Dogs As Smart as 2-Year old

[agilebasenji]

Part of the problem with this study is who they asked. I'd like more information about methods these judges have used to train dogs. I'd bet that most of these obedience people used compulsive methods, which, well, it's no wonder the basenjis didn't excell at that. Attitude in a trainer counts for a LOT. If I can't train my basenjis to do something, I figure I have to do something different. (And if you don't know me, I've trained my basenjis to do a LOT! Digital, the brindlewonderkid, has around 30 titles to his name; Jet the tri-ing has around 15; Zest is my up-and-coming Superstar and will be brilliant, but you'd be impressed with what she already knows.) Many trainers don't/won't/can't do something different. Sad. I haven't found my basenjis harder to train than my malinoises (or whatever the plural of malinois is). The basenjis, however, do make me work harder to motivate them.

You will also see in the article that sometimes the "dumber" dogs are easier to live with. Well, take a look around, I don't think anyone will say that, as a breed, basenjis are easy to live with.

[jonny b.]

But I wouldnt want to live without them

[Schouiffy]

• 1 w/ agilebasenji

[snorky998]

There's blind obedience intelligence, then there's Basenji/hound intelligence.

The difference I think is the Basenji's obedience pleases himself first, and their family partners/pack, second. The "more intelligent breeds" have owners/masters they must please first and foremost. (ie…my ex-BILaw had an award winning Chessie; she was devoted to him. Did anything he ever asked her. Water and field championships. Cert. in service as well. Until her very last days (3 to be exact) she was never allowed in the house. She slept, ate, and amused herself in the garage, alone. )

I'm not sure that what I'm really trying to say is coming across. :o I appreciate a well trained dog with the best of them. But does trainability/obedience really equate with intelligence? Let's face it, we've all worked with a human or two that was trainable, perhaps even compliant (ie. obedient) but was as dumb as a box of rocks!!:eek:

Our hounds can think for themselves. They can, without training, open doors, windows, cabinets. Work out puzzles and problems and create their own solutions. Open/shut doors, ring bells for attention, care for the sick, and mourn for their losses.

I'm sure many here have examples of the independent intelligence (sans training) inherent in our breed.:)

[Basenjimamma]

There is a difference between "smart" and smart..Basenjis are smart, in my opinion, because they do not need the approval of humans to thrive, other dog breeds are smart because we can train them to do what we want them to do..what's so smart about that?
For instance, Otis learned how to open the door to the trash cabinet, so he doesn't have to bother us to open it for him…now that is smart, now he can dig in the trash without disturbing us..Brilliant.
Where as other dogs run and get a ball we threw..shouldn't we go get it since we threw it?

[agilebasenji]

I'm guessing these dogs would be smarter than most 2year olds.

http://englishrussia.com/?p=2462

[Kananga]

@agilebasenji:

I'm guessing these dogs would be smarter than most 2year olds.

http://englishrussia.com/?p=2462

Interesting article. I'd imagine life around there must be quite interesting with stray dogs riding the trains like normal commuters.

[Basenjimamma]

wow, that was interesting indeed.

[nobarkus]

@Basenjimamma:

There is a difference between "smart" and smart..Basenjis are smart, in my opinion, because they do not need the approval of humans to thrive, other dog breeds are smart because we can train them to do what we want them to do..what's so smart about that?
For instance, Otis learned how to open the door to the trash cabinet, so he doesn't have to bother us to open it for him…now that is smart, now he can dig in the trash without disturbing us..Brilliant.
Where as other dogs run and get a ball we threw..shouldn't we go get it since we threw it?

Good points Petra! LOL!

[Kananga]

Of course Basenjis are smart.

My B is half way there to becoming an interior designer. :rolleyes:

[GenJMar]

I want a bumper sticker that says My Basenji is smarter than your (insert dog breed here). Becaue it would be the truth. I have to rotate the styles on my child saftey locks every 6 months on all my cabinets because my guys figure them out. Mine have also know how to open up their own canned food, and I am not talking about the kind with pop top rings on it either. Sure a lab/****er etc and bring you a can of food from the cupboard but mine can actually open the damn can. Who's the smart one here?

[Basenjimamma]

Sign me up for one of those bumper stickers too. I can't believe (well I guess I can, they are B's after all ;)) they have figured out how to open the cans..that sounds dangerous..there is no telling what they learn next..

[Kananga]

@Basenjimamma:

Sign me up for one of those bumper stickers too. I can't believe (well I guess I can, they are B's after all ;)) they have figured out how to open the cans..that sounds dangerous..there is no telling what they learn next..

Mine is already taking on Interior Design. "I think the couch stuffing on the carpet really adds contrast to the room" :rolleyes:

They certainly are sly. It's what makes them great hunters.

[GenJMar]

Basenjimamma, the opening of cans is not a practice I encourage as I am afraid the will break teeth or cut themselves, hence the child safety locks. I came home today to find that I forgot to chain the closet door shut in the hallway. This is were I keep my bulk doggie treats, dog clothes etc. They had opened the by-fold closet door and manged to pull things out of a wire rack cart on wheels without turing it over. It was like an all you can eat buffet for them. Another example of true intelligence.

[nobarkus]

If they weren't like that they wouldn't be able to survive in the Congo.

[Kananga]

@nobarkus:

If they weren't like that they wouldn't be able to survive in the Congo.

Of course. That's what makes these dogs so unique (and sometimes displeasing ).

I don't think we'd survive as well as them out in the wildlife. Sometimes I think they already know this…

[nobarkus]

@Kananga:

Of course. That's what makes these dogs so unique (and sometimes displeasing ).

I don't think we'd survive as well as them out in the wildlife. Sometimes I think they already know this…

That's why putting a dog that's been breed to survive in Africa in a domesticated home in America can be a real challenge at times. Not that you're taking it right out of the jungle and plopping him in your house but they still have that little progam in the brain to survive in that jungle. All my past 3 Basenjis were excellent hunters and I could have lived off the jack rabbits and birds they caught.

[Kananga]

@nobarkus:

That's why putting a dog that's been breed to survive in Africa in a domesticated home in America can be a real challenge at times.

I occasionally joke about how if the economy truly collapsed and it was "everyone man/woman for themselves", having a Basenji may prove to be useful as they are great hunters. Then I realize that once he's off into the wild, he's going to be more concerned about feeding himself than me, and that I'd probably be sitting around for quite some time waiting for him to return. :o

[nobarkus]

@Kananga:

I occasionally joke about how if the economy truly collapsed and it was "everyone man/woman for themselves", having a Basenji may prove to be useful as they are great hunters. Then I realize that once he's off into the wild, he's going to be more concerned about feeding himself than me, and that I'd probably be sitting around for quite some time waiting for him to return. :o

Mine would bring the kill to me. My b/w female Nika surprised me once when she was like 8-9 months old out in this field, she was out running around and then I turned around and she was standing there and dropped this jack rabbit out of her mouth right by my feet and I thought "were did she get that dead thing" and then I noticed the nerves twitching. I had my first tri kill and bring me a Pheasant once. She darted out to the middle of this open field and I couldn't see anything and all the sudden 4-5 of these birds flew up and she head butted one and it lost flight a bit and strated to fly up and she jumped up and hit it again with her head and it came down and she nabbed it then dragged it across this open grassy field.

[Basenjimamma]

I am truly amazed at this dogbreed's abilities sometimes..on their own..no humans needed..Otis still needs his humans though..to pick up his Oscar Meyer Bacon from the store and all…LOL, but other then that he'd do fine with us..or so he thinks..and he might be right..!