Word Association By Dogs
A specific word has no real meaning for a dog. A dog will respond to what action he associates with the word. For example, you and I understand what is meant by the words “chocolate sundae” – someone taught us that was the name for a combination of certain sweet things. We also understand that the word “desert” could also mean chocolate sundae or a number of equally appealing things to eat.
This is where we differ from our dogs. Rover understands what “chicken” is because every time we say the word, he gets a piece of chicken. However, asking him if he wants “poultry” means nothing to him. Although Rover may start salivating at the mere mention of the word “chicken,” you could substitute the word “hammer” every time you give Rover a piece of chicken, it would soon mean the same thing.
There are two lessons to be understood here. The first is that dogs can associate a word with a substance or an event (event meaning something like going outside or riding in a car). However, using different words to express the same command, even if the words have the exact same meaning, will only serve to confuse your dog – the connection cannot be made. For example, automobile and car have exactly the same meaning to you and I, but not to our dogs. They can only associate a given word with one result.
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