My pet is SO smart...

[Amy SF]

Do people get annoyed with you because you like bragging about how smart your pet is? Well, you can brag here!

This week I went to the pet supply store with store coupons, one of which was for a free package of cat treats. I decided to get one. These are moist chicken flavored treats in a thick plastic resealable bag. When I got the bag home, I gave one treat to each of my two cats. They LOVED them. I then resealed the bag and put it in my kitchen cabinet, but on a low shelf because that's where I keep the cat stuff.

When I walked into the kitchen this morning, the cabinet door was wide open and the bag was on the floor with a hole chewed in the side. I knew Sabrina had done that in order to get at the treats because I've caught her before, chewing her way through packages that contained enticing "people food" like muffins. :D

I've also played "bat the ball" with Sabrina. My bathroom door is hung a little too high, so there's enough room at the bottom of the door for those little toy balls to roll underneath. Sabrina will lie on her side outside the door and I'll toss a ball underneath it. She'll bat it back under the door, and wait. I'll grab the ball, roll it underneath the door again, and she'll bat it back. Sometimes, when I don't toss the ball underneath fast enough, she'll get up, walk inside the bathroom, find the ball, and bat it underneath. Then she'll go outside and bat it back inside the bathroom again. :D

Problem solving = scientists say that's a sign of intelligence in animals :yes:

Misty, unfortunately, is not QUITE as smart in that way as her sister is, but she's watched us play that game, and she actually played it with me a couple of times, so she learned by watching, I guess.

[Thalia]

My Jessie has always liked those little rubber balls from the vending machines. As a kitten, we would roll them down the stairs for her to chase. She learned to just carry them back up in her mouth and knock them down herself. I was impressed.

[kachina]

My German Shepard can open doors that aren't latched shut (standard doors, cupboard doors, screen doors, etc.) Not a big deal, but...if our other dogs want in (or out), he'll open the door FOR them and then he'll go back to whatever he was doing. :D

I don't know if they somehow "tell" him that they want him to open the door, or if he just reads the same signals we do (dogs walk up to a door and look at it longingly) and helps 'em out.

[GTChick01]

I don't have any good stories yet, as my pup is only 11 weeks old but she does know how to SIT already. LOL :D

[rabid_child]

Atticus will open cabinets and take treats out. He and Munch will also drag them AWAY from the scene of the crime to eat them, as not to get caught.

They both know how to operate the treat machine -- a gumball machine with a wheel you turn to get treats out.

They both know the phrase "GET THE BUG!" which means they'll come running from anywhere in the house and start looking around the room frantically until they see the bug, then hunt it til it stops moving.

[Amy SF]

They both know the phrase "GET THE BUG!" which means they'll come running from anywhere in the house and start looking around the room frantically until they see the bug, then hunt it til it stops moving.

:lol:

I usually screech "MISTY, MISTY, MISTY!" AND "SABRINA, SABRINA, SABRINA, COME HERE!" at the top of my lungs until they come running and then I frantically point to the bug until they see it.

[CeilingofStars]

Aww poor bug. :( Use something mechanical instead?

[mouse]

My Maxie, who is very food oriented, tried for years to open the refrigerator. He'd stand on his hind legs, hook a paw through the handle, and pull. Unfortunately, his little cat arm didn't have sufficient strength to open the door.

[Amy SF]

Aww poor bug. :( Use something mechanical instead?

Don't worry, I don't really call them to eat bugs as often as I used to. Misty once ate a BIG silverfish at my urging. It gave her an upset tummy and she even threw up. :(

[Amy SF]

My Maxie, who is very food oriented, tried for years to open the refrigerator. He'd stand on his hind legs, hook a paw through the handle, and pull. Unfortunately, his little cat arm didn't have sufficient strength to open the door.

:lol:

[Jinga]

My Addie is able to open sliding glass doors, sliding screen doors, and the front door if its not latched. There's nothing like coming home to your dogs standing out on the balcony or standing out in the parking lot only to see that your dog is standing next to you :doh:

Jake can smell a pizza from a mile away, but I don't think that qualifies him as smart. :-/

[mouse]

Friday, in his younger years, was very intrigued by how things worked. One day, he unplugged all the table lamps. (Fortunately, he didn't electrocute himself in the process.) Another day, he took the rubber tips off all the door stoppers. He's been on heart medication for many years. One day, he snuck out while we weren't looking. I didn't notice that he was missing until he showed up at the patio door promptly in time for his evening meds. (He loves taking his meds, because he gets a treat afterwards, and he knows exactly when it's time.)

Merlin couldn't stand collars, on himself or on any of the other cats. I'd watch him remove his collar, and then all the others', one after another.

[Veggers]

Cute thread. :up: My ratties are really smart. Possum often figures out how to drag large items to the top level of her three story cage. The other day she carried an oatmeal canister up there, even after dropping it about 20 times. :D Peaches knows how to get out of the cage if one latch isn't shut. Even if all the latches are closed, she "tests" tests them just in case. They all learn things really quickly too.

[Amy SF]

Cute thread. :up: My ratties are really smart. Possum often figures out how to drag large items to the top level of her three story cage. The other day she carried an oatmeal canister up there, even after dropping it about 20 times. :D Peaches knows how to get out of the cage if one latch isn't shut. Even if all the latches are closed, she "tests" tests them just in case. They all learn things really quickly too.

:up: Three cheers for ratties!

[mouse]

Veggers, I love the name "Possum" for a rat. :)

[Veggers]

Veggers, I love the name "Possum" for a rat. :)
Thanks! :D I'll have to post a pic of her sometime. :)

[rabid_child]

Aww poor bug. :( Use something mechanical instead?

