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My black Labrador retriever, Ellie, is a service dog and she most definitely communicates in many human-like ways. In fact, at times I find myself having conversations with her in which I speak and she communicates in return, quite clearly, her desires and opinions.

Ellie has what our family jokingly refers to as the "potty look." When she has to go out she will find one of us and stand directly in our line of sight, crouched a little like she's ready to spring into action, meet our eyes and cock her head to one side questioningly with one ear pointing straight up. As soon as you say, "Potty?" she jumps and turns a 180 at the same time, yips her affirmation, and heads for the back door, throwing a quick look over her shoulder as if to say, "Well, are you coming or not?"

In the morning as I'm getting ready for work, Ellie knows her work is about to begin, as well. When I'm set to go, we both head for her cupboard where I store her working vest, harness, working collar, and leash. As soon as her vest comes out of the cupboard, she jumps excitedly; "We're going somewhere!" When I call her to me and put on her vest and equipment, her demeanor changes immediately. Ellie knows, just as any human, when it's time to buckle down and get to work.

Ellie is a very tolerant dog. I own a children's and maternity store, so she is fawned over all day long, both by gentle hands and not-so-gentle hands. When she has had enough, she sits quietly beside me and presses her nose into my hand or leg just as an overwhelmed child would seek peace in a parent's proximity. I then make a show of giving her the "spot" command and she will regally retreat to her bed underneath the counter as I close off the area with a locking baby gate and explain to the children that Ellie needs to rest.

Tail up and perky ears are a clear indication of playfulness, while tail and head down display guilt and repentance. Ellie will quietly take a 3-point stance when she is intrigued by something new and her whole body quivers with anticipation when she sees a ball of any sort in someone's hand.

My Ellie-girl has excellent instincts about people and I trust her implicitly. In a handful of situations when we've been out and about together, she has alerted me to people she feels are a threat to me; she moves out of her "heel" position in order to put as much of her body between me the questionable person as possible, her hackles go up around her harness, and she will begin pressing me back away from the person. Often, this is as far as it needs to go because, unbeknownst to anyone around us, Ellie gives me that clear and quiet signal and she and I leave the area.

In the one and only situation that we were completely alone when a dangerous person approached, she let that person know in no uncertain terms that if he came any closer he would be sorry. Her "words" were as clear as any spoken by a person issuing threats and ultimatums, and the man stopped dead in his tracks and backed away with his hands in an open, submissive position.

Attentive dog owners quickly pick up their canine companion's cues just as their dogs learn their master's words, habits, attitudes, and moods. Because they don't speak "our language," people from the outside looking in on human-canine interactions assume that dogs cannot communicate clearly in ways humans can understand. However, just as a pre-verbal baby expresses emotions and physical needs with different cries, coos, and mannerisms that his parents soon learn to interpret, man's best friend has much to say.

Learn more about this author, Tara Bren.
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