Alicia Loc: NYC

I once had a Borzoi Hound (Russian Wolf Hound) and played with her by asking her what she would do for a goodie. At first she went through her usual and well-known 3 or 4 antics but, when she repeated one, I would tell her that she had already done that and please show me another. This would go on with her either creating new movements or doing variations on one before. She would never get her goodie unless she came up with a new version. How does your pet stand up to this? I'd truly like to hear of your experiences and, perhaps, give you ideas for further play with your pets.

Mom8052 Loc: Lost in the mountains of New Mexico

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All my pups sing for their supper and treats. I think they are watching the clock.

Big dog

About the only trick my golden retriever knows is how to steal what ever I put down when I first get home. And about the only variation he manages is to steal something different every day.

out of the woods Loc: to hell and gone New York State

Our Berner Willie knew all the usual tricks ,but on a more practical note, When I had to go into the woods to gaher sticks, which I use for details in my work , Willie, after watching me would start breaking sticks off at their base. That always struck me as rather a leap. He would also quietly get himself up on the bench, all 140lbs of him and wait for a dinner plate to be delivered to him. I have pictures of him dwarfing my children at the table, but politely. Hey winters are long up here, diversions are welcome.

popparod Loc: Somewhere else.

My Brussels Griffin will let me place a treat on his nose and hold it there till I tell him ok you can have it, then he flips it into the air and catches it.
I can lay his favorite treat on the floor and tell him no, don't touch it and he will stare at it for hours until I tell him he can have it.
When I tell him it's time to take a bath, go get in the bath tub, he will be waiting in the tub when I get there.
He comes and gets me when he needs to go outside.
A little manipulator, I always wanted a smart dog, but it seems sometimes he is smarter than me.
Sure hope he doesn't read this.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Our dogs know when feeding time is. Since they are fed in their crates, so the Welsh Terrier does not get all the food allocated to the two Cane Corsos. When the time comes, they pick up their dishes and bang them on the side of their crates. As soon as we say "I'm getting it" they stop banging and just wait for the dinner. Should we get delayed by more than about 15 minutes, they bang on the dish once or twice. After eating they pick up their dishes and put them in the kitchen.
The neighbors goats bellow at 5 PM to go into the barn and eat. They keep it up until someone puts them in the barn and gives them their goat food pellets.

Had a friend years ago whose African Gray Parrot would wait until the dogs were all asleep on the floor and then scream either "Time to Eat" or "Everybody want to go out"
Yes, animals can be smart. More interesting are the ways animals problem solve. Ways to open doors, hide toys, or hunt and catch mice or rats, problem solving on their own is the true test of intellegence.

jack sequim wa Loc: Blanchard, Idaho

Alicia, your four pawed kid is demonstrating independent thinking, an understanding of your request (vocabulary ) which is a sign of higher intelligence.
I'm guessing you speak (talk) to your friend often and not as a "dog" , but instead like a child and speak (talk to) constantly.

The average dog has the ability to understand around 125 +/- words, but when we "talk" to our furry friends constantly (all day, everyday ) encouraging them, giving them confidence, security, love, affection, their vocabulary can double and even more than triple the "average family pet. As their vocabulary expands, so does their independent thinking.
Just lost our little Yorkie in January (his brother a year earlier ) both my wife and I notice how different our boys were from other dogs that were treated like a "dog" verses ours that we relate to more like children . They both had extremely high vocabularies and learned to do all the common "tricks" sit, sit up, lay down, roll over, stay and neither my wife or I ever "actually" trained them specifically, instead they "independent thinking" through learning vocabulary just as a child does, learned what we wanted them to do. Both when asked if they wanted something understood yes and would nod their heads "yes" or an under their breath bark for "no".
We now have to baby twin boy Yorkies that we got a eight and a half weeks old, by 13 weeks they were both potty trained, go everywhere we go (in their stroller) , both sit, stay, fetch understand many words already and are now only 16 weeks old.
My inlaws have a Yorkie and a Pomeranian which are often kept in kennels at night, and during the day when they are wanted to be out of the way kenneled , not allowed on furniture or their bed, have limited interaction except on the inlaws terms and both their dogs have limited understanding (vocabulary ), misbehavior, and deer in the headlights when I talk to them.

Your dog does the things because of how you treat him, he wants to please you . He is smart because how you have treated and interacted with him.

Dogs rock! !!!

out of the woods Loc: to hell and gone New York State

Yes , I agree about the talking making a difference. I work at home, alone except for my Dogs, and so talk to them all day. They become extension of yourself, and can anticipate your actions and understand your intentions. Our newfoundland pup, at 16 weeks , has picked up basic commands, but is very strong willed and generally performs best when he sees a benefit forthcoming, otherwise not so much. He follows me everywhere, my new best buddy.

Alicia Loc: NYC

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As others have suggested, you should talk to him more.

Alicia Loc: NYC

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That dog, for some reason, never needed to be trained for outside. She just could not allow herself to make any type of mess in the house - even to regurgitate. Although there was a run in the back yard, I just let her out by herself. One day, my neighbor told me that Azuka always went onto her property to relieve herself. Naturally I had to collect it all.

The only "trick" I ever trained her for was to Stay. I once left her with a building guard because I thought she might get upset in an elevator. when I returned I asked how she did. The guard told me that he would have had to shove her in order to get her to move.

I don't know whether I mentioned this before, but I once decided to teach her to fetch. Had a friend visit with his dog who would chase anything thrown. I had her watch him for a time and then threw a stick and asked her to retrieve it. She did it rather reluctantly and, after much praise, I threw it again. She looked at it and then at me as if to say, "I just gave it to you. Why are you throwing it away again?" She would never repeat the action. No more normal dog tricks after that. One more thing: I never used the word "heel" but instead asked her to "walk like a lady."

Alicia Loc: NYC

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I do like that he waits for his dinner with everyone else.

What kind of work do you that that requires sticks? Just being nosy.

Alicia Loc: NYC

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Dogs do rock! But the only dog I would live with is a Borzoi. Was given a Saluki (sells at $2,000) because I thought it would be similar to a Borzoi. It wasn't and I returned it. The Saluki owner, after hearing my praise for the Borzoi, adopted one (they both belong to the coursing family). He's been thrilled. I am basically a cat person and what I enjoyed with that dog is that it "thought" like a cat. Very aware of its dignity. She never stole anything from the table until I enjoyed a pizza with my Dad and he gave her some while he was eating. After that, no sandwich was safe on the table. She was tall enough to just "walk by" the table and the sandwich would be gone.

out of the woods Loc: to hell and gone New York State

I live in the Adirondacks, the land of Birchbark furniture.

meridianlesilie Loc: mars

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my German Shepard loved scaring about 14 yr old i think .& my basset hound didnt care but she was quiet too.every evening after 9 pm. when i didnt work we would walk down the street ,coming back from our walk we would walk real quiet & would get just right across the street from them she would bark out loud & scare them & they got a blast out of that .. then 1 time there was a truck that was waiting to go & she tried to bite the bumper off but her teeth was not that good ..but she tried anyway ..

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Have you ever looked into Scottish Deerhounds? People who have them say they are much like Borzoi in temperament. We need more people attached dogs as therapy dogs, and were afraid that the Welsh Terrier, being a more independent breed, might not work for us, but the breeder has had several who were certified therapy dogs, and one who even has an AKC title and works in nursing homes. So far Chaos (the Welsh Terrier) has earned several obedience and rally titles, as well as his championship and is now a therapy dog for abused kids very tolerant of hard hugging and always ready to entertain with his dancing routine or snuggle on a boys lap (the Cane Corsos at 150 pounds are NOT lap dogs)