- #1
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I've never been much of a "dog person", but I might have to reconsider after seeing this:
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Dog Tricks: Amaze Everyone with Your Pet's Talents
- Thread starter Math Is Hard
- Start date
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the talents and tricks that dogs can learn, with participants sharing anecdotes, opinions, and humorous observations about their pets. The scope includes personal experiences, training possibilities, and the relationship dynamics between dogs and their owners.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Conceptual clarification
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants express admiration for dogs that can perform impressive tricks, suggesting that significant time and energy must be invested in training.
- Others share humorous anecdotes about their own pets, including a dog that taught itself to use the toilet and another that acts as a neighborhood watchdog.
- There are mentions of the differences in behavior between dogs and cats, with some participants noting that dogs seek approval while cats may not care as much about human validation.
- One participant reflects on the challenges of owning a dog due to their lifestyle, suggesting that training service dogs can lead to them performing helpful tasks.
- Another participant humorously notes the impracticality of certain tricks, such as loading a dishwasher, while sharing their own experiences with a dog that helps remove socks.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally share a fondness for dogs and their abilities, but there are varying opinions on the feasibility of training dogs for specific tasks and the dynamics of pet ownership. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the practicality of certain tricks and the implications of pet ownership.
Contextual Notes
Some participants express uncertainty about their ability to train dogs effectively due to lifestyle constraints, while others highlight the potential for dogs to learn a variety of tasks with the right training.
Who May Find This Useful
Dog owners, pet enthusiasts, and individuals interested in animal training and behavior may find this discussion engaging.
- #2
Evo
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That's awesome. 
- #3
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I like that song, too. Very catchy.
"I am not boring, I just stick to what I know!" :)
"I am not boring, I just stick to what I know!" :)
- #4
Evo
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It was a great choice.Math Is Hard said:
- #5
Evo
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Dr Foofer taught himself to use the toilet, but he never flushed. He could also turn on the faucet so he could drink fresh water, but he never turned it off.Evo said:
- #6
Ivan Seeking
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Math Is Hard said:
Tsu and I are big dog lovers, but it doesn't work like that!
When we first got our dogs, they immediately destroyed the porch! One day I heard the cat howling. I walked outside and found the dogs having a tug-of-war and using poor Einstein [cat] as the rope.
Nope, I don't buy it. This must be some sort of doggy propaganda video.
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Evo said:
He also ran a successful possum smuggling operation for several years.
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Ivan Seeking said:
Poor Einstein!
- #9
GeorginaS
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Wow! What a clever little pooch! Someone has obviously put a whole bunch of time and energy into that little dog. They obviously have a great rapport.
See the dog's expression, though, after performing each trick? They're sooo needy for approval, dogs are. They crack me up.
Cats? Nah. They do not care whether or not you approve of them. That's not to say they aren't interested in you or your time or attention. I live with a cat who actually knows who I am and responds to her own name. She even does stuff on command and people are always amazed by it. The trick, though, is that she's not doing what I want her to do; she's doing what she wants to do and she maintains her habits well enough, that I can predict what she'll do and issue commands for that. It's similar to the cat remote control.
Back to the dog, though. I'm sending that link to every person I know who lives with a dog so they can feel inadequate.
See the dog's expression, though, after performing each trick? They're sooo needy for approval, dogs are. They crack me up.
Cats? Nah. They do not care whether or not you approve of them. That's not to say they aren't interested in you or your time or attention. I live with a cat who actually knows who I am and responds to her own name. She even does stuff on command and people are always amazed by it. The trick, though, is that she's not doing what I want her to do; she's doing what she wants to do and she maintains her habits well enough, that I can predict what she'll do and issue commands for that. It's similar to the cat remote control.
Back to the dog, though. I'm sending that link to every person I know who lives with a dog so they can feel inadequate.
- #10
turbo
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My dog knows sit, down, stay, here... That's about it. Well, he knows how to bark and warn me about unfamiliar things. When he sees an unfamiliar vehicle at a neighbor's house, he kicks up a fuss until I calm him down.
He is a watchdog for the whole neighborhood, not just our place. If something is out of place (to his mind), he let's me know. Our several-times-daily strolls around the rural roads here give him a chance to do his stuff. There is a nice place near here that is owned by a guy from RI who is rarely around. He came up for hunting season and when Duke saw the guy's truck in the driveway, his back fur got up, and he started barking. Pretty good security system. The guy was pretty impressed. He'd probably pay for a daily security-detail.
He is a watchdog for the whole neighborhood, not just our place. If something is out of place (to his mind), he let's me know. Our several-times-daily strolls around the rural roads here give him a chance to do his stuff. There is a nice place near here that is owned by a guy from RI who is rarely around. He came up for hunting season and when Duke saw the guy's truck in the driveway, his back fur got up, and he started barking. Pretty good security system. The guy was pretty impressed. He'd probably pay for a daily security-detail.
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- #11
Moonbear
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Wow, I like the idea of a dog who can make the bed and turn on the coffee maker. If I ever get a dog, those need to be the first items on the tricks to teach him/her. I'm not so sure about that dog's dishwasher loading skills though. 
I've had a dog who will help take socks off...I'm WAY too ticklish for it though, because to grab the socks, her teeth would always scrape my feet just enough to tickle.
Actually, a lot of those things are taught to service dogs. If you get the right dog and put the time into training, they can do quite a lot of helpful things. I just don't think Ember will agree to let me have a dog, and I don't think my lifestyle would be very fair to a dog since I can't always get home at regular times to take care of walks. People in cities hire dog walkers, but I'm not sure if there are many of those around here.
I'm not so sure about that dog's dishwasher loading skills though. I've had a dog who will help take socks off...I'm WAY too ticklish for it though, because to grab the socks, her teeth would always scrape my feet just enough to tickle.
Actually, a lot of those things are taught to service dogs. If you get the right dog and put the time into training, they can do quite a lot of helpful things. I just don't think Ember will agree to let me have a dog, and I don't think my lifestyle would be very fair to a dog since I can't always get home at regular times to take care of walks. People in cities hire dog walkers, but I'm not sure if there are many of those around here.
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GeorginaS
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Moonbear! I so owe you an e-mail. I keep promising to write and forgetting again. I will!
And, um, yeah. I don't think Bean would let me get a dog either. Given where I live, I'd have to get one of those miniature-sized non-dogs anyway, and Bean would eat it. Of that I'm certain.
And, um, yeah. I don't think Bean would let me get a dog either. Given where I live, I'd have to get one of those miniature-sized non-dogs anyway, and Bean would eat it. Of that I'm certain.
- #13
Borek
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- #14
mugaliens
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Evo said:
Yes, it was, and it's an awesome testimony to the fact that we're not nearly as distantly separated from our furry friends as we would sometimes like to belive.
:)