DOGS- do they really understand us?

[Who me ?]

I'm in a problem with this one. Three years ago I re homed a timid, possibly ill treated cross Cairn / JRT, A highly intelligent dog. She has responded to love, and my commands, but she's property possessive. She hates cats, and we have a resident Hedgehog in the back garden. Each night she goes out hunting either hogs or cats, but nightly I've told her that she's got a choice. Go hunting or sit in the rain.Nightly she goes out , has a hunt ,has a P and comes back in. I think she's got the message?

[PositronicRay]

I've just shown this post to our two.

After a bit of discussion they unanimously said biscuit.

[anonymous-user]

Op your post isn't that clear.

Is your issue that your dog goes outside and in your opinion it's to hunt hedgehogs or cats and that you have given your dog an ultimatum which somehow your dog has understood?

Dogs have their own level of understanding of the worlds they live in. Often humans project our emotions onto a dog to assist with understanding their behaviours.

[Simpo Two]

It sounds to me like a successful cat trainer.

The trick to being a successful cat trainer is to know your animal sufficiently well as to be able to predict exactly what it is about to do next. Then, shortly before it does it, give it the matching command. A moment later the cat will do what it was going to do anyway, but it will, to the casual observer, appear to be obeying your orders. Your friends and family will be suitably amazed!