Surprising things your dogs knows but you don't know why
 Owen is really responsive to just pointing-- he takes direction and follow my hand signals incredibly well. He's always so focused on me, I guess it shouldn't be that surprising. I've never taught him hand signals, he just picked it up on his own and he'll follow my finger. Point to the bed, he's on, point off, he's off, point downstairs, he goes (and comes immediately back, but still!). His recall is way better than my husband's. I know if I call Owen, he will definitely come. I can't say the same for James. He also developed this great move of his own when he wants a treat out of the cupboard in the kitchen. He sits by the cupboard and squeaks while he makes this funny little side head move like "Look! Right there!" Clyde and Bear are way too laid back to do all these things (read:lazy). If I point to get on the bed to them, they ignore me and lay down where they want to lay. To get them up, they usually need a nudge and some pleading from me. Owen is like having that one kid that has more potential than the others, lol. I realize these aren't big things but it's always interesting to me how much they pick up and how perceptive they are. Anyone else have any surprise things that your dog knows and you're not sure why? |
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Cool thread Jill!  I'm continually surprised by how quickly and perceptively my dogs figure out "work" etiquette. I'm on a massive new artwork work binge right now (getting ready for summer), and as a result, there are half-finished art pieces piled, leaned and sitting EVERYWHERE in my house and studio. Never once have my dogs stepped on them, knocked them over, or damaged them in any way. They figured out (completely on their own) how to stay close to me but out of the way as I work. Its a similar situation when I take them to fairs with me. I didn't have to train them to behave appropriately in the booth...they just seemed to know.  Bert is a bit like Owen. Abby is a clever, well mannered girl, but Bert is the one who seems to really clue in whats going on, and puts more though and effort into getting what he wants out of a situation  I think our dogs understand more than we give them credit for. They often seem to pay closer attention to us when they perceive that we are doing something "serious", and Ive often thought that the secret to better behaved dogs is to somehow project that attitude all the time. I really noticed this when teaching Bert the command "slow", when on walks. If I tell him "slow" when we are on slick ice, he slows down immediately...if I tell him "slow" because I'm getting a little tired, he ignores me!   |
When we moved into our house thirteen years ago it needed to be updated badly. We did all of the painting work on our own. Mopsy liked to be right with us and sometimes in our way. One day as we were working Tim says to me in the middle of our normal conversation about what we were doing next "Mopsy is going to have to move". As soon as the words are out of his mouth Mopsy stands up and moves to a different spot.  Once we realized she knew the word "move" it was very useful for the underfood sheepdog. I incorporated it into Harry's vocabulary too.Harry seems to know that the word "not" is a negator. When we first got him and we would go on walks he liked to play with a certain dog along the way. One day he pulled towards the driveway but I could tell Ginger was not home so I said "Not today" and he immediately came back to walk. I noticed this another time shortly thereafter when I would say "not now" that he would stop whatever it was he was trying to do. This is pretty useful for a stubborn alpha dog that Harry can be at times. |
| I always believe they have a 6th sense as well. They know before us. Example was when I was pregnant my sheepdog knew before me, he went from a full on bouncy boy to very gentle by my side. I at the time did not know I was pregnant. Still amazes me what they sense. I also am amazed at when you are not feeling well how they sense that and are quiet and ever so good around you. Babette I just point my finger when she is doing something she is not suppose to be doing and she responds to that rather then telling her NO. If I do use NO then she has the last say, so the finger works better   |
