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Dogs - smarter than we thought - process language like humans.
- Thread starter seanoff
- Start date
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Yeah, uh... this.
My golden retriever understood the word walk from a very early age. If we just said it in conversation he'd jump up and start running towards us. He was always listening. We had to discuss it as a "W-A-L-K" to keep him calm. Then he started picking up on the word 'double-yoo', lol.
He then got smart enough to understand the intonation behind it, so he'd only respond if we said it with a rising voice or command intonation.
And then when he was old he'd hear the word and wag his tail but his hips were too gone to bound around like he used to
Wasn't long after that we let him go. Amazing dog, amazing friend.
Illustration of the bolded:
My parents' dog is the same, they had to start saying "walk" in English instead of French to prevent the dog from freaking out. Didn't matter what tone you'd said the word in, the dog would go ballistic.
"Bye!"
"Bye!
...
...
...I love you."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112405883
Pretty powerful stuff.
Really makes you think about how we should treat animals.
I like cats as well as dogs.
Cats tho are easier to deal with. Cat litter. The day dogs have dog litter I might like them more.
lol!!
Cats tho are easier to deal with. Cat litter. The day dogs have dog litter I might like them more.
lol!!
Hitler was also a dog lover.
FortuneFaded
Member
My dogs are idiots.
Cap'n Cook
Member
capitalCORN
Member
HA! Hitler loved all animals!
HarryHengst
Member
Cats are the better pets.
I started rephrasing "walk" but my dog catches on to what I'm using and have to change it up every few weeks. I'm going to run out of thesaurus soon.
Doesn't change the fact that my dog is an idiot, though. He's smart, but an idiot.
Cats are the better pets.
cats and their damn politics
They might be bored. Try giving them something to do.
Beagles, Border Collies, Sheperds etc can be idiots when bored.
Or maybe they are just idiots to annoy you.
capitalCORN
Member
Because all dogs are born with an innate knowledge of all human tongues. And you were born speaking English right?
KonradLaw
Member
Nah. If you wanna a real rodent get a pet rat.
Seriously rats make great pets:
Rats make terrible pets. Because they are amazing pets, but they live 2-3 years, so every couple years you get a heartbreak and loosing a rat hurts as much as loosing a dog.
veloxStrix
Banned
Eh, I think I'll wait to see how this compares to decades of research on language in animals that says otherwise.
D
Deleted member 231381
Unconfirmed Member
Too smart for its own good is our border collie to a T. Ours knows all the commands from sit to play dead to shake hands, but it would be much more fun barking at a squirrel than actually doing any of them.
Lol at people who say cats aren't loving. Im typing this in my bed right now while my little furball is curled up at my feet purring like a madman. If I get closer to rub his back, he starts licking me. Little jerks also smart as a whip, as he figured out how to open cabinets and locked garbage cans.
Related to the topic, it makes sense that dogs are better at listening to humans, they're more obedient. I'll call my cats name sometimes, and I know for a fact hes ignoring me.
Related to the topic, it makes sense that dogs are better at listening to humans, they're more obedient. I'll call my cats name sometimes, and I know for a fact hes ignoring me.
But does it work for dogs or just fluffy rats like the image on the case?Today's the day.
No matter how inane or fascinating the thread on either animal starts off as, it always devolves instantly into people saying exactly what they've said before in all the other threads. I would say both animals make for great pets in somewhat different ways, but I know the same old stuff will just keep on repeating.
kavanf1
Member
I love doing this. It's not about the words with dogs, just the tone you use. They can tell what emotion you're displaying in an instant.
In the past when my wife's been upset, our dog comes over without making any fuss and just rests her head on her lap. It's the loveliest thing to see that sort of guileless empathy.
Wait people didn't realize they recognize tone? I'd say they recognize tone over words. I can cheerfully tell my dog I'm getting rid of her (when we go away on vacation she goes to this guy who boards out of his house and gets to play with other dogs) in a very cheerful/excited voice and she gets all happy. She doesn't care about the words, she cares how I say it. She also knows when I mean a command and when I don't (like if I tell her to move cause she is in my way and I mean it she'll scoot. But if I'm ting to just get that response she ignores me or halfheartedly moves).
This is true. Of all the beloved pets I miss it's a straight tie between the dog we got when I was 4 that was unjustly shot, or the rat I had when I was 20.
Escape Goat
Member
SomedayTheFire
Member
I LOVE DOGS SO MUCH
DirtyLarry
Member
Pretty sure they do based on my experience.
My dog Oliver knows upwards of 10 toys by different names. His problem solving skills are also something to behold. He uses his paws like hands. I can keep going on. Little dude is for sure smart. And it is not like I spent hours upon hours training him. A few times of calling one of his toys something specific, and he pretty much gets it.
Now wether it is the word itself or the phrasing and sound of the word is a different story. However using two of his toys as an example, George The Giraffe and Mr Monkey (I know, inventive names), both have the same amount of syllables. But he for sure knows the difference between the two. And this can be applied to about 8 more toys.
So I definitely lean towards they know specific words as well.
Inferno313
Banned
My childhood Dog knew everyone in the family's name. You could say: "Where's Nick" and she'd run to me. In particular, if you'd ask her "Where's Daddy?" she'd freak out, thinking that my Dad had just gotten home from work, and bolt towards the garage door.
