Dog's have a remarkable clock. they can get excited when they expect someone to come at a particular time, but I also think that they are never in any doubt that their owner would return. They are also aware of sounds, smells, and habits that we can be too busy to notice. I talk to my dog conversationally, but that is generally for the sake of people, and is like padding. It works by knowing the key words, and framing the conversational aspects around them. there are key words that they understand, like walk,and chicken that they recognize. If you mention chicken their eyes light up, and they start to dribble. My dog Lani got out the front door once and disappeared. I looked for a while, and...

Dog's have a remarkable clock. they can get excited when they expect someone to come at a particular time, but I also think that they are never in any doubt that their owner would return. They are also aware of sounds, smells, and habits that we can be too busy to notice. I talk to my dog conversationally, but that is generally for the sake of people, and is like padding. It works by knowing the key words, and framing the conversational aspects around them. there are key words that they understand, like walk,and chicken that they recognize. If you mention chicken their eyes light up, and they start to dribble. My dog Lani got out the front door once and disappeared. I looked for a while, and found her waiting at the shop, sitting where I leave her when I go inside. The look almost suggested the question 'What took you so long?'
Another time, I had to go to hospital, and for a few weeks didn't see her. (That's a long time for a dog). My Brother bought her to the parking lot behind the hospital, because she was moping around with separation anxiety. Maybe not because she didn't think I'd be back, but because I was taking so long. She got out of the car ran up an embankment almost as though she wanted to get a better view.The look on her face, would most accurately be described a "Where the Hell have you been?" Then the look was gone, she knew where I was and started beaming while she ran down to me. They may expect someone back, but like anything else, they don't know until it happens. The same sort of thing happens with walking. She's learned to look amazingly miserable when she wants a walk She might be fishing sometimes. But it makes any excuse I have to avoid walking pretty lame, especially considering the way it keeps us both fitter.