Fundamental training is crucial for a family to be successful dog owners. Dogs that don't come or sit on command is a dog that may well be a pest and a nuisance to the entire neighborhood. Obedience training is not about teaching dogs to do tricks or competition exercises, it's about training dogs to be obedient and to do what they're told to do when you need them to do it, not when they fell like it. Obedience covers a wide range of skills a dog can learn, including tricks, family manners, show ring exercises, and skills demonstrations. At the same time, they can easily tune out someone calling or giving commands.
Dogs do communicate, but they do so in a foreign language to humans.
The barks, howls, whimpers, whines, and growls can be distinguished and understood with just a little effort. Some dogs are very vocal and make an assortment of noises as greetings, attention-getters, and happiness. We humans need to learn the difference between these words and noises and the growls that indicate dominance or aggression and the chatter that accompanies stress. Dogs want to learn. They really do want to please you.