Only Dogs (as in "only child') are smarter.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Sole (one only) dogs, when with the right master, are far smarter and have the potential of becoming so much more than dogs in multiple dog families. Just like the only child who doesnt turn out spoiled or neurotic often turns out to be intellectually advanced over his peers. It is the one-on-one time and focused stimulation that leads to this superior ability. I have seen street bums with the most amazing dogs. You would think the dog had an IQ of a human. It was all the one-on-one time. All the hobo had was his dog, all the dog had was his hobo; in the world. Also I have observed a neighbor lady with the most amazing dog, when I commented, one time, that she should get a friend for Bella she replied "I only want one dog - I dont believe in multiple dogs". Was she right? Maybe. I don think I ever have met a person with multiple dogs where one of the dogs truly "shine" I have only observed this on one-on-one dog to person relationships. Like Bocker for example. I think we may be setting our dogs up for failure, not allowing them to be all they can be with our childish notions of "Fido needs a friend" - "Suzy needs a sister". We are in essence making dumbass dogs.

[Adina P]

Don't remind him!!! ROFL

[F, Calla & Luca]

Something else just occurred to me. I find that you can estimate intelligence in children fairly well from their use of language. Of course this is a tool we can't use with dogs although Luca has rather distinct barks for "My ball is under the bed and I can't get it" versus "Let me in the house." etc. I do wonder if understanding of language, not commands but more complex language such as sentences, musings , discussions, suggestions, has some value in terms of judging canine intelligence?

[Adina P]

How about understanding of thoughts? ESP!? Thule has ESP like no other. She can tell if I'm THINKING about cleaning her ears. Case in point. I was out of normal ear wash and was going to concoct a home recipe I've heard others use (vinegar-water-alcohol). ALL I DID WAS GRAB A MUG (in which to mix it) and she hid under the table. I had no ingredients with me...nothing I did was any different than usual when I grab a mug for drinking. And yet...she knew...wicked ESP on this girl!

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Yes! I totally believe dogs have ESP! Or have some other amazing senses that can pick up the subtle changes in the scent of our phermones to know something is up. I have witnessed this with Bailey, my senior citizen dog, many times in the years. Infact I even spell around him but I still cant pull the wool over his eyes. Case in point - the Hobo and his dog. Amazing.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Egads!

[GBK]

Yes, Yes, Buddy does this too!!!! All I have to do is look at him and think it is about time to clean those ears, and he is off and avoiding me. From some fun reading I have done, they say if you think in pictures, our dogs can tune in to our thoughts :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned and brushing!!!!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

This article was in my paper's online edition this morning. Speaks to intelligence in dogs. No firm conclusions, however.



Dogs can dig through human deception

USA TODAY • August 22, 2009



Man's best friend or food-grubbing flatterer? Dogs are no dummies either way, suggests a study showing how canines respond to deception.


Fido always seems to know which hand hides the treat, even without sniffing, and
researchers and pet owners alike have long wondered whether pooches imagine what we are thinking or whether they simply read body language.

"Dogs evolved with humans, and a number of studies have suggested they are particularly sensitive to human cues," says psychologist William Roberts of Canada's Dalhousie University. Sentimental pet owners might even say their dogs know what they are thinking.

To test how well dogs have people figured out, Roberts and colleagues performed three experiments reported in the current Behaviour Process journal. The team recruiting pet owners and tested 16 dogs in a park near London, Ontario.

First, the researchers presented the dogs with two covered buckets, one empty, one loaded with treats. In some trials, the same tester would always signal to the dogs the empty bucket. In other trials, another tester would signal the full bucket.

The dogs started out running to the bucket indicated by testers in both trials, but within five attempts, the dogs figured out a little less than half the time to run to the bucket not indicated by the "deceptive" tester.

Similar tests were done decades ago in chimps, notes psychologist Clive Wynne of the University of Florida-Gainesville, editor of the journal. "One interesting thing is that the dogs are wiping the floor with the chimps in how often, statistically, they figure out the deception," he says.

To see whether the human testers mattered, the team replaced the testers with white or black boxes, placed behind buckets, one empty and one holding hot dog pieces. "It appears that dogs learned rather quickly to approach the (full) box and to avoid the (empty) box," the study says.

"They are just as good at it when no humans are involved," Wynne says. The study suggests, he adds, that "sometimes for your dog, you are just a stimulus machine that provides food" rather than a thinking creature whose intentions need to be read.

But Alexandra Horowitz of Columbia University says the experiments can't tell us too much. "In the deceiver case, they were torn -- this person had deceived them, but on the other hand, it is still a person, and people often have information about where food or a toy is hidden."

Asbury Park Press, Aug 22, 09

[Kathy Wilson]

I once had four dogs: two poodles, a border collie, and a collie/shepherd. Not being only dogs did not stop Jessy, the collie/shepherd or Gigi, the mama poodle from being very smart dogs. I think the only thing about having a single dog is to make sure they don't have to spend alot of time alone. If you have two, they can keep each other company. Then again, if one has to ignore one's animals for long periods of time, what's the point in having them? I will have an only dog for awhile but I plan to take her with me as often as I possibly can. Also, I think it has to do with the individual person. If you can handle more than one well, go for it. If a single dog is better for an individual, then morethan that would be irresponsible.

[Adina P]

From

Beverley S. Lalonde:

Good afternoon! I have Harlee A.K.C. CGC, Agility trained, Obed. Trained, Therapy Dog! He is a very special boy 5yrs. this Oct. Then I decided Harlee needed a buddy named Miss Chloe who picked up bell ringing from Harlee to go out on patio. She was born July 31, 2008 so was not able to get to an obed. class until following April. I don't believe in taking out until all shots. She has been to one Obed. class, one Agility, and will take her through obed. again as I usually take through 3 times for socialization same with Agility. I just resently acquired a Petite Goldendoodle who was born April 17, 2009. It is surprising what dogs can learn from each other. Being consistant with rules and training is so very inportant and all three dogs are doing well. I have had many breeds in my life time. German Sheperds, Rottweiler. Calm, assertive control is all you need along with consistancy. It does depend how much time and energy people are willing to put into their dogs. Some people have the time and some don't. Exercise it as inportant also. I have a little statue that say's "Have you played with your dog today." Dog's are like children different personalities, learn at differnet speeds but in the end lots of love is all you really truly need, along with the above. Our Dogs are our students and learn what they live..