Of intelligence and memory

Viva, UAG2 BJF Renejade Debt of Honor, CD, RA, MX, MXJ, EAC, O-EJC, TNN, WAC, TT, ATT, FFB, CGC

Dogs are not very smart. Scientists and researchers assure us of this. They are not anywhere near the intelligence of the greater apes, they say. When confronted with a sleeping dog who has REM and is giving off soft yelps while his feet twitch, scientists will say that absolutely is NOT dreaming because dogs aren't smart enough to dream. Dogs are so stupid, researchers and some trainers will tell us, that they can't remember why you're mad at them if they peed in the corner 2 hours ago. If you don't catch them in the act, they won't remember what they've done.

The great apes use tools, scientists will say, and tool use is the hallmark of upper level brain function. The great apes can even, with years of work, be taught sign language, so they may tell us what they want and need.

I think those scientists and researchers have never lived with dogs or if they do own dogs, have never bothered to open their eyes and actually pay attention. Do dogs use tools? Well no, they don't pick up sticks to dig for ants like the famous chimps that Jane Goodall observed years ago. Instead, when she's hungry, Cala will go get her metal food bowl, bring it to the living room, pick a spot on the hardwood, and drop said bowl. Loudly. Then she'll flip it upside down, put her front feet on it and scoot it around the room, all the while giving me pointed looks. "Hey. Lady. I'm hungry. Yo. Are you stupid? How much more obvious can I be?"

See, dogs, they don't need a stick. They have the bestest tool ever. Dogs learn that if they go to a door and sit and scratch or bark, their special handy-dandy tool will haul itself off the couch and come turn the knob. If that tool is a bit sluggish, a dance and a yip will hurry it up nicely.

Dogs don't need sign language. Why the heck try to speak or get your paws to work? Just sidle up to the human and put an appropriate look on your face and presto, that special itchy spot gets scratched just to your liking. The human stops too soon? Head butt them and they'll start again.

Dogs can plot and plan too. I once watched a fascinating interchange between Cala and Zipper. Zipper stole one of Cala's toys and took it to his crate. She instantly wanted that toy more than anything in the world, and he was not having any. He had the advantage, being on home ground where she couldn't circle around. So after several unsuccessful tries at outright taking it back, Cala stepped back and stood there a minute. Then she left the room. When she returned, she was carrying a different toy. She set that toy on a chair in full view of the crate and left the room again. Nothing stirred for five minutes. But sure enough, a Min Pin nose poked out of the crate. He looked around. No Cala. Out he came, and hopped up on the chair to steal the other toy. And the moment he cleared the crate, there was a big black blur. Cala was in the room, into his crate, snatched her toy, and back out of the room before he could do more than turn around and watch.

I spent yesterday in Warrensburg, at the United Doberman Club National. It's actually going on all week, but I only had the one day to go down and visit old friends and watch breed and obedience. The breed judge was May Jacobson. May bred Viva's sire, and for the first 18 months of Viva's life, May saw her often though Viva never lived with May. Then Viva came to live with me. For the next three years, I'd take Viva to a National and she would, astonishingly, recognize May. Even though they never lived together. Even though she would only see her once a year, for about 15 minutes. The last time May saw Viva was about 5 or 6 years ago.

One of my reasons for going down yesterday was to take the now 10 1/2 year old Viva down so May could see her, a living tie to Bro, her sire, that May loved so much who is now gone. I admit I was curious. Would Viva remember? That would be quite a feat after all these years. And the answer is, yes, she absolutely did. Viva is cordial but reserved with people she doesn't know, or, if they have treats, she backs up and strikes a "please feed me now" pose. But after a few seconds of sniffing May, Viva suddenly reared up and gave her a great kiss, squeaking in pleasure, then proceeded to do very un-Vivalike puppy wiggles, tail stub vibrating madly.

Call dogs stupid. Go ahead. I dare you.