I consider it nature taking care of itself.
Its not like I deliberately let bugs in so the cats can chase them, but its all fair when they're in my space. Besides, the flying ones are hard to catch (unless you're a cat) and I wouldn't spray poison AROUND my cats.

[AngelOfDance]

I don't know if it's because she's smart or just that she's needier than the average dog, but Audrey likes to say grace with my family before meals.

We say a prayer before every meal, with our hands joined together, and Audrey gets in between my dad and me and we hold onto her ears. The great thing is, she goes and lays down for at least a few minutes after she says grace with us- she's not just there because the prayer just happens to come with the chance of table scraps.

And she knows the difference between, "Audrey, go away." and "Audrey, get out of here." if you say, "go away," she walks away... usually out of sight... until her attention span expires (after about five seconds) and she comes bounding back with a toy. when you say, "get out" or "you don't belong here and you know it." she politely walks out of the room, turns around as soon as she's otside the door, and sits and looks at you. Of course, that doesn't last too long either, but it's cute.

And "my stupid dog is actually kinda smart" anecdote number three... she knows, when she goes for a walk, what she can get away with depending on who has the leash. My dad is very lax and lets her pull and get away with anything. My sisters are kind of the same. I'm very strict- she has to be on my right side with her shoulder at me knee, she has to be walking with me, the leash has to be slack, and she has to sit and wait before we cross any street. She does it automatically when I get the leash, but acts like a wild animal when someone else has it.

[MollyCat]

My Maxie, who is very food oriented, tried for years to open the refrigerator. He'd stand on his hind legs, hook a paw through the handle, and pull. Unfortunately, his little cat arm didn't have sufficient strength to open the door.

Oscar's mastered how to open the fridge door. He hooks his claws in the rubber at the side and pulls that way. I used to keep his food in a cupboard but after coming home a few times to find him asleep in the big bag, I moved it to the refridgerator. As least he doesn't fall asleep in there.

[BoricuaVeggie]

My cat Misha gives me high 5s for treats...kinda like the shake trick for dogs (but instead a high 5). :)

[punkmommy]

My german shepard mix, Aidan, knows an extensive vocabulary. He also is cued to do things solely by facial expression. He can distinguish between different whistles I use. He also speaks. If you ask him to say "I love you" he makes a low growly-type vocalization that sounds just like "I love you" :smitten: He is also my helper dog. If I ask him to "help me up", he'll come over and stand in front of me so I can hold onto his collar. If I say, "take me with you" he will offer his collar and lead me to where I want to go.
Aidan has also taught our cat how to wake me up in the morning. I have a baseball bat that sits proped against the wall next to my side of the bed. Aidan would knock it over in the morning to get me up and out of bed to feed him- now the cat does it too :brood: :lol:
Aidan knows that if you ask him is he's a "mean dog", he'll get down on his front legs and bark and growl ( and wag his tail like a nut). If you ask him is he's a "crazy dog" he'll roll around on his back and make other weird sounds. His favorite trick for treats is- sit, shake, hi five, and catch the treat off his nose. I want to teach him to lay down and roll over if I "shoot" him with my hand.

I think my dog is very smart! :ymca: ( that's the closest thing to a graduation hat I could find)

[BoricuaVeggie]

cool tricks people! :)

[catgirl67]

My cat acts more like a dog lately. There is a grocery store behind my house. I often walk there. For the last couple of days, my cat will follow me half way. She will sit in the parking lot of the apartment complex behind my house, and whine and meow, because she doesn't want me to leave. Then, when I come back from the store, she will be sitting there in the same spot she was when I left. She sees me, and starts meowing, and greeting me like a dog would! Then, she walks with me and talks to me all the way back home. It is the most adorable thing to me. Damn, I live that kitty! :smitten:

[Coop]

Aww...

I used to live 2 doors down from a little corner convenience mart, so I'd walk down there every couple of days for something-or-another.

One time, my cat and my roommate's cat followed me all the way inside the store. Usually they waited outside, so I didn't notice them come inside with me. I'm wandering around looking at the cold drinks trying to decide what I wanted when I heard the girl at the register giggling. I turned around and behind me, in the candy aisle, both of the cats were standing up on their hind legs, sniffing the air like crazy. (I think they could smell the chocolate, maybe?)

I put my hands on my hips and said in a mock stern voice, "Hey you kids, I told you - no candy until after you clean your room!" They both looked abashed and loped out of the store to sit on the step and wait for me. The girl at the counter about died laughing. It was sooo darn cute!!

I think my dog River is pretty sharp. He has a pretty big vocabulary. When he wants something he stands and stares at my hubby or me, and we have to ask questions like "are you hungry? are you thirsty? Do you need to potty? are you bored?" and he'll bark when we ask the right question. He also understands a lot of hand signals for things like sit down, sit up, lay down, stay, get back, spin in a circle, bark and growl. When he's in the proper mood (and/or I have a treat in my hand) he can really amaze people with the amount of tricks I can make him do with just hand signals. He's also very good about posing for pictures...I can get him to sit or lay down just right, tell him which way to turn his head...and then he'll hold the pose when I say "hold it!" until I take the picture (or several pictures) and say "okay". Sometimes he rolls his eyes at me, which is hilarious.

He also has figured out how to wrap himself up in his blankie all by himself.

[kpickell]

yeah, a pet brag thread. :vebo:

My dog did f'ing awesome at his agility class today. He was off leash for everything, and followed my instructions really well. It's only week 5 and he's already doing long sequences. He did a little course (jump, table, jump, tunnel, jump, dog walk, table, jump, A-frame, jump) in sequence without missing a beat. He even did the chute and teeter-totter on his first attempts, and he was scared of both of those things last week. Everyone was really impressed by how well he did everything. :)