| My pack really amazes me. They ease drop in on my phone calls. If my hubby calls to be picked up, they line up at the garage door before I've even stood up to get my purse. If there is other conversation on the phone they just go about their business. I can tell them that I'm going to the store and they know they can't come, so they go about what they where doing. I usually take them to most places I go. I do use alot of hand signals when I want them to do things...and they follow right along. The Aussies are really smart and I find it interesting to watch them interact...they will bring Violet "up to date" on what is going on. When they start barking at something it is really funny because if Asia barks Violet will usually ignore whatever Asia is barking at, but if Asia and China are barking Violet will come in and start barking and start looking around for whatever she is supposed to be barking at...it is really funny the look on Violet's face as she trys to figure out what is going on. Regarding health: When I had the Shingles outbreak 3 yrs ago, China layed on the bed next to me for the first month I was in bed and Violet layed at the door of the bedroom. I'm sure they went in and out to go to the potty ect, but each time I woke up to take more pain meds, both where at their "stations." I found it very conforting, since I was home by myself all day while my hubby was off working on our business. |
| it never ceases to amaze me when panda comes to me with a hand gesture..no words...and automatically gives me a kiss before i put her food down..... if i say bird, she looks up to the wires and if i say cat, she looks to the fence and roof...lol we didnt train her to look for either... |
| In the place we just moved out of we had to buzz people to get in, and they took the elevator up to our place. The buzzer goes to our cell phone, it rings normally and then we buzz them in. Usually we'll say something like "ok come up, its on the 9th floor". Somehow, Marley always knew when someone was at the door. I don't know if it was the "come up" or the pressing of the button, but she always got up really excited and ran to the front door and waited for the guest! |
| Asterisk is very sensitive to me. It's pretty amazing how well behaved she is by comparison to Wendel when it comes to some things. Wendel gets into the garbage and Asterisk will submiss when I come through the door because she knows someones in trouble. If Wendel blocks the path between she and I (ie when I shower and he flops down at the door and she can't get in), she'll whimper but NEVERS steps over him. When I drive, she will always hug me. She has to place her face into the crook of my neck and snuggles. Wendel, it's hard to tell if it's training or just him, since I've only had him the last year. If you close a door, even most of the way, he will not come in. He will lay down on the other side and block Asterisk from coming in. |
| Great idea for a thread.... I've had some exceptionally smart ones, and some dumb as rocks ones too. Panda is in the dumb as a rock category. All the training in the world couldn't help that dog understand a command, but she's just naturally a good dog so it works out. Willy seems very smart like his momma Bree. Bree is TOO smart. Willy seems to have just picked up on all kinds of things without any intentional training which is good in most areas EXCEPT that he learned to sit. Not necessarily a good thing for a show dog to sit. LOL Piper is smart but also food motivated so although I'm sure she knows perfectly well what is being asked of her she plays dumb until the cookies come out. |
| I forgot to mention, my dogs are leaving my flowers alone! I was so impressed. Wendel went for a flower once and now they ignore my beds completely. |
Willowsprite wrote: I've had some exceptionally smart ones, and some dumb as rocks ones too. Panda is in the dumb as a rock category. All the training in the world couldn't help that dog understand a command, but she's just naturally a good dog so it works out. We call Chap "dumb as a bag of hammers", so I hear ya! Lacy is brilliant. She can do anything you tell her or point out - I should really have her in agility. Harley has potential, I think she'll come along just fine once she goes to obedience training but she's a wild puppy and never been worked with prior to us - so a challenge, but she is very smart. But Chap - oh that boy is just not bright.  Good thing he's gentle, gorgeous and loving because that's about all he's got going for him! |
With Oscar's deafness, finger pointing is an important part of our daily "conversation".  I can't find the link now, but I read recently that dogs in general are very good at discerning direction from finger pointing. Laurie and Oscar |
| today i went to the airport to pick up a friend do it a few times a year well as soon as i get to the airport they seem to know and barked their heads off like they know we are there to pick him up .. they never bark in the truck .. hum! |
| I love this thread, thanks! Its great to read about our fur kids knowledge. Chloe will move out of the way of cars in our subdivision. I used to mutter aloud about cars needing to slow down during our walks, and we would move onto the grassy area. Now, she moves automatically to a yard when a car is approaching. I didn't even notice it at first, she is so subtle. She loves her car rides, and when I say truck over car, or vice versa, she knows which is which. My amazing girl can also "find" the right car in a congested parking area, 9 out of 10 times. This breed is so intelligent! |
