woman teaches her dog to read

[Amby 490]

New York animal trainer Lyssa Rosenberg has taught her terrier to obey simple written commands.

Willow plays dead when she sees the word 'bang', stretches a paw in the air when she sees 'wave' and gets up on her back feet to beg when she sees the words 'sit up'.

"She's an unbelievably quick learner," said Ms Rosenberg, who has trained other dogs to appear in TV adverts and pose on photo shoots.

"She can do 250 different things and I used to joke that I would teach her how to pour me a martini. Then for a bet I told a friend I would teach her to read. He promised me a free trip to Mexico if I could do it.

"It took her just six weeks to recognise words and respond to them. And it isn't just my handwriting she understands. My friend printed the words Willow learned off the computer and she reacted to them.

"Well I won the bet and Willow came with me to Mexico."

Willow has her own pet passport and regularly flies transatlantic to visit Ms Rosenberg's husband Gareth Howells, in Guildford, Surrey.

Willow was also the second witness at the couple's wedding at New York City Hall in March - signing the marriage certificate with an inky paw print.

Ms Rosenberg even takes the 10lb English terrier mix on business trips because Willow is more than happy to share her carrying case with other animals.

"I once had to fly from California back to New York with a rabbit and two guinea pigs. Going through airport security was hilarious because first I pulled out the rabbit from the bag, followed by the guinea pigs and then the dog."

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3405263.html

[Fandango 1,439]

That is incredible!

[Nagishkaw 510]

I'll be dog gone!

[amberdima 6]

that's bada$$! i thought i was cool for teaching my cat to potty outside with the dog.

[Donna A 4]

that's bada$$! i thought i was cool for teaching my cat to potty outside with the dog.

and i thought i was cool for teaching my dog to go in the litter pan....geeezz

[furiousng 2]

My dog's hi five seems so lame now!!!!

[Amby 490]

My dog's hi five seems so lame now!!!!

I know! I thought it was really cool when I taught my dog to play dead when I pointed at him and said "bang". Now I have to teach him to read too! It'll never happen.

[ddartt1 2]

Looks like Willow will soon be serving martini!

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Just wait until I have taught my cat how to tap dance and to calculate super pi at the same time!

[john & jean 37]

aww hell, my dog will recite Shakespeare!!!

[rebeccajo 14]

Here she is!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

That's pretty cool!

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Wow and I thought my dog knowing all his toys by name was impressive.

[rebeccajo 14]

Wow and I thought my dog knowing all his toys by name was impressive.

Your dog isn't named Preston, is he?

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Wow and I thought my dog knowing all his toys by name was impressive.

Your dog isn't named Preston, is he?

Nope, haha.

My dog's name is Kirby, he's a Shih Tzu.