Multilingual Dog

Head cock that accompanies "do you want?" question

Dieter is definitely smart. By now, he has a fairly extensive vocabulary. He knows the names for his toys--the little Kong stick is Baby and the bigger Kong stick is the Baton Rouge (it's a Red Stick)--and he knows that when I say "basement" he gets to run downstairs and help me with laundry. He also knows  what "outside" means: head toward the back door.  And of course he knows that the phrase "do you want..." often connotes good things. It could mean: do you want to go outside (yes, of course, unless it's raining), do you want a treat (d'uh, of course!), do you want to go for a walk (see previous response), etc.
 
He also knows words the humans say to each other. Lloyd will say to me: "will you set the table?" and Dieter runs to his kennel. He knows by now that that's where he goes while we eat--it got to be kind of annoying to try to eat with a dog who wanted to play gateball or serenade us with his squeaky toys. Back in the day before he was allowed to be a free-range dog, Dieter slept in his kennel at night. He knew when we'd say "Ok, it's bedtime" that he needed to go into his house. Even now sometimes when Lloyd and I say we're going to turn off the lights downstairs and call it a night, Dieter will trot into his kennel. So he must recognize the phrase: turn off lights. As for heading into his kennel even yet, I guess old habits die hard. He soon realizes he can camp out where he pleases.

But Dieter not only knows English, he understands French. And a few phrases in German.


I decided to teach Dieter some words in French, figuring that in this day and age of cultural diversity, it would be good for a German dog know a little French. I'd say "Ou est le Baton Rouge?" and he'd start looking for his toy and then proudly bring it to me.

It's been a good 6 months or more since I first taught him the French commands, so the other day while we were playing fetch in the back yard, I wondered if he'd still remember his French lessons. Just for grins I said "ou est le Baton Rouge." He starts looking around and pretty soon he showed up with the toy in his moruth. He was all happy that he did so well, so I told him: "tres bon. Donnez moi le Baton Rouge" and he brought it to me. Then in English I say: get your Baton and bring it in the house, and he did. Oh, and the little bit of German? If I'm letting him lick the leftover yogurt from a bowl, when it's all gone, I'll say: "das ist alles." Then he'll look a little sad, and amble off.

Dang, he truly is a smarty pants.