Found my PC hosed when I came back from New Mexico last week, so light blogging for now.
Am currently reading Moving Pictures by Pratchett, and the whip-smart mutt Gaspode reminded me if something I always wonder about the way we quantify intelligence in a dog. There are the Laddie/Lassie types that do tricks and the circus dogs which obviously delight in showing their skills and agility, but I think there are myriad unsung and much smarter dogs all over the place. I think the really smart dogs are the ones who know what you want them to do, but have sussed their person out enough to know they can get away with defiance. I think they understand us more than we understand them. Or ourselves.
What do you think?
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7 comments:
I've heard tales of herding dogs working outside party crowds like a herd of sheep. The partiers never notice, but the dog constantly keeps them bunched and in sight.
I came here on a google search for "doggie style"....
(No I didn't.)
Gaspode is one of my favorite Pratchett characters. He's like a scheming Border Collie in a mutt's body. If you haven't read it yet, he's a real hero in The Fifth Elephant.
Sadie, my big white Siberian, has me figured out pretty handily. Jack, the brown Sibby, was hugely manipulative, though. Abby did as she pleased.
L. says that "one of these days" she's going to get me another Border Collie. She says I need one because I'm losing all my socialization skills and a Border is the only way I'll be retrained.
"I think the really smart dogs are the ones who know what you want them to do, but have sussed their person out enough to know they can get away with defiance."
You just described a cat.
Cats are intelligent enough to come when called, and follow directions. They just don't care.
FormerFlyer
Based on the some of the problem solving I've seen our schnauzers perform I'm convinced of their intelligence.
For example: Otto managed to bat his tennis ball under the stairs at the GF's folk's. First he tried to scootch under the bottom step...no go. Then he circled around and peered under her dad's reloading bench...no go. Finally he went around to the back side of the stairs and started trying to drag the cooler out from under the stairs. He couldn't see his ball but knew that it had to be on the other side of the cooler. When he couldn't get past the cooler he cam back to where I was sitting and watching, woofed, and looked meaningfully at the cooler.
He looked for alternate access, identified and attempted to move obstacles, and asked for help when he got stuck. Better than some of the people I work with.
And watching the pair hunt ground squirrels, mice, and horses (nope, not a typo or joke) is something else.
BGM
I think the really smart dogs are the ones that know what you need (loves and cuddles or laughs) and give it to you before you even ask for it
All I know is that I am putty in the Vinodog's paws!
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