Magic Words

Rottweilers are an intelligent breed and, though typically stubborn and hard-headed, they learn pretty fast. Our dogs know sit, stay, wait, all the basic commands that make life in our house have some semblance of order. No circus tricks but I guess you could say that our dogs understand what we are saying. Especially if it's one of the Magic Words.

A Magic Word is not a command or something taught but a word, or quite possibly a phrase, that comes up in conversation while you are talking to your dog(s). There is powerful magic in these words.

For example, one Magic Word at our house is: Walk. Or more exactly: Walk? It has other forms as in "Want to go for a _____?", or "Let's go for a _____". It also has the form "walkies" at our house, which sure looks insipid now that I see it in writing so we're going to quit using it. The dogs have even come to understand the silent movie version of this word. That's when nothing is said but you only go to the place where the leashes are kept. Like magic, the Pest and the Passive One jump up from their nap and dance frantically like kangaroos. They caught the signal, heard the unspoken word and are certain of your intentions. Even if it wasn't your intention ... now you have no choice. It seems like a promise to them. If they don't already have their collars on, well good luck! Because there is no sitting still now for you to clasp them on..

Another Magic Word is: Eat. This word also has variations such as Hungry, Thirsty and Dinner. This is not so much a verb as an event. Especially if spoken around 6:00 (either am or pm). If I immediately begin the task then I am met with hero worship and high fives, especially since they've enthusiastically headed toward the door where the dog food bag is hidden. But if I pause and even think about fixiing myself a cup of coffee first or making a quick phone call, their combined will makes them people herders and I'm swept, literally, in the appropriate direction. "Now get on with it. Load those dog bowls up."

The Magic Word: Car. Now this is especially dangerous if combined with opening the door to the garage. Two dynamic dogs will compete to wedge past you ("Get out of our way, you obstruction!") and can knock you flat or send you flying. Big dogs demand a big car and so our minivan is required because allows each one his own seat to recline upon as we act like chauffeurs. There is no argument of who gets what seat since Pest understands that he has chosen his seat in the back, and the Passive One has his seat in the middle. But Pest also understands that he can jump over the backseat and use Passive One's head as a stepping stone toward the front chaufeuring seat. There he stands next to the driver, slobbering on his arm until it drool dribbles off the elbow. "Car" means adventure usually, fun most often, and a mess always.

At the end of the day, there is still left one Magic Word: Bed. This word has to be combined with the phrase "Let's go to B _ _". The Passive One has figured out this phrase so well that all I have to say is "Let's go ..." and he's already headed up the stairs. The Pest's head and ears come up at the phrase, but he waits to see where the other dog is going before he follows. Once upstairs, Passive One steps around twirling the blanket on his b_ _ around while the Pest prefers the coolness of the bathroom tile floor. My husband and I then climb up into our b_ _ and quickly find two dog heads at the foot of our mattress with big pleading eyes hoping we'll invite them up. We tell them "No," which, of course, is not their favorite Magic Word.

Magic Words during magic days with my dogs. I sure love them, the days and the dogs. I encourage everybody to have a conversation with your dog(s). They are great listeners and they will talk back if we'll just watch and listen. Especially if we use Magic Words.