I have tried all suggestions, to no avail, but can you help with a dog problem?

Question

As black Labradors go, "Sophie" is a big one at 120 lbs. Not fat, just big. I'm six feet and she can put her paws on my shoulders and we dance.

She came to me by my son, who was walking along the railroad tracks one day, and found her, with two siblings and their mother. The mother and siblings had been killed by the train but Sophie made it and rode home in the pocket of my son's army field jacket. That's a true story.

Of course this must have been traumatic and may have had some bearing on her disability.

Everyone always comments with things like, "Gee, she's a smart dog," or "Your dog is so smart," or "That's the smartest dog I've ever seen," etc.

The problem is, she's almost four years old and she still moves her lips when she reads. How can I correct this?

Addendum: Thanks for sharing in the fun. I couldn't possibly pick a best answer with so many great ones, so I'll let this go to a vote.

Thanks again for the answers, and Sophie says hello.................

Answer 1

Some disabilities are common in dogs that were so severely traumatized as puppies. You will never correct this problem she has, if it's still an issue at 4 years. The best thing for you to do is practice NOT looking at her while she's reading. It will make her more comfortable and save your sanity.

Answer 2

It's one of those constant reminder things. When she is reading, you have to be watching her all the time and whenever you see her lips move, tell her to stop. Eventually she will get it. In addition, when you are observing her and her lips aren't moving, point it out to her and make a big deal out of it. There is one problem you may create though...she may start using her paw to read the lines. That MUST NOT happen!!! Good luck and thanks for the laugh!!! DOGS RULE!!

Answer 3

Poor Sophie.........I would bet it is a psychological based problem from her childhood trauma. I would bet she still has nightmares about that train and her family. It is probably due to her coping mechanisms and should not be messed with, besides, don't you know that you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Maybe you should just let her read aloud to you, that way it is acceptable to move her lips.

Answer 4

Love it!!!!!!!!

Also, love the story of how your son and Sophie came together; that would be one for Reader's Digest...

Very nice; thanks for sharing.

Had to share, we have a big male Basset Hound and he loves to watch TV (homes shows mostly)...I attempted to work with him in a training situation and when all the other dogs were moving around the circle, Bubba had his nose down and just wanted to sniff. The instructor asked if I couldn't get his head up, I said he really didn't want to be here because he was watching his home improvement show; I said he may not do real well in a ring, but he can fix anything in your house! ;<}

Answer 5

ROFLMAO, Thank you so much for the laugh. I was so intent and feeling so sorry for poor Sophie that I thought something was seriously wrong and then when I got down to the real "problem" I almost spit my iced tea on my computer screen from laughing so hard.

Again, thank you . I needed a good chuckle :-)

PS - You deserve not only a place on a stage as a great comic, and a star, but I can only give you a star :-)

Answer 6

I had the same problem with my shepard. I tried everything also until an old neighbor lady gave me this idea and it worked!
Everytime she reads, put a mirror in front of her so she can see her lips moving. She'll soon see how ridiculous she looks and after a few days she will be "cured". Good luck!

Answer 7

Your dog has tridolytes it is where the brain has problems understanding words and must mouth them to understand them this is rare. It might have been seing the siblings and the mother killed that put stress on the brain and thats why it does this. I recommend taking her to a veternarian.

Answer 8

What a great sense of humor! Maybe we should start a smart dog group. My dogs talk to me and I'm the only one who understands them.
Now an answer to your problem. Give her a mirror and maybe besides moving her lips, you will hear sound too.

Answer 9

Try having her hold her paw over her mouth, or hold her lips for her.

Have you tried braille?

Most dogs out grow this, but if she is 4 it may be too late. Don't worry, its not fatal, but it can lead to very annoying times, should she start to murmur as she reads.

Answer 10

My 4 years old and still moving her lips....sad. Have you tried doggy spectacles, surely could be the problem. Hire a tutor, they work wonders, and if all esle fails, show her how you read without moving your lips, or do you move yours too???