Mattie wrote: You should be used to thinking outside the box now, you just need to practice it with humans.
Thanks, you're right. My friends do comment on how good he is and how neat it is that he knows tricks, and how even though I talk to him in complete sentences, I say enough key words (commands/cues) that he looks like he really understands everything I'm saying!
I always reply with "Positive training!" and will try to elaborate more in the future. L always says "Don't geek out on people..." under her breath because she knows once I get started it's hard to stop me, and she can see people's eyes glazing over.