I can't count how many times I've heard people say their dog is stupid.
Not in a negative manner but just in passing or in response to something "weird" the dog is doing. Don't get me wrong I've said it too from time to time in the past. Now I know better and have a few facts to share about our not so stupid canine companions.
The Nose
We've all been walking along when "Fido" suddenly jams on the brakes and plants his nose in the grass.
I'm lucky to still have my left arm -when Brooklyn stops its like dropping a ship anchor!
There is more to it than just some long grass though, as I ponder her brain capacity she's thinking more than I could have ever imagined. Dogs can smell up to 10,000 times what we can.
Shes smelling other dogs, their health, emotional state, what they've been eating and how long ago they passed here. She was born with eyes closed and nose open, for Brooklyn and her half smushed face, smelling is believing.
The Eyes
Have ya ever thrown a bouncy ball for a dog or played with a laser? How about trying to grab a toy you're playing with, away from your dog before he grabs it. That dog is FAST! right? Well, this is because these little cheaters can actually see FASTER than us. "but I thought humans were the best.." -nope, they have us beat again. Dogs actually see still images flashing when they look at (older) tv's. They can also see better in the dark then us "superiors". HUFF. Then again, it's thought that dogs see the world in a similar way to humans who have red-green color deficiencies. HA! We have COLOR!
 | |||||
| full color up top. Red-green color blindness bottom. |
The Ears
Dogs have ears that are full of muscles -this gives them a strong hearing ability (not really).
The muscles in their ears allow them to maneuver their ears to hear sounds more clearly. Dogs can typically hear a sound 250 yards away, that we would only hear at 25 yards. They can even target a sound faster than a human can! (go go gadget BAT EARS) On another note, dogs cannot understand language. They recognize sound patterns and react in the way which makes us react positively towards them. Clear concise words and names are what you want to use when training a puppy. Avoid names that sound similar to common speech or commands.
Behavior
From the minute we meet our pups they are watching us, feeling our energy and learning our reactions.
Unfortunately, usually were busy doing something else like trying to figure where all the time went in the day.
When a pup barks and you look -guess what? He just figured you out. Better get on the training now!
Puppies actually learn to communicate with their humans years ahead of a human baby born at the same time. A one year old dog is said to be as physically mature as a 15 year old human. So better have a plan before you bring home that puppy! Or you're going to be dragged around by a pully barky dog that needs a leader in his life -and no matter who you are, you CAN be the leader. You're dogs don't lie. Listen to them and respect their requests if you want a proper bond.
As for "dogs being stupid", I rest my case.
I'll leave you with one last vision. I come out of the store and round the plaza corner with my "fresh" submarine sandwichs. WHO'S THAT?! there are 2 men, baggy leather jackets and hoodies -BARKING at my car window, the dogs are inside, sitting. I can see Brooklyn is growling. I come over to the car and unexpectedly startle these "badmon". I put my keys in the door -they scurry back 10 feet.
"you guys wanna meet 'em?"
POOF! gone. adios hombres.
Now, who's stupid again?
Dogs? or the Dawgs that bark at dogs they are scared of?
Dogs have ears that are full of muscles -this gives them a strong hearing ability (not really).
The muscles in their ears allow them to maneuver their ears to hear sounds more clearly. Dogs can typically hear a sound 250 yards away, that we would only hear at 25 yards. They can even target a sound faster than a human can! (go go gadget BAT EARS) On another note, dogs cannot understand language. They recognize sound patterns and react in the way which makes us react positively towards them. Clear concise words and names are what you want to use when training a puppy. Avoid names that sound similar to common speech or commands.
Behavior
From the minute we meet our pups they are watching us, feeling our energy and learning our reactions.
Unfortunately, usually were busy doing something else like trying to figure where all the time went in the day.
When a pup barks and you look -guess what? He just figured you out. Better get on the training now!
Puppies actually learn to communicate with their humans years ahead of a human baby born at the same time. A one year old dog is said to be as physically mature as a 15 year old human. So better have a plan before you bring home that puppy! Or you're going to be dragged around by a pully barky dog that needs a leader in his life -and no matter who you are, you CAN be the leader. You're dogs don't lie. Listen to them and respect their requests if you want a proper bond.
As for "dogs being stupid", I rest my case.
I'll leave you with one last vision. I come out of the store and round the plaza corner with my "fresh" submarine sandwichs. WHO'S THAT?! there are 2 men, baggy leather jackets and hoodies -BARKING at my car window, the dogs are inside, sitting. I can see Brooklyn is growling. I come over to the car and unexpectedly startle these "badmon". I put my keys in the door -they scurry back 10 feet.
"you guys wanna meet 'em?"
POOF! gone. adios hombres.
Now, who's stupid again?
Dogs? or the Dawgs that bark at dogs they are scared of?
