 32 countries in all that have formally recognised non-human animal sentience in their laws. (Sadly the whole of North and South America is a long way behind in this respect.)

Dogs and cats frequently use buttons to talk about NOW, LATER, SOON, TOMORROW, REMEMBER. And given the opportunity, they will press buttons to express sorrow, fear, safety, happiness - and missing a person or family pet who has died or left. 

This means they are thinking about these things!

Things that may have happened years ago. 

Like when Yannick sees an image of Cricket the Whippet on the tv screensaver, and presses SAD, or CRICKET. (She died over a year ago.)

Or when a few days after my son’s visit, he presses his name on his button board. That gives us the chance to talk about the absence and how we both feel about it. 

They can also talk about things right now, of course! Like asking to be brushed, wanting cuddles, wanting to go out, play, specifically with a ball, frisbee, or flirt pole. 

Here’s what Yannick had to say yesterday evening, when he woke up from a nap:

Clearly it was nearly suppertime! 

Why is all this important?

We are all guilty of saying “ok, later” when hearing a request. Having to respond to your pet’s requests means that you have to become more reliable. Your promises must be fulfilled!

A request for BEACH WALK, once acknowledged by a promise of BEACH WALK TOMORROW, must be kept to!

You have to show that you are hearing your dog, listening, and keeping your word. 

Lesson for all of us! 

Would you like your dog to “talk”?

If you’d like to learn more about how to teach your dog (or cat) to talk to you through buttons, and unlock a new world of communication between you, take a look at: 

Getting Started with talking buttons

and

Real Stories from Pet Parents Teaching Them to “Talk”

You’ll get lots of help and support there! As I have.