“My dog is so smart my husband and I catch ourselves spelling in front of him.”
That trick lasts only so long - my Aussies have learned to spell words such as leash or walk or bath. Our language becomes increasingly oblique to conceal our intent. I’ll say to the wife, “Fetch the long things and we’ll perambulate the fur kids around the block”. As we speak such jargon, the dogs’ ears are twitching as they try to decipher what we are saying.
Like the spelling thing. Used to have to spell “p a r k” so changed it to “p double k r p” soon the dog caught onto that as well.
I always knew dogs were smarter than anyone ever thought. They actually respond to hand signals even better than voice. Our Pippa watches my every move, she knows when I put my shoes on or get my keys and runs to the bedroom to watch me leave out the window.