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Most
dog owners will vouch for the ability of their animals
to understand language. This they will proudly demonstrate
with a variety of commands, and they will elicit reactions
of joviality with endearing words or attitudes of
cowering or fear with harsh ones.
While these responses would appear to be strongly
indicative of language understanding, the fact is
that a dog learns to appreciate the tone of voice
and not the actual words. Thus a dog may wag its tail
when it is told in a friendly tone that it is going
to be beaten; or it may cower if it is told in a harsh
voice that it is to be given a marrow bone. Of course
some clever dogs will react sensibly to specific word
commands spoken in an even tone; but even this does
not necessarily imply understanding of the words.
It is usually a conditioned response wherein the animal
learns to react properly in order to avoid punishment
or to anticipate some reward.
None the less, dogs are able to communicate with one
another. They do not speak words or engage in conversations
as we do, but they communicate by sounds, movements,
and smells. Thus a dog may growl, snarl, whine, bark,
bare its teeth, or lift a paw, or its hair may stand
on end. Through sounds and movements of this sort
dogs express their emotional states. Thus, by the
tone of the voice combined with associated bodily
movements, these animals may express fear, pain, excitement,
pleasure, and the like, which other dogs seem to understand
perfectly. It is well known that dogs can recognize
each other by their smells, and it is generally supposed
that one of the functions of the frequent urinations
of the dog is to leave a calling card for its companions.
For
the most part the language of dogs is instinctive
rather than learned. Dogs may instinctively cry for
food when they are very young, but they learn to beg
for it later on. A dog may also learn to paw at a
door until it is opened. Endless examples of this
type may be given. But for the most part, dog language
seems to be a matter of instinct.
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