Artwork of dogs doing human things, like playing poker or reading the newspaper, usually makes dog owners laugh. After living with a family for several years, dogs come to think of themselves as one of the family--because they are. They do not spend time looking in mirrors, wondering why they are so different from their masters. Instead they mimic human behavior, like watching television or walking expectantly to the dinner table.

Giving Concise and Consistent Dog Commands
Because canines can seem so human, many people overestimate their dogs' cognitive abilities. They speak in sentences to their pets, who appear to be listening and understanding. Dogs innately infer a lot from people talk, but it is usually not our words they connect with. They understand our tone of voice and our feelings. That is all. Explaining, "Rover, I really don't appreciate when you jump in my bed," will not accomplish anything. Rover may even feel rewarded with your attention.

Studies suggest the smartest dogs can understand up to 200 human words. For the sake of your dog's sanity, however, try restricting your vocabulary when issuing commands to 20 words. The dog's name, SIT, COME, and LAY are a few examples of common dog commands.

When telling your dog what to do, stay away from using different tenses of these words. Use either LAY or LIE. Using the two words interchangeably can confuse the dog. Also, make sure the entire family uses the same commands. A simple rule of thumb when communicating with dogs: Keep it simple.