OT: I didn't know dogs were so smart

It was hot and sunny but my dog had just eaten and was refreshed. A neighbor's dog who regularly visits came over and they started playing and running around the yard as usual. Then the visitor started drinking from a shallow puddle that was more mud than water.

My dog stuck his nose in the puddle and then nudged his friend away from it. He went to the back of the house where we keep a container of clean water. He stuck his nose in the container but didn't drink. He wasn't thirsty. But his friend got the message and started gulping it down.

They are not as smart as cats! If that was a cat (s)he'd have left the neighbour's cat drink the muddy water and kept the good stuff for him / her self!

Animals are smart, we've always had a dog, sometimes two. We had to put our 13 year old Brittany Spaniel to rest in March, after that I said no more. I go see my grand dog now.

“They are not as smart as cats!”

Maybe, I never had a cat. But I suspect dogs are forced to evolve more intelligence.

Except for female lions most cats are solitary predators who hunt on their own. Most are large and ferocious enough to bring down their prey. But in general dogs (wolves) are much smaller. In order to bring down a large animal such as a moose they must learn to work together and coordinate their tactics with the rest of the pack.

Cats don't need to cooperate at all. Hence the frustration shown in the expression “herding cats”.

Love that, Iam! Your dog is not only smart ... he's a caring soul!!

Great stories! I think we underestimate our pets' problem solving abilities.
q

That was so sweet of him!

Lol....

I don't have a dog anymore....and my last one was a Yorkie. It was supposed to be my daughter's. We went out, bought him, drove 3 hours to get him back to our house, he waddled into the living room, climbed up on my spouses chest and that was it. He was my spouses dog after that. When she got married and she tried to take him with her...he cried and refused to eat or drink---so back home he came. He was constantly by my spouses side until he passed away.

Now I just entice my neighbors 140 lb. dogs over with daily treats. They run over, get their treats, and get their backs scratched and then they bark at any vehicles that pull into my yard or the neighbors. People usually don't get out of their cars with them out there growling and caring on. I get my daily fix of dogs, they get their treats and back scratches..they run off the pack of coyotes at night. It's a win win.

But reading your stories sure did lift my spirits.

Clo