[rebootthesystem]

I've raised and trained working line German Shepherd Dogs (GSD's) most of my adult life. The degree of communication you can have with a dog is sometimes incredible. Yes, they tell you what they want and figure out ways to communicate what they need. Very soon you develop a mutual "language" of sorts. We use hand signals for everything (as well as spoken commands). So I can be at a really noisy outdoor setting and tell them what to do without uttering a word.

They also learn which member of the family is best for each need. For example, they learned that cuddling-up with my young daughter is always a sure bet, they rarely ask my oldest son for that level of attention.

There's also the empathy. I've seen some amazing things, like a female GSD jumping up on the bed to cuddle-up with my wife when she got a phone call with bad news. It's freaky.

They know they are not allowed in my office and stop and sit or lay down at the door. But they can also read when I am receptive to them coming in for a quick hug. They actually seem to understand when I need a break. It's an amazing relationship that I couldn't do without.

[agumonkey]

This was on imgur recently http://imgur.com/gallery/Octdtr3 dog reacting to owner having a PTSD attack.

On the other side of the spectrum I remember a friend taking her young lab back into her car because he wasn't behaving right, and that little puppy, right before closing the door, pulled the most saddest face (yet funny) I've ever seen: sad eyes, tilted head, sad sounds, everything in order for an Oscar.