Feb 26 2008
Thinking Dogs
“Do your dogs know they are playing a game?” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that question. My answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” Of course they know they are playing a game and they know if they win or not. They may not care there are titles after their name, they may not care if they come in first place or not, but they know if they beat the dog in the other lane to the finish line. More importantly, they want to beat the dog in the other lane to the finish line!
It’s an interesting thing to watch. I’ve seen Jack Russell Terriers try to out run Border Collies. I’ve seen Border Collies look over their shoulder to make sure they have a strong lead on the dog in the other lane. Competitive nature is broader than just in humans. A friend of mine who rode horses in the show ring when she was younger tells me horses are very competitive. They know who their competition is and they try to out perform.
Here at home there is another type of thinking that is fun to see. We have a young Border Collie who we call Spike. When Spike was a younger pup he slept in a crate at night. Just before out alarm clock would go off in the morning Spike would start to “woof” in his crate. “Woof, woof, woof.” Not very loud. He only wanted someone to get up and let him out of the crate so he could go outside. It would work. Not long after he would start to “woof” my husband would get up and let him out. Spike is two years old now and it is no longer necessary for him to sleep in a locked crate. He is allowed to choose his sleeping space. On weekends when the humans want to sleep a little longer in the morning Spike has a hard time waiting for us to get up. Recently he has taken to standing inside the open crate and saying, “woof, woof, woof.” It worked a couple of times! My husband would get up and walk to the crate. I’d hear my husband say, “Get out of there!” A couple of days ago I heard Spike saying, “woof, woof, woof” and my husband sleepily said, “Stop it Spike, it’s not going to work.” My husband started to chuckle, I started to chuckle and Spike was standing next to the bed wagging. We got up anyway.
Spike sounds like my kind of dog. He knows how to get his way.
We had a border collie mix name Rover for 14 years. We got him from an animal shelter when my boys were young. Rover knew how to get his way too. I sure miss him.
The dogs all have their own personalities, don’t they?
Louie and Gus are very competative. But we just think it is sibling rivalry…
Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus and Louie
Yes, they really do have their own personalities. It’s very interesting to watch. I feel bad for people who have never had the pleasure of a relationship with an animal. If they truly knew their dog they would know how much dogs do think!
Gus & Louie! I know you are competitive. If you’ll go in a cold lake after a stick, I know you will work no matter what!
Thanks for stopping by!
Y’all come back,
Fay
Spike sounds great! I swear, if we knew dogs half as well as they knew us, we’d be very smart indeed.
Wow…This sounds like my home…even on the weekends. Great post…enjoyed reading it. Will return for more.