Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

Researchers have discovered dogs can understand about 200 words. Now, I gather these are words in whatever language is spoken to them. So I dog in a German household would speak German, while one in an English-speaking language would speak English.

I already knew my dog, Una, understands quite a few words. And I decided it would be a fun exercise to see how many she already knows.

1.  Una
2.   Boo-boo
3.   Girlie
4.  Woofity
5.   Snifferdoodle

And of course, multiple derivations of those, such as Una-boo.

Then, she knows the names of several people and pets in my family:

6.  Mommy (me)
7.  The Gryphon's real name
8.  My sister's name
9.  Emma (my sister's dog, Una's sister)
10.  Grandpa (my dad)
11.  Grandma (my mom)
12.  Murray (my mom's dog, Una's brother)
13.  Sunnie (my mom's other dog)
14.  My brother's name
15. His wife's name
16.  Pulsar (my brother's dog, Una's mother)

And then there are generic names for things:

17. Kitty
18. Doggie
19. Toy
20. Bear (a specific toy)
21. Pig (a specific toy)
22. Breakfast
23. Vitaminny (her daily vitamin supplement)
24. Treat

She knows several commands:

25. Come
26. Sit
27. Lie down
28. No
29. Good
30. Be nice
31. Stay (OK, we're working on this one)
32. Go pee-pee
33. Go poopie
34. Now (which means I'm really serious)
35. Go
36. Kissy
37. Load up (which means get in her pen or get in the car)

Then there are more abstract concepts which she may not understand except to know they're something good, because I sound happy when I say them:

38. I love you
39. Pretty girlie

We also play a version of Peek-a-Boo, called "Where's Una?" Basically, I put a blanket over her head and then say, "Where's Una? Where's Una?" She pops her head out with a big smile, and I say, "There's Una!"

I never taught her the word "walk" because we had a family dog who knew that word, and he would get soooo excited every time we said it. Most of the time, we'd spell it out or say "you-know-what." But Una has picked up on other cues. She gets excited when I put shoes on, because that means I'm going somewhere. She usually thinks this will involve her.

But I'm not sure what else Una understands. I know I talk to her a lot; I'm just not sure which ones she picks out. If she really has a capacity of 200 words, she might understand more than she lets on.

Of course, most of a dog's understanding is based on body language. So we communicate fairly well. She's also very vocal and conveys a lot to me through grunts, whines and barks. A friend of mine claims he once heard her say "Alyce." But this is unlikely, since to her, I'm Mommy.

Maybe I ought to come up with some new words to teach her, so that she uses her lingual ability to best advantages. A new word that, for once, isn't another cute nickname for her.

Copyright 2004 by Alyce Wilson

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