DR. WALLACE: Please, please, do our family a huge favor. We have a golden Lab that is like a member of our family. We all love this pooch very much. Our dog doesn't bark in English, but she does understand our language. If we ask her if she wants to go for a ride in the car, she will bark, run to the door and wag her tail. If we ask her if she wants to eat, she will run to the kitchen and wait by her food bowl. When we tell her to get her rag doll, she will run to the bedroom and return with the doll in her mouth.

When my grandparents visit our house they call us "crazy" for talking to our pooch. They don't believe the dog understands us, even though they can observe her behavior. This issue is so disturbing that the last time they visited us they got angry and left without even saying goodbye. Their last words were, "We've got a crazy family here, run by a stupid dog!"

Quite a while ago our dad said you received a letter from a reader who had a dog that could understand our language and respond to it. Please print it again and prove our family is not crazy. I will mail your response to my grandparents and hope they will change their minds and return. — Mishawaka, Ind.

NAMELESS: There was a time when I, too, thought that dogs could not understand the spoken word, but De from Willmar, Minnesota, changed my mind. Let us hope the following story will have the same effect on your grandparents. They are important members of your family. They need you, and you need them!

DOG DOES UNDERSTAND THE SPOKEN WORD

DR. WALLACE: Our family members always enjoy your column and usually agree with you. But we must take issue with your statement that dogs don't understand spoken words, only tone of voice (loud, harsh words cause a dog to cower while soft words encourage tail-wagging).

Our dog friend, Snooper, is part golden Lab, part golden retriever, the same mixed breed as our previous dog. We marvel at the intelligence of these pets, their trainability and their desire to please. These two dogs have been loyal, loving, obedient and wonderful companions who have definitely improved our lives. They are well worth the extra effort, responsibility and care.

Now as to why we disagree with you: If any of the three of us adults, in speaking with one another, mentions the words "out," "ride in the car," "go to the lake" or "treat," we have our dog's full attention and she comes to us, wanting to be included even though the words weren't spoken directly to her. When a pizza is ordered and she is told, she sits at the window watching for the delivery person.

Following each of her two meals per day, she is given a dog biscuit, which is inserted into a big red ball with holes. This morning, in a deliberate monotone, I mentioned to our son, "I need the big red ball." Our pet immediately disappeared into the other room and came back carrying the ball, dropping it at my feet! Just because dogs can't talk doesn't mean that they cannot listen and understand! Please reconsider your opinion that dogs do not understand actual words.

Keep up the good work on your column; your integrity and ethical values instruct your readers in how to live well. Thank you. — De, Willmar, Minn.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Tony Alter