One smart lab

Labs are awesome dogs. Smart as hell too. Back when Henry was still around, I would go back to my wife's office, where Henry would also be (she worked at home) to discuss what to do for dinner. Sometimes we would order something like Chinese food delivered. My wife would call up and place an order. Henry would then run out to the front door and wait for the delivery person so he could bark at them... He knew what we were up to.

I've seen longhorn cattle employ the same methodology when walking down a chute in a set of cattle pens.

I have my yellow lab trained. I'll hide a beer somewhere and tell him "get me a beer" and he will hunt around and find the beer and gently grab one and carry it over to me and place it in my hand. He hasn't yet punctured one or dropped it on the ground.

Very smart dogs. I haven't tried to get him to open the fridge yet.

"I haven't tried to get him to open the fridge yet."

He probably already knows how to open AND close the fridge, he just hasn't told you.
A tell tale sign would be cheese wrappers that mysteriously show up in places you wouldn't expect. 😉

He wouldn't do that because he knows it's wrong.

We had to use treats to get him started as a puppy, but for most of his training I have use affection as a reward.

He understands...

"Sit"
"Lay down"
"Shake"
"Get the ball"
"Get the stick"
"Get the bird"
"Get me a beer"
"Come"
"Come here"
"Come over here"
"Come lay down"
"Get over here"
"Get out of there"
"Get"
"Get on your bed"
"Get off your bed"
"That's not yours"
"Leave him alone"
"No"
"Are you hungry?"
"Want some breakfast?"
"Want some food?"
"Go ahead"
"Ok"
"Are you thirsty"
"Get some water"
"Get a drink of water"
"No..No..No"
"Yep..Yep..Yep"
"Want to go swimming?"
"Load up"
"Unload"
"Good dog"
"Wait"
"Back"
"Heal"
"Now"
"Go potty"
"Not there"
"Go potty over there"
"Bad dog"
"Out"
"Get out of the kitchen"
"Go over where you belong"

There are probably a bunch more. Some may be the tone of voice or the situation, but we do communicate pretty well.

The latest trick is "Get that" combined with "No...No..No.." and "Yep..Yep..Yep". He will walk around the house until you verbally drive him to what you want him to bring you. It is amazing the things he will pick up and bring to you. The other night I had him bring me the TV remote.

Making that list makes me wonder how many other words he understands.
Knowing the difference between "Get", "Get over here" and "Get back" is fairly complicated.
Or "Come over here and lay down"...two commands in one phrase.

I think animals are much smarter than we give them credit.

> I think animals are much smarter than we give them credit.

Ditto. Henry was a yellow lab too and I swear he understood what we were talking about. He would understand many of those or similar commands, except for the go fetch me a beer one... He would even know when he was going for a ride before I'd grab the car keys. They are smart dogs.

I miss my little buddy. I wish I could get another one but at this time I have no means to take care of one.

> ... He would even know when he was going for a ride before I'd grab the car keys. They are smart dogs.

One my Australian Shepherds is deaf. She intently watched my actions, including my facial expressions. One of our little pastimes is heading to the kitchen during a tv commercial where I usually get another cup of coffee...and the dogs get a goody.

She watches my behavior and knows I'm heading to the kitchen...before I get up to go! She's always already in there by the time I get there. I don't know what it is I do that she sees, but she knows.

LOL, Anything on that list begins with “Are”, or ends with “?” is a given YES. 😉

I started this dog with hand signals and it has helped tremendously with the deaf dog. My daughter just made up the commands. Flat hand, palm down either motioning down or not means lay down.
A outstretched fist means stay.

Pointing downward to the ground with the index finger means sit.

Funny thing...my older dog is deaf as can be most of the time. The only exception is the sound of scraping dishes..He can hear that a mile away!
It almost seems like when he doesn't pay attention, he can't hear.

> LOL, Anything on that list begins with “Are”, or ends with “?” is a given YES. 😉

Mostly true. You can ask him if he wants to go swimming when it's cool and he isn't too interested. If I have been running him and it is hot, he immediately heads for the pond when you ask/tell him.