Are puppies smart enough to do this?

[plaster8]

We just got a golden retriever puppy, which we are housetraining. She gets a treat when she goes to the bathroom outside, which she has gotten pretty good at doing.

However, a couple of times tonight I could swear she just squatted for a few seconds, didn't pee, then came over to collect her reward. It was dark, I couldn't see that well, and I can't tell if she actually peed or not.

So are puppies smart enough to pull someting like that? Or am I just losing my mind in the midst of all the whining/barking/pooping/peeing? (Having a puppy has made me wonder if my wife and I will ever have a kid -- this is a LOT of work.)

[siccjay]

I would say yes, they could do that.

[LBJ]

I'm positive that they are smart enough to do that. I have a dog and when it takes something it shouldn't take, we give it a treat to drop the object. I know he steals and grabs wrappers, trash, etc. just to collect the treat.

[zephed]

Yes.

[tdarko]

yes.

i have a border collie and i am certain it is smarter than most people on this forum.

[mantasm]

They're definitely smart enough to do this. It won't take long before she figures out she only gets a treat when she squats and goes to the bathroom on the grass and nowhere else.

[theBruiser500]

that is awesome and part of why dogs (golden retrievews in particular) are better than cats

[invictus33]

Ever hear of Pavlov?

[Jeff W]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a dog and when it takes something it shouldn't take, we give it a treat to drop the object.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your training method is retarded. You are rewarding the dog for misbehavior.

That is some seriously messed up stuff. Awesome, though. Got a good laugh out of it.

[TheIrishThug]

[ QUOTE ]
That is some seriously messed up stuff. Awesome, though. Got a good laugh out of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

wait, r u using this as a real account now?

[DonBaker]

yes they are..

[RunDownHouse]

While we're on the topic, maybe someone - Jeff W, perhaps - could help me with my puppy problem. The dog is about 6.5 months old now, and pretty well housebroken. The only times she goes inside is if we are ignoring her completely, and then she just piddles a little by the door.

But recently she's picked up a very strange habit. She's taken to peeing at the top of the stairs, regardless of when she last when out to pee or anything else. She could have just gotten back inside from peeing, and 10 minutes later, she'll go upstairs and pee a little bit at the top. Its not every time, but its gotten worse, to where maybe 1/3 of the time she'll do it. Its not always in the same place, but generally either in the small area at the top of the stairs or actually on the top 2-3 stairs.

Any ideas?

[irishpint]

your dog owns you.

[samjjones]

[ QUOTE ]
that is awesome and part of why dogs (golden retrievews in particular) are better than cats

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, at least I don't have to wake up early to let my cat out to poop...

[DonBaker]

[ QUOTE ]
While we're on the topic, maybe someone - Jeff W, perhaps - could help me with my puppy problem. The dog is about 6.5 months old now, and pretty well housebroken. The only times she goes inside is if we are ignoring her completely, and then she just piddles a little by the door.

But recently she's picked up a very strange habit. She's taken to peeing at the top of the stairs, regardless of when she last when out to pee or anything else. She could have just gotten back inside from peeing, and 10 minutes later, she'll go upstairs and pee a little bit at the top. Its not every time, but its gotten worse, to where maybe 1/3 of the time she'll do it. Its not always in the same place, but generally either in the small area at the top of the stairs or actually on the top 2-3 stairs.

Any ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

only 1 solution

http://mr.open-publishing.be/uploads/2004/07/dead_dog_nessie.jpg

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
We just got a golden retriever puppy, which we are housetraining. She gets a treat when she goes to the bathroom outside, which she has gotten pretty good at doing.

However, a couple of times tonight I could swear she just squatted for a few seconds, didn't pee, then came over to collect her reward. It was dark, I couldn't see that well, and I can't tell if she actually peed or not.

So are puppies smart enough to pull someting like that? Or am I just losing my mind in the midst of all the whining/barking/pooping/peeing? (Having a puppy has made me wonder if my wife and I will ever have a kid -- this is a LOT of work.)

[/ QUOTE ]
My boxer did that. He figured it out pretty quickly, too.

[CollinEstes]

Yes, I think Goldens are one of the smartest breeds, along with the before-mentioned border collies.

Got to get your hand under than feel for dampness.

[Sifmole]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, I think Goldens are one of the smartest breeds, along with the before-mentioned border collies.

Got to get your hand under than feel for dampness.

[/ QUOTE ]

Golden's are wonderful, fun, loving family dogs -- but they are most definitely not even in the top ten of smart dogs. Border-collies are definitely top three ( if not first ) -- they kick-butt.

