While it won't be in our lifetime, and probably not for several hundred more years, dogs will eventually evolve to the point where they can understand our basic vocabulary, thus comprehending entire conversations and even entire books that are read to them.
I would like to be able to read "Call of the Wild" by Jack London to my dog someday.
If you haven’t read the Jon Katz books, you would probably enjoy them.
I ‘think’ (only a mere human, not a BC) it is in his books that he explains that BCs ability to learn is partly instinct - they want to herd and keep things, in that case animals, in their place but also because they pay very close attention to their people and what their people do, say and seem to want.
“I would like to be able to read “Call of the Wild” by Jack London to my dog someday.”
Whatever you do, don’t read “To Build a Fire” to him.
Oh a face to melt your heart!
I had an Australian shepherd that I totally loved - Valentine was so smart.
Now I have a standard poodle who just turned 15, smart and good indoors as well as athletic - also great dogs.