I've been training Molly to leave treats for the last few weeks, and today I fetched a treat out of the jar (they're in a very large glass jar with a screw lid that she can't open) and put it by the side of the jar on the sofa while I was finishing typing a reply on the forum- and she sat there good as gold while I finished typing and went back to her, waiting for me to signal that she could have it!

After that I thought that I'd see how many things she already knows how to do from my body language alone and it's really amazing. She comes, sits, gives a paw, lies, goes back to her bed and lies down (as well as leaving a treat and taking it at the right time) all without saying a word.

I don't think that I'll make a habit out of it (she does like having attention paid to her so I'll probably carry on having conversations with her) but it really shows two things. Firstly- how much she learns that's not dependent on words, and secondly, how much of my body language and sign language is consistent with whatever I'm doing.

What can I try next? Any ideas?

Well you already know GSDs are super-clever dogs - but Molly just continues to show what a clever girl she can be. Give her a hug from me.

When the dobermutt feels that way, she does the sit, stand, flat, stay, paw, paw2, kiss routine without being told verbally, just by me nodding. Only when she thinks theres something in it for her, mind...

Ailsa's best self-taught trick? Getting the barmy bengal to open the cellar door so she can trot down, open the IKEA recycling box and put her snout deep into the bag containing her pig's ears...trots straight back upstairs and sits in front of the fire with her booty. Only gets away with it the once.