Just because your wonder dog can't "talk" to you in your language of
choice doesn't mean a lack of intelligence. While the experts argue
about how to define intelligence in dogs anyone who has ever really
loved a dog knows there's something going on behind those sparkling
eyes.
Now to be sure, there are different levels of "smartness" in both breed
lines and individual dogs, just as we can see demonstrated in the human
population. Numerous tests and studies have been conducted over the
years in an attempt to map the capabilities of dogs. But beyond breeds
and with an allowance for naturally smarter dogs (i.e. within same
litter) my own position is the biggest factor affecting dog
intelligence is the quality of social interaction with their "persons".
Obviously a dog, post "new puppy" syndrome, now relegated to a chain in
the back yard with at best twice daily water/food checks will not be
exposed to the same stimuli as the dog fully integrated into daily
life. This lucky "house" dog will experience much more, each day will
bring new discoveries that interest, excite, elate and frighten. We all
learn by exposure to new experiences, more experiences equal more
learning.
My own personal opinion is that if you "believe" a dog has little
intelligence you will not likely be surprised. However, if you expect
your dog to learn and know more, assuming you are insuring provision of
the "experiences" whether trips to new places, things and training
regimens etc. then your wonder dog will rarely let you down.
There is more to a healthy dog than a wet nose and a shiny coat. Dogs
have been domesticated for some 20,000 years. My own personal belief is
domestication likely coincided with man's first use of fire to cook
meat -) A happy, well adjusted dog needs social interaction, it's very
health and wellness depends upon you providing the companionship and
bonding that cements your "pack" together. This joining together
between man and dog is to our mutual benefit.
But how does your healthy, socially adjusted dog tell you when it's
hungry, needs to go out, is happy, sad or feeling poorly. Well "not in
so many words" but the ability to speak alone does not define
intelligence. Sights and smells and sounds are likely stored as images
since they have no human languages to translate images to, as we do. So
your wonder dog maintains visual image memories of it's world. In other
words their intelligence is just stored differently.
We help create the images in our dogs minds by reinforcing desired
behaviors this imagery is stored or "learned" by the dog. Depending
upon the breed of dog, our level of commitment and experience aided by
our learning to think in "dog think" the better the results. A poor
teacher who blames the pupil is in the wrong profession. Some dogs have
learned an amazing amount of abilities. But judging a dog's
intelligence solely on "tricks" or our interpretation of what the dog
should do is a prejudice on our part.
Personal observations have demonstrated an apparent ability of my dogs
to reason. To be certain my opinions may be biased as I have quite an
affinity for the species. My pack of healthy, happy and intelligent
dogs are a marvel of ingenuity and inventiveness, including a healthy
sense of humor.
Humor in dogs may not be evidenced by what we call laughter but no
loving dog owner will deny their dogs enjoy having fun. Beyond the need
for survival, food when hungry and reproduction instincts domesticated
dogs do experience fun or humor. Dogs play and anyone who has watched
them playing has evidenced what we would call a sense of humor when for
example one entices another to play with a toy only to pull it away at
the last instant causing a joyful pursuit.
Do dogs smile? My dogs do. Dogs communicate in more ways than we even
know. For example "seizure dogs" are still a mystery only "recently
discovered" by us smart animals. Dogs communicate with all their senses
from scents, an undetermined range of vocalizations, body language,
physical touching, eye contact and more. My own belief is that dogs
"read" faces and it explains why they know what I'm thinking before I
get a chance to say it.
Anyone who has ever seen their dog frolicking on it's back while
vocalizing a range of unique sounds would find it difficult to deny
dogs have fun. If you have ever tried to drag an uncooperative dog off
the couch or bed where the dog sees you, knows that you want it to move
but just lays there seemingly doubling it's own "dead weight", can you
then deny dogs have a sense of humor?
Healthy dogs, unburdened by sickness or disease who have a happy home
where all needs are met do learn and retain this "knowledge". Every dog
owner can relate stories of how their dogs have managed through
ingenuity to do things formerly thought impossible "for a dog".
Just because dogs can't speak one of our languages doesn't mean they
are not intelligent. The domestication of dogs has been a godsend. Dogs
are indeed smarter than you think and one day we may come to learn the
full depth of their amazing capabilities.
Dean Hall is an avid dog lover currently owned by two of them
-) He is devoted to his "pack" and simply can't imagine a world
without dogs.
He also operates a website providing information on dog health issues, you can visit his website at:
Dog-Health-Wellness.com
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