The subject of language barriers was really brought home to me recently, and not just knowing the difference between English and its variations around the world (I made a faux pas in a restaurant near Melbourne which I won't go into but it's amazing how a seemingly innocent remark can have completely different connotations - surprised the waitress didn't call the police!)                                  
I have just returned from an exhausting but ultimately very successful week in Switzerland, a beautiful chocolate box picture of a country with just one tiny problem... well four actually. To go from Australia, one enormous country with one official language, to a tiny country that speaks French, German, Italian and their own Swiss-German is a culture shock. If I had been in one of the French-speaking parts I would have been fine, but Bern is not one of them.

My talk took twice as long as normal, as I had to keep stopping to let the interpreter do her thing. She was a very business-minded woman and made sure her language was appropriate (even if mine was not) so when I used the word "scheisse" (one of the few words in German I know, but then again it's always the rude words we learn first), she translated it as "schade" - a bit like when we say "sugar" instead of....... well you understand what I mean. 

The problem people have with dogs is a similar breakdown in communication, and we as Dog Listeners are in effect the interpreters, translating the language of the dog so the owners can understand and more importantly start to communicate effectively. Without my interpreter I guess I would have had to rely on imparting my wisdom in a series of clicks and whistles, as I noticed a few years ago between my French plumber and English builder, who became great friends while working together even though they didn't understand a word each other said. Somehow they muddled along, talking to each other like they were dolphins. With the barrier of language they both instinctively used body language to "chat".

If we forget the idea that dogs think like people and start to read their body language without the human eye, we can only then really start to listen to what dogs are really trying to say.    By the way, "schade" means "shame" apparently.....