Words you can't say around your dog
Have you ever experienced that moment of instant regret caused by just one word slipping from your lips? I’m not referring to the “L” word either. I’m talking about that single trigger word you accidentally say around your dogs that fuels them to lose their minds. It can be anything from “beach” or “park” to the most common “wanna go-“phrase. Most dogs I have met respond to “treat” the same way a kid gets excited about ice cream. Obviously, our pups are fairly intelligent, but are they actually clever enough to decipher what we are saying?
Contrary to popular belief, yes! A study conducted less than a year ago discovered that dogs can actually understand the human language, by using similar brain mechanisms. Dogs associate particular words with a meaningful experience, especially if there is a “praising intonation” involved. According to an article on Independent Online, “Dogs not only tell apart what we say and how we say it, but they can also combine the two, for a correct interpretation of what those words really meant.” Your pup can understand more words than you realize. If your dog is anything like mine, you’re already thinking– uh oh. The handful of words I am not allowed to say around my dog has already begun to overflow.
It’s like being a teenager again, when you had to watch what you said around your family to avoid swearing. The forbidden phrase in my house is “Wanna go for a walk?” Unless you are in fact seconds away from actually walking out the front door, with shoes on, leash in hand, do not say it. Conversations around my dog are to the point where I can’t even use the word “walk” without him waking from a nap to sprint over to my feet– selective hearing at its finest. Currently, the “w” word has been shortened down to just that, one letter. My pup is starting to catch on to that too, and it really throws people off when I spell words mid-sentence. I’m actually considering picking up a new language altogether, just so I can have a normal conversation about hiking because I can’t say the “hike” word either. Surprise.
If this sounds like your typical struggle, share your story with us!
(Visit Independent Online to read the full article on the research mentioned above: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/dogs-can-understand-human-speech-scientists-say-a7216481.html)
