Can dog's talk?

[BNP]

Do you think if you speak to a dog long enough it will be able to learn basic words?. I have always been facinated by the idea and i actually think its possible. What do you think

[netibiza]

Well I had a cat for 14yrs and she definitely said "Mummy" when she wanted food and I am not a daft cat person!! Other people heard her also.

[BNP]

Thats Great. I have my Dog for 1 week now. I want it to talk so much and i think it will in time.

[woofgang]

sorry, dogs and cats have the wrong kind of vocal tools to speak any kind of human in a meaningful manner. Now ask me if dogs can communicate and I will say yes, but you have to learn the dog's language!!! Can dogs learn the meaning of words spoken in human? of course, that's easy for them they can learn what we mean or think when we don't say anything!!!

[smudge]

When my Mum & Dad used to feed their dog tit bits, they used say to him "say please" - he then used to make a little squeally noise & was given his treat.

He never did learn the 'art' of saying please & thank you though! I dunno the dogs of today!

[zaskar]

are you mad?

[smudge]

I think zaskar is referring to you BNP - dogs will never be able to talk - so it mght be best to put that idea on the back burner!

[Clare A]

I don't know that BNP meant a dog 'learning to talk' so much as 'understanding words'. The latter they can do, as I know for a fact so can horses.

We used to have to spell w-a-l-k in front of our labrador if it wasn't going to happen immediately, because even if the word was spoken in the most neutral tone she would recognise it. The horses I ride at weekends also recognise my instructor's commands, and would act on them independently of me if I didn't check them!

[smudge]

Yes I would agree with you Clare. My Mum & Dad's dog knew what 'walk' & 'dinner' meant - the mere whisper of those words had his tail wagging!

However - BNP's question does read: "Can dog's talk? Perhaps he should have asked "Can dog's understand?" :0)

[newtron]

We had a dog who understood many words and phrases.  She knew the difference between "car" and "house".  We could tell her to get in the car or house without pointing and she knew what to do.  She was also the best trail dog in the mountains. When hiking in the mountains at night (we're a little crazy), she would find the trail and lead the way.  Sometimes my wife, who hikes a little slower than me, would lose the trail in the dark.  I would tell our dog to go get mom and she would almost nod in recognition of the command and go back and find my wife and show her the trail.  Amazing dog!

[FP]

Netibiza:  I have a Ginger cat that always calls out 'Mummy' when he wants something.  When my son was little it was difficult to distinguish between the two and often, when friends were round the house, they would think it was my son.

Therefore, yes I believe you!

[FP]

I have two little dogs.  One of them can understand so much that is said it is quite alarming - I have kept dogs for years and years and have never had one as intelligent as her. 

However, she is yet to speak!

[butter1]

My dog is unbelievably intelligent... some times I wonder if she should have been born human!  She knows so many words and sentences its scary.  She'll be going out to work soon so I won't have to I think!!

[donegal]

i think your a bit MAD!!!!

[rinkytink]

 

What about that dog on 'That's Life' that used to say 'sausages' !!   : )

[smudge]

My Grandchildren looked at me in amazement when I told them about that rinkytink! Shoshigish!

[GucciGal]

Haven't got anything to contribute here but loved all the replies! Brilliant!!

[GucciGal]

Oh except read Lorreili's Secret!! .... it's about a dog and it's owner!

[netibiza]

FP on thinking back I think my cat said more "Mama" but of course that's because it was Spanish, but seriously it did.

[ann_h]

Our Border Collie had a phenomenal understanding of language, around 60 words in different sentences eg, "fetch the shoes and take them to Dad in the kitchen" She learnt words of her own accord if she was interested, including the spellings. However, she never learnt to say any of them of course, nor did we have much luck with teaching her to play Yahtzee. (We wuz only kids)

My friend's cat, on the other hand, did appear to differentiate his miaows to say Me-out, meal, and milk. Or maybe we were just very very stoned.