SneakySneaks
Member
My aunts shih tzu I dog sit every few months is this to a t, but on purpose. Knows what I say to her, but does what she pleases and goes on my bed which she knows she isn't supposed to do. The dog loves to drive me insane.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Yeah this. People tend to miss out that a dog being bred for obedience doesn't mean they lack intelligence, in fact this made them really flexible and capable.
Blue Submarine No. 6
Member
One of my daughters had a cat that would physically insert herself between us and start yeowling if we were having an argument (Teenagers... gotta love 'em... otherwise you might kill 'em)...
You can understand that? I can't... not at all... in fact, people who don't like dogs or cats kind of unsettle me; I don't want to know them or have them in my circle... Corollary; my cats are the best judges of character I've ever met... if they don't like someone, I'm unlikely to like them either...
I've lived with and loved both dogs and cats, and I think both cats and dogs are awesome... but as a rule of thumb, I think that cat intelligence is a little more alien to us than dogs... Dogs are man's best friend, we are very similar in our social needs and we're omnivores... we've "matured as a species" together... Cats have watched from the sidelines; they're obligate carnivores and there's something about their ultra-predator nature that we kind of react to as a lack of empathy, but I have seen cats go into periods of mourning when they've lost a sibling (weight gain, listlessness, all the symptoms of what we would recognize as "depression" in a person) and I am convinced that their emotional bonds are as complex and meaningful to them as ours are to us...
LookAtMeGo
Member
So many dog and cat fanboys/girls in here. It doesnt matter what pet you like better. Lets all just enjoy our pets whatever species they are. Dogs still have the better exclusive features tho. They handle better and show an improvement each generation. Dogs have a better library to choose from. Cats need to switch it up and add more variety. Every generation of cats is just a rehash of the last. I dont see cats really innovating while dogs are catering to a wider audience. Cats have litter boxes, shed and can cuddle. Dogs can do all that but can be toilet trained and actually bring a ball back or get a beer out of the fridge for you. They will also die trying to save your life. Dogs just have objectively better specs. Whatever tickles your fancy tho.
Haunted
Member
Let's all enjoy our pets regardless.....dogs tho....
I think different people want and get different things from pets. Humans have bred dogs to be useful,much like horses and farm animals, to the point of cruelty in my opinion. I'm glad cats haven't gone through the same
I don't know why people have to go insulting another type animal just cause it's not one they prefer as a pet. I prefer cats but I think dogs are pretty cool too (just not the perfect pet for me, I just bond better with cats honestly. I have a dog and she's a super good dog but I think I'm sticking to cats after her... dogs are just too needy for me honestly and I don't make a great dog owner. I couldn't ask for a better dog honestly but I feel a little bad cause I think she'd have a lot more fun with a family as she would have been a great family dog and would have loved all the kid interaction). Also, people who think cats are cold and don't like people probably ignore cats and cats are going to give you what you give them (unless they are the type of cat that tries harder if you ignore them).
THe most loyal animals I've had were cats (one was my first cat who I was her person. Even had a neighbor I never met tell my mom she noticed the cat only came out for me. And my cat that passed away earlier this year worshipped me).
And yes, dogs are smarter in general but there are plenty of smart cats (and dumb dogs). Though I think the two kittens I just got are morons and fit the dumb cat stereotype (Though my Maine Coon is super smart, smartest cat I've ever had but I've seen some that were probably smarter than her but very few). I think though the kittens just may be the stupidest cats I've ever owned.
THe most loyal animals I've had were cats (one was my first cat who I was her person. Even had a neighbor I never met tell my mom she noticed the cat only came out for me. And my cat that passed away earlier this year worshipped me).
And yes, dogs are smarter in general but there are plenty of smart cats (and dumb dogs). Though I think the two kittens I just got are morons and fit the dumb cat stereotype (Though my Maine Coon is super smart, smartest cat I've ever had but I've seen some that were probably smarter than her but very few). I think though the kittens just may be the stupidest cats I've ever owned.
SliceSabre
Banned
My cat is constantly doing 5 and 6. Help me GAF I don't want to die, I never win our staring contests.
DeathoftheEndless
Crashing this plane... with no survivors!
As my high school economics teacher used to say "kittens are great, but then they turn into cats". He used a similar saying to describe women.
Owner: "You're so stupid! Yes you are! Yes you are!"
Dog: "!!!"
I'm concerned by this article because this is generally how I talk to my dog. Praising tone with insulting words.
He sounds lovely
I still think adult cats are cool, but I do miss being climbed on, randomly being attacked when I turn the corner, and her fascination with what dogmeat was looking at and the moolight greatsword.
MeshuggahMan
Member
I sometimes feel like my dog is some genius with psychic powers. During a walk I'll think "we should turn left here" and he'll go and do it. Or if I randomly feel like going on a walk he'll go into OH MY GOD WALK TIME excitement mode. How does he not know I'm just getting a glass of water!
... It's probably just him being super smart with routines.
... It's probably just him being super smart with routines.
Corronchilejano
Member
My dog knew when we were going to the cabin and would drag her dog bed across the house to where the suitcases would go in preparation for being taken along.
And when at the cabin, she would know when we were going home - long before anything was packed - and would want to wait in the car until we got going.
And when at the cabin, she would know when we were going home - long before anything was packed - and would want to wait in the car until we got going.
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