Is your pup a genius or is it just that he has you well trained? Can you tell the difference?! Apparently there are actual tests you can give your dog in a somewhat “controlled” environment, and as he responds within the allotted time receives duly earned points. I find this idea interesting and hilarious.
- So if your dog can demonstrate he remembers where you put his favorite treat, by going to it immediately, he scores five. But if he sniffs around the edge of the room and then finds the treat, he just scores a four. And on it goes, earning one point if the dog makes no effort at all. This is supposed to be an example of short-term memory.
- For long-term memory there is some latitude. To achieve a four, your best friend can go to the place where the treat originally lay, then divert to the new location there finding the morsel. This time if there’s no effort, a score of zero appears.
- Third is the case for “environmental memory.” Quite candidly this test should be a requirement for all husbands-to-be by their prospective wives prior to marriage. It involves the rearrangement of furniture. You are free to create the scenario, but scoring ranges from five to one. If Rounder notices something is different within about fifteen seconds and begins to explore or sniff any changes in the room, his score is five; if it takes him up to thirty seconds, only a four. But if a whole minute passes and he still ignores the changes, he only deserves a one. The very image of how this plays out with human couples married less than five years defies belief.
In fact, I just cannot resist letting you in on a family secret. We had only been married about a year and a half. My young husband decided to stay after work for a Happy Hour. Of course he was sure he had contacted me about his plans, but in actual fact the thought had not entered his mind. I had laboriously prepared one of his special favorites for supper, and had it ready and piping hot on time for his arrival from a hard day at work. Now I must say this was before the days of cell phones, we were in a foreign country, had no close neighbors and I had no vehicle. After I realized my darling wasn’t coming home and that no police were coming to my door notifying me of his demise, all my negative energy turned into a virtual white tornado. Every piece of furniture I could move, which was most of it, had a new “home” long before I even thought about going to bed. Our dog had the advantage this time…he knew where to walk! Out of my sound, peaceful sleep I woke to a loud clatter, strange words, running water and finally silence. Next morning all rested, having spent the night in our bed all stretched out, I rose to find the master of the house curled up beside the couch; the dog was snoozing away on the couch!
- This next challenge named “alternate choice memory,” involves how well your one-year old doggie remembers one of several possibilities. It sort of reminds me of the “which cup is it under” game. Having three cups, rub the inside of each with a bit of the food used as the lure. Then show Rounder the empty cups, and line them up in a row, each about twelve inches apart. Show him the treat, lift the middle cup and place the treat under it. Release your doggie and whether he actually gets the bit of food is not the most important part this time, although he will score five points if he goes directly to the middle cup. The interesting observation actually lies in the attention he pays to each cup.
- The last test involves how well Rounder really knows his name. According to the professor this is a test of language comprehension. Have the dog seated and relaxed about six feet in front of you. In the same tone of voice and inflection you use to call him, call “refrigerator.” If he comes, it’s three points, if he does not come, try calling “movies.” If he still does not respond, score two points. On the third, try calling his own name; at this point if he comes or shows any inclination to do so, he earns the five points. If it takes a second time, four points score. Of course if no response, it’s one point.
Several other tests are available, including seeing how quickly your pooch can get a large towel off his head (problem solving and manipulation); recognizing a smile in a timely manner (social learning); and uncovering food covered by a hand towel again within a certain time (more advanced problem solving).This is definitely a fascinating topic, but I am most happy someone else has made the results available.
I have had the privilege of experiencing circumstances like these with my dogs and others, and have burst into great hilarium at the sight, so please forgive a lack of seriousness on my part. Like other species, some dogs are just more trainable than others; some have a mind of their own…independent thinkers if you will. So to which kind would you give the scholarship? And which one would you delight to have as the most loving, forgiving and adoring companion?
Prepared by Susan Wright DVM lead writer for DogFenceDiy the invisible fence alternative. If your dog is too smart for his own good consider installing a wireless fence.