can an animal from a Spanish speaking family understand English commands?

I had a German Shepherd that was an early retirement (translation: failed to bite on command) Police Dog. She was only trained in German. When I was finally approved to be her new owner, they gave me a list of all her German commands and what the English translation meant. They went through and had me properly say each German command, immediately followed by the English command I would be using.

It took maybe a week, definitely less than 2 weeks, before she knew every command in English, and I could finally drop the German and stop carrying my list of commands around with me.

I think it was a combination of tone, gestures (some had hand gesture also), and repeating both words. Of course, she was also a well-trained, very intelligent dog.

Yes. Animals respond to voice tones, not the words, and to "body" language. You can communicate with them if you listen to the tones they use when they communicate with each other.

When they approach you with a pleading tone, that's what they are doing. You must watch them to see what they want. Usually they will "point" toward what they want. If you encourage them, they usually turn toward what they want. If you follow them they will lead you to it.

Often where they lead you is just a "spot." That is the place they eat, the place you often pet them, etc.

Often they plead then just sit there looking at you. If you indicate you will follow them and they still just sit and look at you, I assume they just want your attention and company. Petting them and spending a little time with them seems to be enough then.

If you are happy to see them make happy sounds and rub against them (their way of hugging), etc.

Their usual greeting is to turn away from you. You can guess, if you have watched animals, what they are offering. I usually indulge even that by pretending to sniff. I do it only to be polite and not snub their offer. I suspect it is their way of showing what they've been eating. That would let the other one know what's available in the "pantry."

They also smell noses. That may be another way: smelling breath. Some think they can also detect diseases that way. Since many contagious diseases are from the sinus and lungs, that could be possible.

That gives you an idea of how to communicate. You can do the same in return. They, particularly cats, can become demanding once they know you understand and will respond. If it's not something actually urgent, there are polite put-offs. Treat them similar to a good friend, just with a different type of communication.

I think you have the idea. You can learn more from there. Watch the "Dog Whisperer." He has some pointers that work for dogs.

All of this is intended to offer a way to actually communicate, not just give orders. If you think I am too propitiating to animals I should tell you I have killed many hundreds of animals, too many just for target practice. I am ashamed of the latter use. The rest I ate.

Researchers say that dogs know around 200 words of a language that they are around for a while. If you are changing languages you will have to retrain it to English commands, but once it gets used to the sound of your voice and the new language, it will begin to associate feelings and the condition of its environment with the new words that it is hearing.

I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." This is not true. This misconception was proven wrong on the tv show Mythbusters on Discovery Channel. Good luck! I hope this helped.

I would say no way. Just thinking about the horse commands - the people language is different, and the words they teach the animals are also different. Just try the Czech words for go/stop "hyyy/prrr" what would that translate to any other language??? Hehehe

The only way is for you to teach them the English commands. Makes sense - no?

Happy New Year

I believe that it's possible, since the animal doesn't normally know words, it's the tone and force in the voice that they actually understand. I have birds and they respond in three languages. You can get the animal to begin getting used to English commands by speaking to it constantly. I began with my cockatiel like that and he was never spoken to at all. They're very quick to pick up tones.

For most commands, the dog responds more to tone of voice and body language than to the actual words, so it shouldn't be a big problem.

He will have to be trained again. If the commands given to him were performed with hand motions or postures and they are repeated when giving him commands in english he would get the idea.

That is an interesting question. I'm familiar with certain K-9 unit police dogs who are trained overseas. Officers have told me that they learn foreign commands when interacting with the dogs because that is what the dogs are used to.

They will understand 'No!'

Tone, volume and behavior would give a dog a clue but the dog essentially associates with the spanish sounds.

My dog is bilingual, because I give him commands in English, and Spanish, and he obeys!