FurPaw spoke these words of wisdom in
:
Funny how the lines between the extremes blur as we find out
more. It's not heredity VERSUS environment any more, but how
they interact to produce behavior. It's not learning VERSUS
instinct, but how learning interacts with innate tendencies. You
are probably such a successful trainer in part because you
(consciously or unconsciously) build on your dogs' biologically
programmed tendencies.

(And back to the original point, I don't know what Tuck was
thinking, but that is one interesting behavior!)

FurPaw

It was funny. Last night Tuck played basketball with me for 20 minutes.
Then DH came home. Tuck met him at the door with his basketball and
implored him to shoot hoops with him. So DH played basketball with the dog
for 5 minutes before he sat down for supper.

Then DH had the audacity to say, he just doesn't understand how I can have
such an awesome dog, and ignore him all the time. huh?
I ignore him when DH is home because, well, I have all day to play with
him! How does DH think the dog LEARNED all that stuff? By ignoring him? I
DON'T THINK SO!!!

I talk to the dog all day long. In fact, I talk to him more than I talk to
anyone combined all day long!

And he listens, because he knows I'm babbling to HIM. So he reacts
appropriately. I was talking to someone on the phone a little bit ago, and
Tuck was obviously listening in on the conversation, because he got up and
got the object I was talking about. And then I told them about DH shooting
hoops with him last night, and he went and grabbed his basketball and
started playing.

"diddy" none wrote in message
. ..

It WAS on the floor, so technically it was fair =game. But I think he knew
it was an accident and ill gotten gains. So the next morning it was
proferred back. I felt better, he got paid HUGELY.
It had to have been grabbed by Tuck, because the other two would have
eaten
it.
But I didn't see it, and can't be sure. In the end, he did the right
thing.

Jake has trained me to keep my things out of reach.

He used to steal and destroy my stuff, then he went to stealing and offering
it back to me in exchange for a treat (yes, I taught him that one). This
behavior would take maybe a minute all together.

Yesterday I noticed one pack of cigarettes on top of my computer where there
had been two. I asked Jake to please bring them back, and he did, with a
slowly wagging tail. No damage. I almost fainted.

He had probably stashed them in the couch, but I don't know how long he had
them. It could have been up to 48 hours.
Karla

"Karla" spoke these words of wisdom in
:


"diddy" none wrote in message
. ..

It WAS on the floor, so technically it was fair =game. But I think he
knew it was an accident and ill gotten gains. So the next morning it
was proferred back. I felt better, he got paid HUGELY.
It had to have been grabbed by Tuck, because the other two would have
eaten
it.
But I didn't see it, and can't be sure. In the end, he did the right
thing.

Jake has trained me to keep my things out of reach.

He used to steal and destroy my stuff, then he went to stealing and
offering it back to me in exchange for a treat (yes, I taught him that
one). This behavior would take maybe a minute all together.

Yesterday I noticed one pack of cigarettes on top of my computer where
there had been two. I asked Jake to please bring them back, and he did,
with a slowly wagging tail. No damage. I almost fainted.

He had probably stashed them in the couch, but I don't know how long he
had them. It could have been up to 48 hours.
Karla




Hurray for Jake! He was listening!
And they think dogs are stupid. Who is training who?

"diddy" none wrote in message
. ..
It was funny. Last night Tuck played basketball with me for 20 minutes.
Then DH came home. Tuck met him at the door with his basketball and
implored him to shoot hoops with him. So DH played basketball with the
dog
for 5 minutes before he sat down for supper.

Then DH had the audacity to say, he just doesn't understand how I can have
such an awesome dog, and ignore him all the time. huh?
I ignore him when DH is home because, well, I have all day to play with
him! How does DH think the dog LEARNED all that stuff? By ignoring him? I
DON'T THINK SO!!!

I talk to the dog all day long. In fact, I talk to him more than I talk to
anyone combined all day long!

And he listens, because he knows I'm babbling to HIM. So he reacts
appropriately. I was talking to someone on the phone a little bit ago, and
Tuck was obviously listening in on the conversation, because he got up and
got the object I was talking about. And then I told them about DH shooting
hoops with him last night, and he went and grabbed his basketball and
started playing.

Jeez, sounds like we could be living parallel lives! Kiba will play with me
all day, and still run to the door to greet Dad when come home. He'll grab
a toy or ball, and ask Dad to play. On more than one occasion, he's said to
me, "Don't you ever play with him while I'm at work?" Ass.
Last time (and I mean LAST time) I replied, "Oh you're so right. I
shouldn't let the dog joyously greet you when you come home and ask you to
play, even though he may be tired out from playing with me. But he loves
you so much and the only way he can show it is by bringing his favourite
toys and sharing play with you, so that's what he does, every day. Yup,
I'll put a stop to that tomorrow."

I still say, "Dad's home!" and Kiba still runs joyously to the door to say
hello, and maybe engage the man in play with his favourite toys. Dad plays
right back.
--
Phyrie
Kiba the Cav's Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phyrie/...758930/detail/

Why not, indeed. *Did you ever run across McClean's triune theory
of the evolution of the human brain? *Boiled down, it says that
the human brain is evolved on top of (rather than in place of)
the old reptilian brain, and that it consists of the old
reptilian brain (which controls basic functions necessary to
survival, aggression), the old mammalian brain (the limbic
system, responsible for emotional regulation and more complex
behaviors) and new mammalian brain, the cerebral cortex,
responsible for "higher functions" such as planning and language.
* Each of these functions somewhat on its own, but is highly
interconnected with the other parts.

Interesting. This article would seem to give some credence to that
theory...
http://www.newscientist.com/article/...obstacles.html

wrote:
wrote:
Why not, indeed. Did you ever run across McClean's triune theory
of the evolution of the human brain? Boiled down, it says that
the human brain is evolved on top of (rather than in place of)
the old reptilian brain, and that it consists of the old
reptilian brain (which controls basic functions necessary to
survival, aggression), the old mammalian brain (the limbic
system, responsible for emotional regulation and more complex
behaviors) and new mammalian brain, the cerebral cortex,
responsible for "higher functions" such as planning and language.
Each of these functions somewhat on its own, but is highly
interconnected with the other parts.

Interesting. This article would seem to give some credence to that
theory...
http://www.newscientist.com/article/...obstacles.html

It does fit nicely, doesn't it?

That's an pretty clear demonstration of blindsight... but
blindsight has been recognized for quite a few years, it's just
that this is a clearer demonstration than most, because the guy's
visual cortex (a part of his new mammalian brain) was completely
destroyed, and he can't recognize things like colors or objects.
Yet he can navigate an obstacle course, even though he thinks
he can't see the obstacles.

Natalie Angier gives more context for the research and the
phenomenon he
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/health/23blin.html

The existence of a "second" visual system in mammals has been
known for a long time - about 10% of the neurons go from the
optic tract go to an older brain structure called the superior
colliculus (located in the midbrain), which contains neurons that
respond to movement, especially, and to some types of shapes. It
participates in control of eye movements and visually-guided
behavior. It seems to be structurally and functionally similar
to corresponding structures in other vertebrates. It's been
hypothesized that this system is more primitive than the cortical
system and that its functioning is not directly available to
consciousness.

FurPaw

--
Don't believe everything that you think.

To reply, unleash the dog.