Randomness

[JadziaKathryn]

I'm not sure, but doesn't passing the mirror test mean they didn't think their reflection was another dolphin?

[Linda]

Hey, my cousin had a horse and let me go ride him whenever I wanted. He was not that smart, but smart enough. When I had him in the cross ties, grooming him, he would step on my foot. Not enough to hurt, but enough so I couldn't move my foot. Then when I pushed on his shoulder and said his name in exaspirtion, he would turn his head away from me, pretending he didn't understand me.

Oh, and his stall was under a high window in the barn. My brother crawled up the wall in the stall and out the window one day. The darn horse actually did a double take! Seems he didn't realize that Humans could climb walls.

Then one time, I had a friend who was not used to horses hold his lead when we were standing outside the barn, so I could go get something. Anyway, she dropped the lead and the horse trotted off into a subdivision. We followed and of course every time we got close to him, he trotted off further. And he was curious about houses. HE ACTUALLY WENT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE PEEKING IN THE WINDOWS! Especially those high placed bedroom windows, which he was tall enough to see into. Can you imagine what people in bed might have thought, seeing a horse peeking in at them like a voyeur? He finally let us catch him. I am sure that darn horse actually had a sense of humor.

[JadziaKathryn]

HE ACTUALLY WENT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE PEEKING IN THE WINDOWS! Especially those high placed bedroom windows, which he was tall enough to see into. Can you imagine what people in bed might have thought, seeing a horse peeking in at them like a voyeur? He finally let us catch him. I am sure that darn horse actually had a sense of humor.

That is a fantastic story, Linda! I can hardly imagine being at home, minding my own business, when all the sudden a horse looked in the window.

[justTripn]

My dog seems pretty smart. I am so surprised since I it's only been like a couple years I've had a dog. Last night, after she'd worn a dog sweatshirt all day (for warmth, she has short fur) I took it off so she could go to bed and she stuck her head right back in it and insisted she put it back on. She must realize the advantages of it.

[Linda]

Dogs are good people. I had a friend who put sunglasses on her dog and she said she could keep the dog from taking them off. Where is dog intelligence in the sentience scale? Below dolphins or about equal? Parrots, dolphins, chimps - that is is supposed to be pretty high, right?

[Linda]

JK, if a horse had looked in my window before I saw Dandy do that, I probably would have doubted my sanity. He had a great deal of curiosity and also his own set of 'friends'. Judy (my cousin, his owner) and I were the only ones who took care of him and rode him on a regular basis. Her bother Jack came once to ride him. I went with Jack to help him groom Dandy, clean his feet, and saddle up. Jack took Dandy out for awhile. When they came back, Jack said that everytime Dandy was out of sight of me, he laid his ears back for Jack. Then when he saw me again, his ears went forward.

[CX]

Dogs are below pigs which are below dolphins as far as intelligence goes, at least on average. Some are definately brighter than others. Mine's fairly smart, but she's been getting disobedient in her old age.

[Linda]

Well, CX, maybe she figures she is your elder now, higher on the dominance chain, therefore deserving of respect from you?

[Linda]

Pigs higher in intelligence? Well, then, I guess I will have to stop eating pork and start eating dog.

[Entilzha]

Pigs can be taught to do tricks like dogs but the difference is that you have to always award the pig with treats like sugar etc. or they will not do the trick again where as a dog will do them for just a pat on the head

[TSara]

I've heard from a friend of mine who runs a rat rescue that rats are very smart.

She said she you can teach them tricks and that they learn simple words and their names.

Interesting....

[JadziaKathryn]

A rat rescue? Are we talking about the same creatures here? Nasty, beady-eyed carriers of disease? And she's rescuing them? Not cats or dogs or horses or people?

On an entirely different note, it may not have been the best day ever, but at least you didn't forget your car at the gas station.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

"A cat looks down upon a man, and a dog looks up to a man, but a pig will look a man in the eye and see his equal."
Winston Churchill

[JadziaKathryn]

A pig as my equal? That's rather insulting.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

^ Well, blame Churchill! I was just responding to CX's post:

Dogs are below pigs which are below dolphins as far as intelligence goes, at least on average. Some are definately brighter than others. Mine's fairly smart, but she's been getting disobedient in her old age.