My wife says the older dog will help the puppy settle in and show it what to do and what not to do, ( where to pee for example) I told her she is mad and all the dogs will do is play together. can dogs comunicate?
2006-10-25 08:44:54 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Of course they can. You have been very rude to your wife, its not necessary to call someone mad just because you have an opinion about something.
The fact is that all animal species have methods of communication, including scent, posture, body language, facial expression and verbal sounds.
Humans communicate using all of those methods plus verbal and written language.
If animals were unable to communicate, how do you imagine that wolves and lions are able to hunt co-operatively? Try completing a complex task with a group of people - when none of you are able to use verbal communication.
Animals are not machines. The fact that they are not as mentally developed as us and cannot use verbal language with the same complexity does not mean that they cannot communicate at all.
Its a fascinating subject to study. And it worries me that you could live with a live animal and be oblivious to its behaviour.
Trust your wife, she is right this time. How about a bunch of flowers and an apology for her?
2006-10-25 11:51:15 · answer #1 · answered by sarah c 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course dogs can communicate - they are pack animals and have a highly developed system of communication which mainly consists of facial expressions and body postures.
Your 18 month old is unlikely to sit your new pup down and explain all the house rules but your wife could be almost right about the house training.
If you take your pup into the garden where your older dog urinates the pup will be more inclined to go there as well. However this does not mean that you can leave the house training up to your older dog. It is still your responsibility to teach your pup what he needs to know.
I have always had multiple dogs and wish it had been that easy but memories of standing outside on cold, dark frosty mornings waiting for the new pup to oblige while the older dogs were still tucked up and snoozing on their duvets are still vivid!
2006-10-26 02:23:41 · answer #2 · answered by DogDoc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes dogs do communicate to eachother. I make sure that any puppy I have is left with my older dogs. Older dogs can teach puppies what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. For example: it is unacceptable to run up and jump in another dogs face. How does this help, well your walking your dog and it sees a rottweiler and wants to say hi, do you want it to jump in the dogs face? or ease up on it with a proper greeting? Dogs are like children and they learn what they see, if you let your older dog out to go potty then the smaller younger one will follow suit. The older dog will probably not keep the puppy from having accidents in the house, but it will make the house training experience a little easier. It is also good to let your older dog discipline your younger one, they will usually growl and may nip a little, of course keep an eye on them and make sure that the discipline doesn't get out of control.
2006-10-25 08:51:59 · answer #3 · answered by chessapeke 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs communicate through barks, growls, nips and body language. You will see alot of that as they work out the hierarchy of the 'pack' (where they rank with you and each other)
Dogs learn by example, and repetition. If the pup see the dog going to the bathroom outside, it will do so as well. You will still need to housebreak the dog, but they MAY catch on faster if another dog is around to set the example.
On the other hand, you other dog is still young enough where it may revert to peeing in the house, because the puppy does.
2006-10-25 08:51:13 · answer #4 · answered by Nikki T 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They have a form of communication but not like your wife's describing. Also dont count on the dog showing it what not to do. In fact my experience leads me to believe it will be the other way around and the pup will entice the older dog to do things it noramlly wouldn't
2006-10-25 08:51:03 · answer #5 · answered by Matt O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was recently in the same boat, the puppy didn't learn by watching. As for playing together, the puppy annoys/terrorises my older dog to a point where the older one goes to where it knows the puppy can't get to.
2006-10-25 08:59:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think dogs can communicate, but notin the way your wife thinks. We just got a puppy, and already had a 2 yr. old dog. Believe me, you WILL be training the new puppy.
2006-10-25 08:50:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are better at communicating instincts than humans are.
You, your wife and the 18 month old dog will have great times with the new pup. If the older dog is good....ya have it sorted
2006-10-25 08:50:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes is some ways. If your 18 month old dog is trained it will help in training your puppy.
2006-10-25 08:48:45 · answer #9 · answered by irish_man_ 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dogs do communicate and teach each other.
my boyfriends dog toby is big and he saw the steak ready to be cooked on the side. he couldnt reach it so he went up to jess the smaller younger dog and she went over and jumped up stole the steak chewed half off and left it for toby.
we couldnt believe what we saw!
2006-10-25 08:48:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