How Smart Are Dogs?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

This is a really fascinating article and follow-up discussion. The author postulates dogs are considerably smarter than most scientists have given them credit for until now; that the human world is the natural environment of the domesticated dog; and that dogs have an extraordinarily high social intelligence that enables them to tap into the intelligence of humans.



Clever Canines

Colloquy

[Dr Dave]

Dogs are clever when they're trained to be clever. Dogs don't train other dogs, people train dogs.

[Brian Olewnick]

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Dogs are clever when they're trained to be clever. Dogs don't train other dogs, people train dogs.

The piece is not about training, Doc.

[graypencil]

My Beagles don't regard themselves as dogs ..they are sure they must be some species of human.

When it comes to playing with a toy, they illustrate a MUCH greater attention span than most kids do.

And they DO remeber where you hide the stuff they're not supposed to get into ..

[jaka]

Like for kids, your dog is always smarter than your neighbour's dog.

I've been convinced for long that dogs were smarter than given credit for. That's why I live with dumb felines. Makes me feel good.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Originally Posted by jaka

Like for kids, your dog is always smarter than your neighbour's dog.

I've been convinced for long that dogs were smarter than given credit for. That's why I live with dumb felines. Makes me feel good.

Dogs are smart. Cats are smart and arrogant................

[bruce massey]

Thomas Edisons Shaggy Dog by Vonnegut tells the entire tale.

[crawjo]

I think all animals are smarter than we give them credit for, not just dogs. I have three Mountain Horned Dragons, and just the other day they impressed me by reciting the Catholic Mass, in original Latin.

[groover]

Originally Posted by crawjo

I think all animals are smarter than we give them credit for, not just dogs. I have three Mountain Horned Dragons, and just the other day they impressed me by reciting the Catholic Mass, in original Latin.

A sure sign of the End Times!

[frankenmeister7]

Originally Posted by crawjo

I think all animals are smarter than we give them credit for, not just dogs. I have three Mountain Horned Dragons, and just the other day they impressed me by reciting the Catholic Mass, in original Latin.

ROTFLMAO

Crawjo, i have really come to respect your posts and now this.

most folks can't even walk and chew gum while waiting for the no. 8 bus.

ha ha, forgot that they don't have the no. 8 anymore.

wrong thread, sorry

[moneyp]

Originally Posted by bruce massey

Thomas Edisons Shaggy Dog by Vonnegut tells the entire tale.

Awesome story from one of my favorite books, TALES FROM THE MONKEY HOUSE. I like his novels, but his sense of humor was built for the short story.

[steve(thelil)]

Most slime molds are a hell of alot smarter than they look.

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

The piece is not about training, Doc.

So you say. I think it is about anthropomorphic projection, myself.

[Vince Kargatis]

SqDC, I recommend you don't waste much time tilting against Dr Dave's religious speciesist windmill.

[jesus marion joseph]

Any animal that can train us to feed, water and house them, *free of charge* is pretty damned smart in my book.

[groover]

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

Any animal that can train us to feed, water and house them, *free of charge* is pretty damned smart in my book.

Then cats must be smarter than dogs. Not only do they get all those benefits, but when you ask them to fetch, they give you a look that implies, "When did I become your slave?"

[jesus marion joseph]

Originally Posted by groover

Then cats must be smarter than dogs. Not only do they get all those benefits, but when you ask them to fetch, they give you a look that implies, "When did I become your slave?"

Better yet: "clean my litterbox, byatch!"

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

Any animal that can train us to feed, water and house them, *free of charge* is pretty damned smart in my book.

How about following them around with a plastic bag and picking up their feces?

Not even kings have that done for them.

[Enforcer]

Originally Posted by Surfer

How about following them around with a plastic bag and picking up their feces?

Not even kings have that done for them.

If my well engineered plan to become elected king of a small cult pans out, I may test this assertion.

[frankenmeister7]

Originally Posted by groover

Then cats must be smarter than dogs. Not only do they get all those benefits, but when you ask them to fetch, they give you a look that implies, "When did I become your slave?"

with my family scenario, a cat who doesn't go to a litter box that is dirty is a genius.

or a cat who hasn't been feed will go to that dirty litter box, fetch his feces and put it right in front of your next step as you walk across a room or down a hallway.

thats the nature instinct of the beast. cute little kitty.

yes we are slaves to these felines. we may not like these antics but then again what cat likes to be pawed and stroked when he or she doesn't like it.

cats are very astute to the nature of man and damn it that is what makes it so funny that a cat will always rule the world.


i think dogs are put on this earth for us when we are lonely. dogs bite and bark for possession of territory, but you will never see a dog not back when they want that hug and pat.

God's plan for the world is that when it does come down to who wins in the end......................by golly my money in on my pets.

the beast was here first before man was even thought of..............................so

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

If my well engineered plan to become elected king of a small cult pans out, I may test this assertion.

LOL, very funny Larry.

[steve(thelil)]

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

Any animal that can train us to feed, water and house them, *free of charge* is pretty damned smart in my book.

If the intelligence of animals is measured by what they train you to do for them, my pick for smartest is sheep, hands down.

[frankenmeister7]

Originally Posted by steve(thelil)

If the intelligence of animals is measured by what they train you to do for them, my pick for smartest is sheep, hands down.

now my mind in on a donkey or mule. what kind of behavior is it when this beast is being pulled my man and they just up and sit down and refuse to budge. they honk and holler and the more you pull at them the more that they whine and just stare back.

no plan, just stubbornness(sp) that is another ploy to annoy man.

pure genius.

just think about every animal on this planet and what they have to contribute to the world and how man can't figure them out.

now who is smarter?

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

SqDC, I recommend you don't waste much time tilting against Dr Dave's religious speciesist windmill.

That's me. Specieist. When a dog gets elected to city council, or writes a novel, or corrects my grammar, that will be a different story. In the meantime, humans rule. For better or worse.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Who rules was never an issue, Doc. They were comparing dogs with wolves and other animals. And this author, both in the piece and in the very interesting Colloquy -- read this!! that follows, he is very careful to repeat several times that he compares "intelligence" only within one species, never between species.

for instance:

>>Question from Bob, Professor Emeritus, State University System:
Which are smarter--labradors or college deans?"<<

Adam Miklósi replies:

>>In my view that is a wrong type of question. In biology any type of "intelligence", "cleverness" or similar things do not exists in themselves but only with relation of the environment. So first you should define the environment in which you study them, and only then can I say (after testing) who is smarter (e.g. how would college deans hunt a bird?)<<