[davelin]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have a dog and when it takes something it shouldn't take, we give it a treat to drop the object.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your training method is retarded. You are rewarding the dog for misbehavior.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a typical training technique that we just learned for our puppy. The key is that you want the dog to associate dropping something out of it's mouth with something good so it will willingly do this in the future. So you start with a treat combined with the command "drop". Soon the puppy learns to do it just with the command and without the treat.

[ QUOTE ]
While we're on the topic, maybe someone - Jeff W, perhaps - could help me with my puppy problem. The dog is about 6.5 months old now, and pretty well housebroken. The only times she goes inside is if we are ignoring her completely, and then she just piddles a little by the door.

But recently she's picked up a very strange habit. She's taken to peeing at the top of the stairs, regardless of when she last when out to pee or anything else. She could have just gotten back inside from peeing, and 10 minutes later, she'll go upstairs and pee a little bit at the top. Its not every time, but its gotten worse, to where maybe 1/3 of the time she'll do it. Its not always in the same place, but generally either in the small area at the top of the stairs or actually on the top 2-3 stairs.

Any ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]

Vigilance...watch the dog carefully and when she attempts to pee on the steps grab her and take her outside or wherever she is supposed to pee, everytime and she will get the message. This is how professionals house train dogs. book (http://barnesandnoble.bfast.com/booklink/click?sourceid=371225&ISBN=0525245545)
I actually had his book" Gun Dog" and that is the method he used.

[ QUOTE ]
We just got a golden retriever puppy, which we are housetraining. She gets a treat when she goes to the bathroom outside, which she has gotten pretty good at doing.

However, a couple of times tonight I could swear she just squatted for a few seconds, didn't pee, then came over to collect her reward. It was dark, I couldn't see that well, and I can't tell if she actually peed or not.

So are puppies smart enough to pull someting like that? Or am I just losing my mind in the midst of all the whining/barking/pooping/peeing? (Having a puppy has made me wonder if my wife and I will ever have a kid -- this is a LOT of work.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Treats are unnecessary..vigilance is the answer. Read my other post in this thread.

[Robbe]

[ QUOTE ]
Ever hear of Pavlov?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm, the name rings a bell.

[HopeydaFish]

[ QUOTE ]
yes.

i have a border collie and i am certain it is smarter than most people on this forum.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your dog could be a total retard and your above statement would still be correct.

[Indiana]

Ive got a 2 yr old Golden Ret. and he's the smartest dog Ive ever had. I don't know if all dogs are smart enough to pull this stuff, but Golden Ret.'s sure as hell are. I think that emotionally they are the closest to humans and have a strange sense of knowing what u are feeling and how to manipulate it.

Dam this response sounds strange,

Indy

[HopeydaFish]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ever hear of Pavlov?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm, the name rings a bell.

[/ QUOTE ]

Groan.

(Sigh...sadly, this made me laugh)

[JinX11]

Yes, they will do this; my dog still does this. In fact, he'll even life his leg now and stand there momentarily. The tell is that when he actually goes, his tail stands up.

I have to scold him for not peeing to make him actually go pee now. That or kick the [censored] out of him. It's sad. Effin dogs.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ever hear of Pavlov?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm, the name rings a bell.

[/ QUOTE ]
This was terrible.

[colgin]

[ QUOTE ]
that is awesome and part of why dogs (golden retrievews in particular) are better than cats

[/ QUOTE ]

The fake peeing is nothing compared to some of the manipulative tricks my older cat can do.

[ChipWrecked]

Cats are smart enough to refuse to be 'trained' in the first place.

Cats > Dogs

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

Yes. Let's all argue over whether cats or dogs are better and which is smarter. Also, I'd like to hear more about why retrievers are the smartest pet you can have.

[astarck]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ever hear of Pavlov?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm, the name rings a bell.

[/ QUOTE ]
This was terrible.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hope by terrible you mean funny. Sadly, I laughed too.

[Shajen]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes. Let's all argue over whether cats or dogs are better and which is smarter. Also, I'd like to hear more about why retrievers are the smartest pet you can have.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pavlov's experiments with cats went something along the lines of:

Day 1: Rang bell. Cat stared at me. Didn't eat.

Day 2: Rang bell. Cat yawned.

Day 3: Rang bell, but cat put paw on bell so it only made a 'thunk' sound.

Day 4: Rang bell, cat said he'd eaten earlier.

Day 5: Tried to ring bell, but cat had taken batteries out of bell.

Day 6: Cat rang bell. I ate food.

Now: for teh win:

dancing dog (http://www.ebaumsworld.com/smartdog.html) (probably a repost)

[Fabian]

I didn't get it until Patrick commented on it. Then I laughed too /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[touchfaith]

Easily smart enough.

Haven't you seen the dog jail break video? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/...storyid=3714830)

[Ringo_Mojo]

I'm pretty fond of the Skatboarding Bulldog. (http://www.skateboardingbulldog.com/sktrb6.5.wmv)