Even so, that's quite an impressive piece of thinking (for a dog):
"I don't like it when Tara pees inside (recognising that something might happen in the future, and also that there is a difference between indoors and outdoors)
because IF that happens the carpet cleaner comes out/it will smell bad (a conditional thought)
so therefore I shall open the door (forethought)
so she can go out instead. (understanding how another animal will behave in response to an action)
To open the door, I shall stand on my hind legs and push the lever with my front paw.
(OK, we knew he could do this bit, but it's still quite impressive because it's not something he has ever seen another dog do, he worked it out by watching another species that is a very different shape).
Dogs are supposed to be able to reason up to about a 4 year old child level, but I am not sure all human 4 year olds would manage that reasoning.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 08:02 pm (UTC)"I don't like it when Tara pees inside
(recognising that something might happen in the future, and also that there is a difference between indoors and outdoors)
because IF that happens the carpet cleaner comes out/it will smell bad
(a conditional thought)
so therefore I shall open the door
(forethought)
so she can go out instead.
(understanding how another animal will behave in response to an action)
To open the door, I shall stand on my hind legs and push the lever with my front paw.
(OK, we knew he could do this bit, but it's still quite impressive because it's not something he has ever seen another dog do, he worked it out by watching another species that is a very different shape).
Dogs are supposed to be able to reason up to about a 4 year old child level, but I am not sure all human 4 year olds would manage that reasoning.