Any dog I've ever met has trigger words. My dogs flip out when I say "outside" or "ball" or "clickie". "Clickie" is the word we use for the laser pointer that Gordon LOVES to chase. For a while, they would get all excited and barky when my cell phone would ring, because I'd almost always take them outside while I was on the phone.

However, we've found two phrases with Gordon that are totally inexplicable. If we say "venus flytrap" or "Would you like fries with that?" he gets really excited and jumpy. Neither one of us has plants or works at Burger King.

A friend of mine, who might be on this private board, has a dog who responds to "Portabello", "nail gun", and "fruit pie".

Anybody else? Anyone have any ideas why the dogs react the way they do?

Hmmm if you say them fast you'll notice "venus flytrap" and "would you like fries with that" sound quite similar. Maybe there's another word he's mistaking them for that he associates with something he likes?? It's funny you mention the cell phone thing, Taylor has the same reaction when mine goes off.

I think it's because I use the alarm to wake me up in the morning, and the first thing I do afterward is feed him. Right now I'm teaching him to associate "suuuuueeeeyyyy" with food, so I can call him if we're outside somewhere, and have an authentic pig call, haha. People were saying it just assuming pigs naturally answer to it (they don't obviously, unless there's association), so I figured I'd give it a whirl. Seems to be working fine!

My old dog back in Canada has a few trigger words. He goes nuts when someone says "walkies." I think he even figured out "W-A-L-K." There were a few more now, but I can't remember. I think he could recognise "car." Oh yeah, and a few words for treat, like "sausage." He also responds to his name; I once tried to rename him, and went a week without saying his real name, and he got so depressed I had to switch back to his real name.

My cats, nothing. My wife is convinced they recognise their own names, but they can't.

Posted by ActionSatisfaction Esq. Hmmm if you say them fast you'll notice "venus flytrap" and "would you like fries with that" sound quite similar. Maybe there's another word he's mistaking them for that he associates with something he likes?? It's funny you mention the cell phone thing, Taylor has the same reaction when mine goes off.

Yeah, my husband remarked on their phonetic similarity, but we can't figure out the other word or phrase that would make him go MegaNuts.

Ah, the cell phone alarm. My puppies start yelping as soon as my alarm goes off. I can't hit snooze anymore because they're demanding outside time and dinner.

Haha yea, once Taylor hears the alarm he shoots straight up. If I don't get up or try to hit the snooze button, we walks up next to my head and oinks in my ear. If I continue to ignore him he starts squealing, and then starts hoofing me in the head and chest. When piggies want to be fed, the want to be fed NOW! Ahh I love him though.

With Poppy it's
1) "Walk" (with time she'll figure out W-A-L-K)
2) "Chill" and she'll calm down for me
3) "Have to go to work" and she'll go lie down
4) "Where's your squeak?" and she knows it's play time
5) "What is this?" and "What the hell is this?" and she knows she's in trouble.

She also follows hand signals to sit, lie down and where to go.

Our Yorkie, Holly, goes nuts when I say backpack. She knows if the backpack comes out, we are going camping, which she digs.

My late cat, Cheese, knew the word bong, and would come running. Why, I dont' know.

My lab goes nuts if you say anything in a certain tone of voice. She is not the sharpest tack but she has the instincts to make up for it. When we go hunting she is on point, she follows all the commands well.

Bandit my little poodle on the other hand is smart as hell, he knows:

-Where's your ball? - He goes finds his white CUZ ball and starts playing
-Bring it here - He brings it and drops it in my hand (most of the time)
-GO! - Starts his lap running around the house
-Outside - Self explanatory
-Wanna go for a car ride - thats when he goes bonkers
-Lets go for a walk - if his leash is out he will drag it over if I wait long enough.
-Sit (yeah yeah)
-Laydown
-Roll over - this he put his own 'spin' on. He starts chasing his tail gradually working his way to the ground where he promptly flips over.
-Get Out of There! - Worst thing you can ever say to him
-Get that dog - He starts barking

But if you day DOG TREAT or even halfway mumble it. Its OVER.

He knows all his toys by name and will go pick each one out of his little bin if you say "bobo", "squid", "duck", etc.

We can say, "go to grandma's and see cody" and he knows we are going for a car ride to visit my mom's golden retriever and he freaks out.

Time to go outside words he recognizes are "outside", "go poop?", and "O-U-T" (we spelled it out for a while because he jumps and runs around like crazy when excited, but I guess he learned how to spell too.

Oh, and he definitely knows "bath".. this face usually follows...


What did I do wrong.. I don't want the bath


Oh, but the warm towel feels so good

Posted by pezking4 http://farm3.stati...557_58e5b77dd2.jpg Oh, but the warm towel feels so good

Such a sweet face!!

Walk is a definite trigger word for my two dogs. But outside of words, Keys and my jacket are also triggers. Our chihuahua, which we rescued off the streets learned her new name(Paisley) in three or four days. Which I find odd, because my other dog took a good year to respond to his.

A friend of mine had(passed away a couple of years ago at age 19) a tri colour basenji, that used to be a show dog. He spent most of his life locked in a crate. The strange thing was, he would cower ever time he heard mariachi music or saw a fly swatter. He was a strange and neurotic little guy, I miss him.

So I found out a new trigger word. Ready?

Cemetery.

I like to take my dogs to the local cemetery, were they can run off leash. Nowhere else more peaceful.

I will have to see if I can find my "walkies" clip. My old Beagle, Buster, used to go berserk when I would say that word. We even took some .mpegs of him. He would sit and bounce up and down at the same time, while going "OWWOWOWOWOWWOW!" the whole time. Which Beagles can do reather loud, if you haven't noticed.

Posted by Watcher I will have to see if I can find my "walkies" clip. My old Beagle, Buster, used to go berserk when I would say that word. We even took some .mpegs of him. He would sit and bounce up and down at the same time, while going "OWWOWOWOWOWWOW!" the whole time. Which Beagles can do reather loud, if you haven't noticed.

I knew someone who had beagles and yeah, they were rather loud!