Way Too Smart!

[Margi]

Our problem is we often fail to understand Sheltie talk. My girl sits in front of me and sings and small yips and looks at me like???? Whats wrong with you?? This is not about feeding but so far I have not deciphered her request... but she keeps trying. So far no messes in the house, they have a doggy door so they have no excuses but still I just ain't smart enuf to understand the request.. heck maybe she just wants to talk about Niche or current world politics or the latest gossip???

Have you ever gotten up and asked what she wants and follow her?
Usually when Benson does this he is tattling on next door neighbor and I'm supposed to go see, or he has a specific game in mind. Sometimes he takes me to living room and grabs a toy, sometimes he heads outside and stares at the playground ball I'm supposed to kick.

 

[Piper's mom]

My husband is the only one who has ever ignored a dog in our home - I know better! Of course, he ignores and I am still the one cleaning up!

Deacon always comes and tells me if he has to go; he even tells if Brodie has to go. Brodie will tell me, but he will wait and see if I notice him first. This goes on for a while and finally he will whine like 'Hey, here I am patiently waiting for you to notice me... hint, hint". Brodie has a bladder that must run from head to tail so there's normally no emergency. But most times, before Brodie even tells a sign, Deacon comes and tells me it's potty time. Jumps on me, pounces on me, barks at me.... 'HEY, DID YOU NOTICE SOMEONE HAS TO GO!'. Hubby could always ignore the other 3 dogs, and the doxies did have multiple accidents because he'd tell them just wait till this period ends (hockey) and they'd be like 'No, dude, I'm going to pee here on your foot cuz I've been telling you I have to go'. Deacon makes it hard to ignore him.

Honestly Deacon sounds just like Blueberry! I come home from work and take them outside (and it’s just nothing but barking) and everyone has a pee. Back in and they have their snack (chicken foot) and within 5 minutes Blueberry is barking to go out. If I ignore her she’ll come to me and stare and if I continue to ignore her she’ll bark and then have these little yips like she’s telling me off! If I’m in the kitchen she’ll jump on me and bark and paw my butt!
She’s so persistent but fortunately she doesn’t bother me to go outside before 10…she waits until I start drying my hair and then I get an earful . The other two just wait for her to speak up lol!

 

[woof]

Have you ever gotten up and asked what she wants and follow her?
Usually when Benson does this he is tattling on next door neighbor and I'm supposed to go see, or he has a specific game in mind. Sometimes he takes me to living room and grabs a toy, sometimes he heads outside and stares at the playground ball I'm supposed to kick.

Good idea I will give that a try........

 

[Piper's mom]

Have you ever gotten up and asked what she wants and follow her?
Usually when Benson does this he is tattling on next door neighbor and I'm supposed to go see, or he has a specific game in mind. Sometimes he takes me to living room and grabs a toy, sometimes he heads outside and stares at the playground ball I'm supposed to kick.

I’ve asked Finnie and followed him into the kitchen and he just looks at the stove….sorry but the kitchen is closed . Blueberry will generally lead me where she wants and Piper will nudge me…come with me…I’ll show you. My 3 have such different personalities and level of intelligence. Piper knows the most words, Blueberry is the smartest and best at getting what she wants. Finnie barks a lot……he’s very smart but he’s just not very serious. I can threaten him with a bath if he’s being bad and all he hears is blah blah blah. He just wants to have fun.

 

[Sandy in CT]

Have you ever gotten up and asked what she wants and follow her?

I do this with the boys; like when I know for certain it cannot be the urge to pee I will get up and follow them. They get UBER excited, looking back over their shoulders to see if I am coming. They most always head to the back door where the small pantry closet is off to the right. I will tap the backdoor and ask if that is what they want and there will be a small bit of excitement. But when I tap the pantry door and ask if that's what they want, I get the popcorn dance (both jumping up and down) and barking. They ALWAYS want treats. If it is morning, 10am ish, it's salmon jerky they are after. If it's evening, they want a cookie or most often a bully stick.

Once in a while, they head elsewhere - they often like to tattle on the cats if they are getting in trouble. If Brodie has been in the bathroom whining, he will head to me irritated that I have not responded to his calls for me to come see his latest artwork (toilet paper shreddings).

 

[woof]

I do this with the boys; like when I know for certain it cannot be the urge to pee I will get up and follow them. They get UBER excited, looking back over their shoulders to see if I am coming. They most always head to the back door where the small pantry closet is off to the right. I will tap the backdoor and ask if that is what they want and there will be a small bit of excitement. But when I tap the pantry door and ask if that's what they want, I get the popcorn dance (both jumping up and down) and barking. They ALWAYS want treats. If it is morning, 10am ish, it's salmon jerky they are after. If it's evening, they want a cookie or most often a bully stick.

Once in a while, they head elsewhere - they often like to tattle on the cats if they are getting in trouble. If Brodie has been in the bathroom whining, he will head to me irritated that I have not responded to his calls for me to come see his latest artwork (toilet paper shreddings).

Last night I got the song and yip thing. It had been raining all night so the doggy door was closed and often is at night. So yeah I got up and stood in front of her and asked "well what do you want?" She looked at me sort of puzzled then went to the back door, I opened it and out she went. I think she was telling me she had to pee. I do get up every couple of hours to let them out anyway but she seemed happy that finally I was starting to Learn sheltie talk-- I am sure the lessons will continue.. So glad she did not take matters into her own hands and use the rug. She is sweet heart. If it is close to feeding time I know what the song and quiet yip are all about-- like I don't have a watch!! But other times?? So we will slowly begin to find out.

 

[Margi]

Once in a while, they head elsewhere - they often like to tattle on the cats if they are getting in trouble. If Brodie has been in the bathroom whining, he will head to me irritated that I have not responded to his calls for me to come see his latest artwork (toilet paper shreddings).

Tattling is a sheltie only thing in my experience. They are such busybodies! An old fashioned saying that fits is a nosey Parker LOL

 

[Cindy]

I like to say that shelties have been genetically selected to please us as much as possible with manipulating us as sneakily as possible

 

[kazie]

Our problem is we often fail to understand Sheltie talk. My girl sits in front of me and sings and small yips and looks at me like???? Whats wrong with you?? This is not about feeding but so far I have not deciphered her request... but she keeps trying. So far no messes in the house, they have a doggy door so they have no excuses but still I just ain't smart enuf to understand the request.. heck maybe she just wants to talk abuout Niche or current world politics or the latest gossip???

Luna definitely has different "words" for different things. If she needs to go out to pee it's different than if she wants me to play "basketball" with her. Her "I'd like my pupcycle treat bark is completely different than "There's a deer in the yard. You need to look!" Learning to understand "Sheltie" is the very definition of continuing education.