I have been a dog owner for well over 40 years and have had many different breeds to observe up close and personal. Their level of intelligence is on a much different plain than our as is many other animals. No, they can’t read or write but they do understand not only words but attitudes and feelings.
And it is not just dogs, most animals recognize their own kind. Oh and dogs know other dogs as either friend or foe and they have a great memory and they do hold grudges or remember “friends” even after a long period of separation.
Mine will let me bite his ear (gently)
That’s serious trust from a dog.
I’ve seen dogs fart and not know it was their own fart. Some even growl and act startled and amazed. My theory is that their sense of smell is such that they think there is another invisible dog around who has been eating the same exact food they themselves have, and they don’t like this invisible food thief hanging around back there.
Freegards
They don’t have words, exactly, though they do utter meaningful vocalizations, but every move they make has meaning. I often wonder if we have any idea of the multitude of ways in which animals communicate with each other, especially social animals.
Agree.
Dogs are hyper sensitive to body language and use it themselves to convey their feelings and wants. My dog first looks at me and then at the box of dog biscuits or door - he also begs a lot and does this while he's begging. He can tell a dog/cat/squirrel/small child from quite a distances and reacts to each differently. He can tell familiar dogs from a strange dog at a distance and familiar vehicles from unfamiliar ones driving past the house.
I leave the door slightly ajar so he can open it with his paw and go outside when he wants. He'll usually find something to bark at. If it's really important like a new cat, strange dog or other animal, or someone pulling into the drive way, he comes running into the house all excited to get me - and he will keep doing this until I go and check out whatever it is.
Dogs know important sounds from not so important ones, like a dog on TV or one outside, yet he reacts to the sound of the door bell or car horn every time. And my dog has this eye blink thing he does - like 3 eye blinks while looking straight at me. When I blink back three times, an indignant facial expression that comes over him tells me he considers me a really "dumb" human, with much left to learn about communicating.
Couple his large verbal vocabulary with body language and we can usually understand each other just fine.