My dog is too damn smart

Platapus · 09-10-20, 05:30 PM

We have a Beauceron. She is a great dog, but just a little too smart

(stock image of a Beauceron but looks just like mine)

She is not a big eater. I can't remember the last dog that I have had that was so uninterested in food. It is routine for her to skip a meal and for her to go 24 hours without eating is not uncommon. But she is healthy and the vet is not concerned.

What she does like, however, are this one type of dog cookie. She loves them.

So, I made a rule that if she eats her meal, she can have one cookie. Beauceron's are very smart dogs and easy to train. She picked up on it pretty quickly.

First, however, she likes to test me. She will eat 1/2 her food and see if I give her a cookie.

Then she might eat 90% and see.

finally she will eat all her food and get her cookie reward. Pretty good dog.

There is a problem. The Frau does not reward her with a cookie. I have noticed that on the week that I am going into the office, she will eat about 80-90% of her food and leave it.

When I go into my home office, which is where her food is, she will come in and then eat the remaining food and present herself for a reward.

I guess she learned that if I am not there she gets no reward for eating her food, but she is hungry.

She figured out that if she eats most of her food to satisfy her hunger during the day, but keeps some of it in her dish so she can finish it in front of me, she gets her cookie.

That's pretty clever.

Thank goodness she does not have opposable thumbs or I would be in real trouble.

Anyone else have a dog that is too smart?

Buddahaid · 09-10-20, 07:37 PM

Nice story and nice dog.

Jimbuna · 09-11-20, 04:44 AM

We have a Lhasa Apso and what you describe above isn't too far off the mark with him.

I'll be showing the wife your post this afternoon after she returns home from looking after our granddaughter.

Platapus · 09-12-20, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Nice story and nice dog.

She is a good dog. Glad we were able to rescue her.

vienna · 09-13-20, 02:47 AM

<O>

iambecomelife · 09-13-20, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

She is a good dog. Glad we were able to rescue her.

Hilarious post, and glad you chose the rescue option! A good, moral thing to do IMHO. My sister's cat is also a rescue and also pretty clever; probably not as brainy as your dog but he does tricks like shake hands for treats.

Skybird · 09-13-20, 04:46 PM

Good story, and I am stunnend by the looks of that dog on that photo. Somehow it connects strong with me. Thats a dog worth the name for sure.

The race originally were herding dogs, and herding dogs NEED to be smart. All races used for this job are very smart, and self-reliant.

09-10-20, 05:30 PM	#1
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 18,948 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	My dog is too damn smart We have a Beauceron. She is a great dog, but just a little too smart (stock image of a Beauceron but looks just like mine) She is not a big eater. I can't remember the last dog that I have had that was so uninterested in food. It is routine for her to skip a meal and for her to go 24 hours without eating is not uncommon. But she is healthy and the vet is not concerned. What she does like, however, are this one type of dog cookie. She loves them. So, I made a rule that if she eats her meal, she can have one cookie. Beauceron's are very smart dogs and easy to train. She picked up on it pretty quickly. First, however, she likes to test me. She will eat 1/2 her food and see if I give her a cookie. Then she might eat 90% and see. finally she will eat all her food and get her cookie reward. Pretty good dog. There is a problem. The Frau does not reward her with a cookie. I have noticed that on the week that I am going into the office, she will eat about 80-90% of her food and leave it. When I go into my home office, which is where her food is, she will come in and then eat the remaining food and present herself for a reward. I guess she learned that if I am not there she gets no reward for eating her food, but she is hungry. She figured out that if she eats most of her food to satisfy her hunger during the day, but keeps some of it in her dish so she can finish it in front of me, she gets her cookie. That's pretty clever. Thank goodness she does not have opposable thumbs or I would be in real trouble. Anyone else have a dog that is too smart? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

09-10-20, 07:37 PM	#2
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,557 Downloads: 160 Uploads: 0	Nice story and nice dog. __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

09-11-20, 04:44 AM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 181,175 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	We have a Lhasa Apso and what you describe above isn't too far off the mark with him. I'll be showing the wife your post this afternoon after she returns home from looking after our granddaughter. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!! GWX3.0 Download Page - Donation/instant access to GWX (Help SubSim)

09-13-20, 02:47 AM	#5
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,503 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	<O> __________________ __________________________________________________ __

09-13-20, 04:46 PM	#7
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,493 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Good story, and I am stunnend by the looks of that dog on that photo. Somehow it connects strong with me. Thats a dog worth the name for sure. The race originally were herding dogs, and herding dogs NEED to be smart. All races used for this job are very smart, and self-reliant. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.