🐶 How to Communicate with Dogs 🐾 How Dogs Act When They Want Something To speak with a dog and understand it, you need to learn their body language. Dogs are quite intelligent. For example, if your dog—or any dog—comes to you, it might not just mean they want to play. They could be hungry, thirsty, or want to go outside. The way to figure it out is simple: just ask. Dogs do understand you, especially when you say their name. For example, if your dog is thirsty, you might ask, “Muffin, are you thirsty?” If Muffin wags her tail and walks to her bowl, that’s a yes. Sometimes, dogs will even make a sound with their bowl to let you know. If your dog wants to go outside, they might come to you wagging their tail quickly. This usually means they’re excited or happy. Some dogs might even smile or spin in circles. If you ask, “Do you want to go out?” and they wag their tail and run to the door, that’s a clear yes. If they don’t respond or walk away, they probably don’t want to go out. When a ...