Our labbie is trained to "whisper" when he has to go outside. Lately, the weather has been such that my DW has been able to sit out on the front porch/stoop in a lounge chair and read, so she takes the dog with her and he just hangs out...

The other day, he felt the urge, so he sat in front of her and whispered. She tried to tell him he already was outside, so go ahead and do his business... but he just couldn't get it -- it wasn't the usual ritual he's used to. She had to get up and accompany him out on the lawn, he did his thing, and they went back up on the porch. It's been several times and he still can't figure it out.

Animals can get so programmed/stuck in a rut/ritualized it's hysterical.

Doc