| My theory is that they are very, very observant and that we give off clues and cues that we're not even conscious of. I think it has more to do with the dog's personality than intelligence, i.e., my sheepie has to be in on EVERYTHING and by my side ALL THE TIME, whereas my retriever could care less (unless I've got a ball in my hand) and my border collie is only interested if there's food involved. So the sheepie is especially attuned to my body language and picks up on cues that mean I'm going upstairs, or to the car, or outside, etc. For example, after the morning rush of dogs taken outside, getting everybody fed, including cats, everybody medicated who needs it, and I've poured my coffee, I'll head back upstairs for the rest of the morning routine. The minute I pick up the coffee cup, Toby is bounding up the stairs ahead of me, knowing that that's the next step in the day. He reacts to the clothes I put on, too, because certain things mean "we're going for a walk" and others don't. If I have on "walking" clothes, I can't get out the door without him; if not, he lets me go and pick up the mail or whatever unmolested. Same goes for getting in the car (sometimes I have to hide my keys from him). I think we all know they develop a vocabulary, too, but we aren't aware of the some of the trigger words that mean something to them. Again, things that we may say just out of habit at a particular time and they pick up on it and know it usually means a particular activity is about to occur. I have a habit of saying "OK" to myself when I finish a task, whether it's work at my desk or fixing a meal, or whatever. But it means to the dog that I'm about to move somewhere and he needs to watch to make sure he doesn't miss anything. And how about their internal clock? They know when it's time to eat and time for a treat and time to go upstairs to bed. And they adjust pretty quickly when we spring forward and back. How do they do that?? |
| I'm always surprised that they know each others names. If I call Zach they all look at him but don't respond in any other way. And that holds true for all of them. |
| I agree with Susan. I think we inadvertently give off signals that our dogs are particularly adept at reading. Because sheepdogs are such a velcro breed, they are always underfoot, always watching us.......I think I am starting to get paranoid....... Oscar knows so many things that we have never expressly taught him, but he is very attuned to facial expression and body language. Just one example. Oscar gets his face wiped every time he drinks water. Every now and again, he'll play bow and take off when he sees me coming with the towel, but only when he knows I'm not going to be PO'd. He senses that I won't mind if he's playful. He never does this when I mean business, and I'm not in the mood for his shenanigans. Also, my hubby and I drink ice water all day long, so we are constantly refilling our glasses in the kitchen. Yet Oscar knows when we are getting that ice water to go into the basement and work out, and he jumps up and follows us downstairs. Since Oscar is bilaterally deaf, we know he isn't responding to any verbal cues, only movement, body langauge and facial expressions. Laurie and Oscar |
| "Just keep going" is one thing that I didn't teach but they understand. If we are in a crowd of people and I want them to keep going I just tell them. Hallway is another. When we leave we just say hallway and they get up and go. Finger pointing is another one. I think they picked that up doing agility. One I wish they would learn is "Quiet" |
Simon's Mom wrote: "Just keep going" is one thing that I didn't teach but they understand. If we are in a crowd of people and I want them to keep going I just tell them. Hallway is another. When we leave we just say hallway and they get up and go. Finger pointing is another one. I think they picked that up doing agility. One I wish they would learn is "Quiet" Pam's quote about the "Quiet" command reminded me about an issue I have with Violet. When I was growing up we where not allowed to tell anyone to "shut up", the words are harsh and my parents didn't allow it. So when I raised my children I used the same barometer and they where not allowed to say "shut up." Be quiet ect where acceptable but just not "shut up." I know you can see where this is going...Violet is a barker...she barks when I'm getting out of bed to feed her, barks while she is eating her kibble, barks when we are going to the Van, barks when we get in the Van...and sporadic barking through out the day..I think you get the idea. I tell her "stop", "quiet", I ignore & everything else but "shut up". Well the other day in the garage getting in the Van I finally had it and told her to "shut up" and she stopped!!! I couldn't believe it. The next time she barked "shut up" again and she stopped on a dime. Now I have a quandary, I don't like saying "shut up" it goes so against the grain for me, and I feel bad when I say it. Oh well, I guess that will be only Violet's special command. |
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