Apparently our dog is learning to spell. We use the keyword "out" to ask her or tell her about going outside to do her business. When we want to speak to each other about taking her out but not let her know what we're talking about, we tend to spell "out": "oh-you-tee". The verbal spelling has never been associated with actually going out in that it's used to discuss the concept abstractly, never coinciding with the act of heading toward the door. However, Polly seems to have discovered this association on her own--we're not sure how. Now, when "oh-you-tee" is spelled, she runs to the door expecting her leash and a walk outside.

She's also figured out that Katrina and Juliana mark her poops with piles of leaves. They do this so they can be found later and scooped--apparently a big to-do with them. Now, when she goes out, she tends to grab a leaf on her way to the yard and drops it near her business.

She's also figured out that when Katrina gets a call on her cell phone in the evening (when I've taken Juliana to dance class), that it's Juliana or I calling and that we'll soon be home. She runs to the door, anticipating our imminent arrival.