Canine Intelligence: Whats your story? - Page 1

Often we hear of or read about things dogs do that suggest they are capable of a level of intelligence above simple association. Our dog was potty trained using our bedroom as her crate. From day 1 she was allowed to sleep in the bedroom and soon we realised that she would never relieve herself in the bedroom. We were able to time her and always get to take her outside for her nature calls. Sometimes when we slept late ( like after looking at late night movies ) she would remind us her need to " go " when we heard her whimpering at the bedroom door. Now as  an older dog , when we sleep late she has a new way of reminding us. She would now lick our faces and then when become awake she would go and sit at the door;  and as soon as she is let out she goes to the backyard to do her thing. I find it to be a higher level attempt by her to communicate. Any one has similar or better experiences with their pooch?

One of the reasons I ask this is that in other places involving a similar situation I read that the dog merely whimpers at the door to indicate, but in our case it now involves a direct communication with us followed by an indication at the door. I am wondering if this is because this dog was in human company all day/every day since she was a pup until now?
Any thoughts? She was never crated, kenneled, or chained.Outdoors she is always on leash but on occasions when I have her off leash ( in special places we go ) she never drifts more than a few feet ( <10 ) from me as I walk around or sit.

If you had wider experience of dogs you would realise
that although most puppies naturally try to get out of the
nest to crap once they are mobile enough, it is not by any
means a certainty for every individual.
Also depending on how a litter is raised by the breeder,
this cleanliness can be either fostered, or undermined.
And then again, it can be maintained or spoilt by the first
owner the dog is sold to.
Not sure 'intelligence' has all that much to do with this.
Attempts to communicate (the need to go out, among
much else - like hunger, playtime, etc) are a result of the
ongoing relationship between dog and owner and are as
much part of them training us to meet their needs, as us
raising them to 'ask' us for stuff/action.

Yes Hund but she has changed from merely whimpering at the door to making a direct link to us as openers of the door by licking us while we are asleep and then sitting at the door.

My cat does the same 😂

I think every cat and dog I have ever had 'living
in' with me has exhibited similar behaviours.

👍

My cats do much the same thing.

I've got one who, when confronted with a closed door, will stand on his hind legs, bat and rattle the knob with his paws, trying to 'turn' it. He does this with every knob he encounters.

Of course, he's not strong enough to 'turn' the knob but then he just looks at me expectantly: "Yo, you with the thumb, make yourself useful."

And among the dogs, my female has taken begging to a new level.  Instead of just standing/sitting and looking hopeful, she will run through all her basic obedience positions.

1) Fuss

2) Sitz

3) Platz

4) Sitz

5) Wheel around to 'hier' position

6) Gablout(sp)

All without my verbalizing the commands.  

The gal in my sig realized I was hearing impaired. If someone came to the door, she wouldn't sit at the door and bark, she'd go and find me, and bark at me.

She also knew if she had an emergency at night, and HAD to go, she needed to bark REALLY loudly, and put her paws up on the bed for good measure.

A cat that belonged to my grandmother soon realized SHE was hearing impaired, and would tap her to get her attention, THEN meow. Even though everyone else in the family (except me) had normal hearing, he continued to do this to his dying day, long after my grandmother was gone.

And if you ignored him, the next tap would be liable to have the CLAWS out! :D

"...but then he just looks at me expectantly :
'Yo, you with the thumb, make yourself useful !' "
;-) ROFL.

Yeah, they have varied. Some started off just
sitting by the door, whining; then graduated to
coming over to the bed and nudging or licking
me to wake me up. Some just sit by and stare at
you, relying on that chemical thing where you
just know you are being watched, even if sound-
lessly, and it wakes you. Some pets have jumped
onto the bed / directly onto me lying in the bed.
They teach themselves to do something that gets
the desired result. But it isn't a mensa qualification,
and it isn't anything unusual.

No end of dogs run through their whole obedience

routine trying to find the one action that gets you up

(or into the cookie jar).  That one says more about

handler timing than it does animal intelligence IMO.