Dogs ARE NOT STUPID - Page 1

"....dogs ARE NOT STUPID ... especially the GSD .. they are pensive problem solving canines [ and one of the best at that !!]...."
quote by ALPHAPUP from the Training Board


I really agree with the quote above. As an example, I am now faced with the dilemma of my dog who just figured out how to open the pool gate (with the fancy magnetic, child saftey latch) from the INSIDE and the OUTSIDE.

There is no way around it, I'm forced to go low-tech and use bungi cords. 

I hope others will share their "brilliant" GSD dog stories, too. 

Misty my 8+ year old does not like to be in the kennel if someone is home......she will stay in it if we are gone but if i came home and god forbid decide to change before going into back yard, she opens the latch on the kennel and goes out...so thinking that she may do that when we are not home i put a combination lock on it...well...few times before i pull in i would look and see her in her kennel..i come inside, change and low and behold she is at the sliding glass door....kennel still locked....well, apparently she pushes two stainless steel dividers that are separating 40 x 40 foot kennel in 2 parts, dividers are being held up by bungee cords,  gets into Dozers kennel and uses his door to let herself out....so since she does what ever she wants anyways, we took away divider and stopped locking her gate...it saves me time from going out there and letting them out, they stay in it till i get home anyways......plus it is fenced in yard...I would feel sorry for anyone who would decide to get in, thinking dogs are confined...

Well, may I clarify that statement by saying GSDs are not stupid? I've had a couple of mutts that were dumber than a bucket of rocks (an ex-husband like that, too!)! And check out Hyperbole & 1/2's 'Simple Dog' blog for a laughable dumb dog story.

However, my GSDs are scary smart. Especially Kali & Lil' Bit, then Beckett, last Ansgar, who used to be quite bright, but maybe had a little O2 deprivation during her surgery or something, she's not the sharpest tool in the shed these days....willing, lovable, biddable....but save the deducing for her mom or sis!

Kali can open any door here, & the dead bolt, too. We replaced all the door handles once, & now she's figured out how to put each of her front paws on either side of the old fashioned round door knob, & push up with one paw, & down with the other, & voila! the door is unlatched! She grabs the knob in her mouth & pulls, & the door is open. Takes her about 12 seconds. So much for needing thumbs! Also the fridge is no challenge. Thank goodness she respects our "NO!" She can turn on the kitchen faucet for a drink, & can open the kibble bin, too. I aught to teach her to cook dinner! She comes & barks at us if the phone rings, like we can't hear it, LOL! She can let the other dogs out, if they're crated! Again, she won't if we say no! (thankfully; 'cause no-one is crated with out a good reason!) And Lil' Bit watches & learns all Moms tricks!

And all are very intuitive, sometimes I'm very sure they can read my thoughts. I'll be in my bedroom with the door closed, the dogs out in the kitchen with Carl; & if I think about taking one of them out with me, they will appear at the bedroom door, whining & bouncy, ready to go! How do you explain stuff like that? jackie harris

Kalibeck....100% spot on! ..when i think of specific dog to take with me, that specific dog is going crazy through the roof...sometimes that kind of behavior makes me change my mind, but they always know which one is going with me...and they always know when it's a vet visit because i can't find them or they are on their beds trying to lay as flat as possible pretenting to disappear..LOL.

Yepper! Mine always know when it's a vet trip, too. They'll still be right there ready to go, but they don't bounce first. But how do they know which dog I'm thinking of? I've tested it, going behind closed doors & thinking about a certain dog & another activity.. & it doesn't work. But I can be separate from them & decide, "Okay, Beckett needs to go out," & there he is! How do they do that ??????jackie harris

i agree.....same thing here..i think of Bailey and vet and no one will even get up...i think of park and Dozer and its like a bounce house effect.

How's Baily doing anyway? jackie harris

good, thank you for asking..stitches coming out tomorrow...she CAN SIT now..but will not step on her leg when moving..she uses toes to keep her balance..i will take pictures after stitches come out and post update....she is going off her meds tomorrow, and cone is coming off tomorrow....
yesterday in the evening,  she went inside her kennel where grass was knee high and laid next to her dog house...she looked so pathetic..as weird as it sounds....i think she actually misses her kennel....

here  pict from last night.

Aw, she's so pretty! She probably does miss her kennel! She'll be OK, she looks so good in that picture! Continued good luck to you & Baily. jackie harris

thank you, she is well taken care of....
here is a photo from this morning after her breakfast right before i left for work....i know she hates that cone..she will not bark with it on..LOL