Erny Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) I left my thongs, which I've not worn since before Mandela (so he'd not have previously recognised them), on the lounge room floor in front of my sofa. Leaving them there, I wandered over to my PC to get some things sorted for tomorrow's classes. Mandela's not used to shoes being left anywhere other than in my walk in wardrobe (where he has access, but won't touch them). I glanced around and saw him with the thong in his mouth. I called him over and asked him to give it to me, which he did. I proceeded to put the thong on my foot, but then I wondered ...... could he? would he? I took the thong off and showed it to him and asked him to "get the other one". He knows the word "get" so immediately went trotting around trying to work out what it was I wanted. He headed off in the wrong direction so I called him back by saying "no, get the other one" (showing him the thong again). He went around to the front side of the sofa, picked up the thong and brought it to me. I think this is pretty smart, given that he had a choice of picking up ball; antler bone; airdog toy; big ball with tussles; donkey; or grouse mouse, all of which are scattered on the floor around me and which he needed to go through and past to get to the thong. From the get go I taught Mandela to learn to learn and well before now I've recognised how quickly he picks up on things. But I thought tonight was evidence of really how much he can work things out and understand. Good boy, Mandela Edited March 12, 2011 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 good work indeed :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Clever boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 Thank you ..... although I admit we are still having problems with him doing house duty chores such as vacuuming. And he ignored my request yesterday morning for him to make and bring me a cuppa tea in bed . I should contact Jeff Jones, I suppose :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I had my old Borzoi picking up all the bits of foam stuff that china comes packed in the other day. I opened a package and it went everywhere, and it seems to be statically charges and takes off all over the house. She'd never done the 'get the other bits' stuff before either but she got it all. Unfortunately, she also refuses to vaccum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigsaw Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 He's a very clever lad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC4ME Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Very Clever indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bully Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Thank you ..... although I admit we are still having problems with him doing house duty chores such as vacuuming. And he ignored my request yesterday morning for him to make and bring me a cuppa tea in bed . I should contact Jeff Jones, I suppose He's still a clever boy even if he can't do the above Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 Mandela says "thanks" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Jones Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Lame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Anyone else's dog, Erny, and I would have said VERY clever but your dog? I would expect him to be vacuuming and pouring you a drink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 (edited) Lame. Your dogs are dumb enough to do your housework for you? :rainbowbridge: Anyone else's dog, Erny, and I would have said VERY clever but your dog? I would expect him to be vacuuming and pouring you a drink Yeah well ...... I guess. Perhaps him dialling out for home delivery and home help is a bit of a cop out :D Edited March 13, 2011 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Jones Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Your dogs are dumb enough to do your housework for you? Indeed. I wish something as simple as fetching a thong would impress me. If I had the ability to travel back in time to when I was 5 years old I would, at that age I might have found a dog completing a simple task impressive like you do. :D I might instruct my dog to build a time travel machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laeral Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Very clever boy. And hes gorgeous as well! Sometimes my girl does things that I ask her even though she hasnt been taught to. For example when she was a baby she was outside eating a bone. i had left the back door open and soon enough she trotted inside with the bone and dropped it on the ground. I casualy said to her take your bone outside. She picked the bone up and took it outside! I was pretty stunned. She hadnt been taught the words bone or outside yet. Sometimes Im sure she understands more of what i say to her than i think Thank you ..... although I admit we are still having problems with him doing house duty chores such as vacuuming. And he ignored my request yesterday morning for him to make and bring me a cuppa tea in bed . I should contact Jeff Jones, I suppose :D What kind of dog are you raising? neglecting his duties like that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 I might instruct my dog to build a time travel machine. Mandela's already read the pilot manual. Hurry up, will ya? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 Laeral - I have found the same with other things I've done with Mandela. I do believe that we have taught them, but that they can use words they've heard before and put them into a slightly different context, I agree it is beautifully astounding. And not just words - the use of our eyes looking at things/places. I do that a lot with Mandela and can indicate him to go out of a room, or on his mat, or sit, merely with the use of my eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Jones Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 I might instruct my dog to build a time travel machine. :D Mandela's already read the pilot manual. Hurry up, will ya? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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