[GeoGeo]

I was just curious if others have to spell in front of their dogs? There were many words that we could not say without them going crazy. Golf cart became the G.C., for example. You couldn't use the word at all no matter what you were saying about it. Bye-Bye was B-Y. Eat was E-A-T. One of them even once picked up a word on TV and got all excited.

And do any of your dogs watch TV? I had a Basset that would howl when wolves were howling on TV or if you sang. I had a Dachshund who was fascinated by the TV. My other Dachshunds could have cared less about TV. It was fun to watch him watch TV.

[plimit56]

We spell all the time as well. Especially the R I D E word for going in the golf cart.

[Gulfhills]

loL....we have to spell c o o k i e for their treat.

[DougB]

Don't know if the OP was coincidental or not, but this just happens to be canine literacy month. Puppies who are introduced to spelling at an early age are seen to have a better understanding of phonics. They acquire language skills with ease, have a richer vocabulary and possess greater cognitive abilities.

[jebartle]

You would have thought that I started this thread....It is so bad with our dachshund that now he can spell also.....And Television, he watches TV constantly and Lord help us if there is dog that is bigger than "Moses", he goes NUTS....He also LOVES to go to bed....He will give us the steady stare until we head for the bedroom!....One more trick that must be associated with dachshunds, he loves to attack the blanket....

As much as I love this little dog, I also have concerns because he is so protective and a little snippy...1st dachshund EVER to be aggressive, I have to blame myself for poor early training...I don't know if this bad habit could be reversed after 7 years...

[Jaggy]

we spell cookie.. cart..park..treat.., etc.
but I think she is catching on.. may have to enter her in the doggie spelling bee..

[gomoho]

My Aussie has learned to spell as well - too smart for his own good. The Standard Poodle doesn't bother with such stuff 'cause he knows in the end he'll get his way one way or the other. One wants to please - the other wants to be pleased.

[CFrance]

Our first golden knew the spelling of things--treat, walk, ride. Cracker... when he learned how that one was spelled, we switched to calling them Premiums.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by DougB

Don't know if the OP was coincidental or not, but this just happens to be canine literacy month. Puppies who are introduced to spelling at an early age are seen to have a better understanding of phonics. They acquire language skills with ease, have a richer vocabulary and possess greater cognitive abilities.

Ya know, you're right. Our Bailey is hooked on phonics.

[Hopeful2]

Yes! We have to spell all the time. It's mind boggling how much English our little guy understands. (He also knows the name of each of his 30+ toys.)

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by GeoGeo

I was just curious if others have to spell in front of their dogs? There were many words that we could not say without them going crazy. Golf cart became the G.C., for example. You couldn't use the word at all no matter what you were saying about it. Bye-Bye was B-Y. Eat was E-A-T. One of them even once picked up a word on TV and got all excited.

And do any of your dogs watch TV? I had a Basset that would howl when wolves were howling on TV or if you sang. I had a Dachshund who was fascinated by the TV. My other Dachshunds could have cared less about TV. It was fun to watch him watch TV.

I love hearing about other people's dogs.

Our little dog Biggins doesn't watch television and doesn't know a lot of words (but of course he knows cookie, out, truck, dog park, and our names). He is extremely well behaved and anxious to please. He has been trained as a therapy dog. His big sister would be much too excitable for that job.

The people who previously owned our rescue Portugese Water Dog (our 70 lb dog) had one big complaint. Lollipop loved to watch television, and she would get so excited when watching animal shows that she would lick the screen of their plasma tv. So they got rid of her. At our house she is allowed to watch television, we just put it out of her reach.

Lollipop also knows an amazing number of words, even sound-alike ones. She listens attentively to all conversations. Dog park is her favorite phrase.
She does tend to get a little over excited at times and she craves attention. But she is easily trained and smart as a whip.

[redwitch]

Sleeper, my Old English, knew walk and w a l k, ditto bath and several other words. Walk had him at the door immediately. Bath had him under the bed with no way to get him out. If the Porsche was mentioned, he'd jump in the car before the second syllable (the joys of a T-top that was always off). Ditto Fiat. If you said "ride", he would try to herd you to the Fiat but would happily get in whatever car you chose, even the Acura. Definitely a dog that was too smart for his britches.

[Halibut]

Maybe you all need to try Pig Latin.

Our cats know their names, I suppose, although they respond just as well to kissing sounds. They know dinner and treat for sure. They would be aghast at the thought of walks or cart rides.

[Polar Bear]

Yeah, we spell all the time. But that only buys some time. Katy, our Standard Schnauzer must have a spelling vocabulary of...well...I don't know how many words. But spelling ride, walk, eat, treatie, squirrel, bunny and several others doesn't do any good any more.

[Lauren Sweeny]

Our dog knew O...U..T so we started justO..U and she still knew what it meant