[@AbandonedIntel] Alright, I got it, I think.  I may change it suddenly, but here goes:

Animal Bond:  She has created an intrinsic link between herself and her dog, Kirk.  Through it, both have taken on some of each other's traits.  Gabby has a greater hearing and sense of smell(not on the same level as Jasmine, mind), but also gains some of his nature.  She becomes protective to the point of aggression.  

Kirk, meanwhile, has become a great deal smarter through his link with Gabby.  He is far beyond any dog, and most animals, and even has some level of self awareness and capacity for reason.  He sees her as his pack leader, and will obey her unflinchingly, and with his new level of intelligence is able to take on much more complicated commands.  He doesn't need to be trained to turn the light off, because when she tells him to, he knows what it is that she's trying to communicate.  

Though he may gain some capacity for English, he does [i]not[/i] automatically understand it(though he understands [i]her[/i] through their link) and will have to learn from others trying to talk to him.