Language of the Ears

Ron Atkinson

Ron Atkinson

Premium Member
I have noticed as Teddy has gotten older, he will come and sit in front of me a lot more than he used to. Then he will look directly at me. As I talk to him I see minor ear movements and in Some cases I get the same movement for the same words that I use more than once.
Has anyone figured out what the ears actually mean or am I just imagining it?

I have learned that he will ask me for things by low volume whining and noises (I call it sheltie talk). But if he wants my wife to do something it's flat out loud barking.
 
They all definitely have their own language, and some are more conversational than others here. Sprite has an entire vocabulary of whines and barks, defined by volume and pitch. And she is insistent, so we'd better interpret them or else. She's our talker, and household boss.

As for ears, only two of ours use them a lot. Misty moves her ears with her mood. When she's happy and playing, her ears are back on her head almost flat. She looks very silly that way and we call it "the gooney look". They're alert when we talk to her and rotate a bit depending on our tone. Flurry uses her ears too, in different ways. When she's "alert" barking (which is whenever she's not sleeping! :cautious:) they're back and flatter. It's an interesting study!
 
Spitfire has SUPER expressive ears. Also when he is unsure of surroundings (despite his bluster he doesn't like new places) you can see him angle his ears to check it out. Oh he also can fold them all the way back to do his 'big eye sad cat' look. So I am betting you are right on Teddy.
 
My Brooke had the most expressive ears. Which was handy since her eyes were almost black in a black face, and it wasn't always easy to read her eyes. And my Ally used to do what we called "airplane ears" (sideways) if she was bummed out about something (like the outdoor bathtub coming out).

I think it's neat that you are so observant and clued-in on Teddy's subtle communications. :yes:
 
Piper is the one who seems to understand the most. Funny because I was whispering to Finnie last night that Piper had a stinky bum (I’d had to get him in the tub for a butt wash) and Piper (who was laying close to Finnie) turned his head to glare at me:ROFLMAO:.
He knows the most words and expresses this when I talk to him whereas Finnie just looks at me like DUH….:lol:
 
Benson holds his ears to the side the entire dog walk. Listening for the boogeyman he just knows is out there.

He also talks A LOT. I first thought he was just a random sheltie barker, but no. The best analogy is I watched a kid once run home from an "injury" playing outside and the kid never cried a tear until he got in the house and found his mother. Benny comes running inside quiet as a mouse until he sees me then the verbage starts to flow regarding whatever it is outside that needs my immediate attention. He is definitely talking. Lord I wish Google had a sheltie to english translation app!

Unlike Glen's gentle Willow, Benson will literally grab my wrist and try to drag me out of my chair to go look. Or my sleeve if its winter. Sleeves hurt less than wrists btw.

Fillion is the fluent in two languages one. He seems to understand whole phrases that I never taught him to understand. I threw something and Fil didn't see it. He was looking left to right. I said its behind you. He turned around and got it. Coincedence until three times in different scenarios I couldn't say that anymore. First time playing Go find It I noticed they missed one. I said you missed one. Never said that before but they were on the hunt right away until one of them found it.
We don't give our dogs enough credit for what they understand, or what they can hear with those expressive ears
 
One afternoon, I went to check the mail at the end of our long driveway. We lived in the country then, and Cody followed me out the mailbox. On the return trip he headed for the garage and the back door. All I said was "front door", and he changed direction to the front door. He picked that up entirely on his own. They are way smarter that anyone gives them credit for. Hearding dogs are always at the top of the list of the smartest dogs, and Shelties are always in the top 5.
 
RikyR said:
One afternoon, I went to check the mail at the end of our long driveway. We lived in the country then, and Cody followed me out the mailbox. On the return trip he headed for the garage and the back door. All I said was "front door", and he changed direction to the front door. He picked that up entirely on his own. They are way smarter that anyone gives them credit for. Hearding dogs are always at the top of the list of the smartest dogs, and Shelties are always in the top 5.
Click to expand...

And I bet you said it in a normal tone of voice--like you were talking to another person. Thats what floored me--it was a phrase thrown off in passing. Not a get their attention excited phrase.
 
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