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Valued Contributor
Posts: 4,685
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

since the cats don't go anywhere except the Vet, when I get the carriers out, they hide and completely disappear. I think everybody's cats do this
Honored Contributor
Posts: 40,249
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

On 2/27/2015 dex said: My dog held a grudge and remembered when she was mad at me to avoid me.One day while out for an off leash walk she tried to pass me at high speed on a downhill and caught my leg on the way by.She tumbled down the hill and I swear that she would not sit with me for the rest of that day.I would sit down next to her and she would get up and move.

I am sure she thought that you sent her tumbling. One of mine used to sleep at the very foot and edge of the bed until she fell off one day, and she looked at me as if I had done it, and went to the door to get out of the room, lol.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,752
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

On 2/27/2015 brewhaha said:

He's good with crossword puzzles

4 letter word for the top of a house. Woof

3 letter word opposite of nope. Yip.

It's God's job to judge the terrorists. It's our mission to arrange the meeting. U.S. Marines
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,752
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

On 2/27/2015 TaxyLady said:

I don't think dogs carry grudges or do things out of spite. People sometimes view dogs as humans and they are not. However, I do believe they remember quickly depending on how strong the stimulus is. For instance: You come home and the couch is all chewed up. You rant and rave at the dog who hasn't got a clue it is because of the couch. The next time you come home a chair is chewed up, the dog is upset the minute you walk into the door and cowers. You might think he knows about the chair. In reality the dog is associating your coming home and yelling because he remembers the last time you came home. If a dog gets into the trash and finds tasty pork chops or chicken, he remembers quickly and gets into the trash again because he remembers how good it was and it gave him great pleasure. Depending on the stimulus is how fast a dog learns and remembers.

I have a Border Collie who seems to remember everything. I must be very careful because of his memory because certain bad behavior will be repeated if left unchecked or he associates a correction or treat with the wrong response.

Taxy, I had a red dobie once that when we first got her, we took her with us a lot. When we started leaving her at home, she would poop on the floor. If we had been gone 5 minutes of 5 hours and if she did her business right before we left, she would still do it. I was clearly a spite thing.

It's God's job to judge the terrorists. It's our mission to arrange the meeting. U.S. Marines
Valued Contributor
Posts: 927
Registered: ‎05-26-2011

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

On 2/27/2015 betteb said:
On 2/27/2015 TaxyLady said:

I don't think dogs carry grudges or do things out of spite. People sometimes view dogs as humans and they are not. However, I do believe they remember quickly depending on how strong the stimulus is. For instance: You come home and the couch is all chewed up. You rant and rave at the dog who hasn't got a clue it is because of the couch. The next time you come home a chair is chewed up, the dog is upset the minute you walk into the door and cowers. You might think he knows about the chair. In reality the dog is associating your coming home and yelling because he remembers the last time you came home. If a dog gets into the trash and finds tasty pork chops or chicken, he remembers quickly and gets into the trash again because he remembers how good it was and it gave him great pleasure. Depending on the stimulus is how fast a dog learns and remembers.

I have a Border Collie who seems to remember everything. I must be very careful because of his memory because certain bad behavior will be repeated if left unchecked or he associates a correction or treat with the wrong response.

Taxy, I had a red dobie once that when we first got her, we took her with us a lot. When we started leaving her at home, she would poop on the floor. If we had been gone 5 minutes of 5 hours and if she did her business right before we left, she would still do it. I was clearly a spite thing.

No. Spite is a human emotion and nothing to do with why a dog does something. She has learned somehow that she should poop when you leave. It might take some study but there is a reason and it is not spite.

Super Contributor
Posts: 278
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

Oh poppycock! I have to laugh at these supposed studies done sometimes...are they done by people who actually have had dogs? Spent any time with dogs? Grown up with multiple dogs?

My first dog alone, not family dog growing up...really resented when I went back to working full time in an office when my son was a toddler. I left when it was still dark in the morning, came home when it was dark (it was winter). She didn't like it at all and let me know every day for that first week she left me a present by the front door...each day she was scolded for it. The last day of the week I came home to a present in that same spot but this time it had cat litter all over it. Yep she gave me that look..."see told ya mom it was that darn cat all the time". I told her "nice try, but you forgot to clean the litter off of it".

Another dog, my husky coyote mix was hit by a car chasing a rabbit across the road...as I was holding her while they stitched her up at the Vet I said hopefully she will learn her lesson. The Vet and techs replied...no she will never remember this and continue to take off into the street. Until she died at the age of almost 16 she sat on my feet every time a car approached. She never forgot!

I have an epileptic husky ...the first few grand mal seizures that my golden witnessed she went into full attack mode on him. Seizures required all hands on deck at my house for quite some time. Now when he has a seizure the golden sits with him, her paw gently on his shoulder and waits until he comes out of it. She is also my warning when he is going to have a seizure...she knows and lets me know.

If they have no memory, no long term memory, etc...how could these things have happened?

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,970
Registered: ‎05-13-2012

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

I assume that the researchers must not own a dog or they would know better.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 927
Registered: ‎05-26-2011

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

A dog pooping or gutting the house is not out of spite, revenge or any other human emotion. It is usually caused by separation anxiety. They are upset when they are not in the company of the pack. The natural way a dog reacts to the pack leaving is to chew. It is hard to correct without creating a safe den. A place of his own. Confine him in a place that is safe and comfortable. Some people leave a radio or TV on.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 43,264
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

I'd swear my dog could understand specific words. It had nothing to do with tone of voice. I could say, in a monotone voice - let's get ready to go to Grandma's, time for a walk or we have to go to the doctor and yes, you will likely get a shot and he knew what each phrase meant.

There are times when you must speak, not because you are going to change the opposing side, but because if you do not speak, they have changed you.
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 113
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: My Dog Is Exceptional!!!

My very first dog -- some 35 years ago -- could understand the English language very well. She was a Maltese. I never attempted to train her but she learned and knew the name of each toy and would go get it when you ask her to.

In beginning, we lived in an apartment and when she wanted to go out, she would come to me and practically ask. I would be barefooted I would say "I have to have my shoes". She would run into the closet and bring me one shoe. I would say "I have to have another one" and she would go back and get the other shoe.

She knew the family by name and would get excited if you told her a certain person was coming and the excitement varied according to how much she liked the person or how much attention they usually paid to her.

I have had many wonderful dogs over the years but none even close to being as smart as she was.