After a life of hearing German, can they become bilingual?
2007-04-26 16:25:54 · 15 answers · asked by JD 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes, it's more the tone of your voice. You may want to learn the commands he knows in German and then say the command in English. Shepherds are very smart and will learn quickly. You'll both be fine.
2007-04-26 16:32:58 · answer #1 · answered by SureKat 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The dog doesn;t know if you are speaking German, English, American, Iraqi or Chinese. Tjey will go by the tone of your voice, your body language and your gestures. When I train my German Shepherds, at the beginning, I do not even use words. I use hand signals (of course the hands have treats in them) as well as grunts, grawls and even little barks. I mean come on, if dogs spoke only the language of the country that they live in, Ceaser would have a hell of a time with the dogs he is able to work with every week. Watch his show. He doesn't speak to the dogs, it is all body language.
2007-04-27 01:10:33 · answer #2 · answered by boleen03 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, they can. Most german shepards are bred in America, though. Some really good breeders still breed them in Germany. I would learn the word *or words* that were used to train them, or the German words for the action that you would like, and say the english version along right after it, so that the dog gets used to hearing the old command, and following through, while getting used to hearing the English command with it, then jusy try using the english command after the dog "gets it".
2007-04-26 23:31:50 · answer #3 · answered by hell hath no fury 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I had a rottweiler that was imported from germany with german commands and we just used those commands. She did eventually pick up our commands that were in english. Its not that the dogs understands one language better than the other. It is the key words like sit (sitzen), stay (blieb), no (nein), laydown (platz), heel (fusse). I can't spell these german words, but you get what I mean. You should be able to have the dog relearn command words.
2007-04-26 23:51:38 · answer #4 · answered by wenchgirl04 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs are multi-lingual... My dogs understand German, English, and Spanish. The only language spoke in my home is English, But I live and work in Germany and I have co-workers who speak to my dogs in German and Spanish... The Dogs responded to the commands of the other languages instantly.
2007-04-27 04:26:44 · answer #5 · answered by LA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a german shepherd, and am happy to tell you thy can. They are smart dogs and will learn quickly. Mine responds to german and english, as well as hand commands. It probably knows hand commands, if so it will be extremely easy to teach it.
Are you getting an older dog?
2007-04-26 23:34:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is already trained in an other language then it will be difficult to retrain it unless you are experienced, but they are capable of learning many languages. German sheperds originated in Germany but they are now also in America. Unless you get one from Germany, which you don't have to do, then it probably goesn't know German.
2007-04-26 23:33:37 · answer #7 · answered by pitbullhotty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well,, I don't know why not... however - there are lots of german commands online for dogs.Try giving a command in English followed by the german command. Lots of praise. Google GS dogs. Just be patient. Its as hard for him as it will be for you Good luck
2007-04-26 23:33:41 · answer #8 · answered by Ann B P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you'd have to re-train them to learn the new words all over again! But yes I think they could learn.
Btw K-9 police dogs are taught both in some places.
2007-04-26 23:29:20 · answer #9 · answered by Iris 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lol, dogs respond to non verbal commands and your tone of voice although they do understand bits and pieces of our language, he'll learn.
2007-04-26 23:31:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