Saturday, August 10, 2013

I Would Do Anything for a Ball, but I Won't Do That

A few things first:

<> This is not that kind of blog.
<> There is nothing parodic about this post, other than the title, speaking of which...
<> Thanks, Meat Loaf.
<> There is a "permanent" x-pen in my family room; it has felt pads under the corners, to save the floor.
<> This is not a PSA about spaying and neutering your pets, but while I'm on the subject, please do.
<>  According to the book The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren, Cardigan Welsh Corgis are the 26th most intelligent dog breed.

* * *

'S'my ball. My. Ball. 

I might have mentioned before (about 106 times, here and there) that - aside from eating - Dewi's favorite activity is fetching, preferably his rope. No, let me rephrase that: Dewi is a rope addict and might need an intervention.

I know, I know - lots of dogs are crazy about fetching. You might be lucky enough to have one (or more) of your own (bless your hearts). It's just that I think Dewi might be "special." And by "special," well...

Have you ever seen a dog fetch like this??!


So, do you think Dewi might be "special"?
Hold on to that thought for a couple minutes.
(P.S. Did you get a load of Bertie, the cat? hehe)

Now, I'm no expert on dog IQ, but I've tried a few simple tests on both Dewi and Jon Farleigh. Here's a chart with some of the results.

Test Passed
Finds way out from under a blanket
Yes
Answers to own name, and not to random words spoken in the same tone
Ex. Responds to "Dewwwiii!" but not to "Vacuuuuum!" or Fryiiiing Paaan!" for example
Yes
Understands English
Yes
Can find a treat under a cup, in between the couch cushions, under the refrigerator, in the litter box...
Yes
When playing fetch with a tennis ball, and the ball accidentally lands in an empty (shoulder-high) laundry basket, knows to hop in the basket to retrieve the ball

Example:

No
If placed inside an empty (shoulder-high) laundry basket with a tennis ball, and given the command to "bring me the ball," makes an attempt to get out of the basket (with or without ball)

Example:

No

And...I don't know, y'all. Based on those results, I'm inclined to think:
they're both "special!" 
Wouldn't you agree? ;-)

Out of immense curiosity, for those who have (or have had) Corgis or any other dwarf breed of dog, would your dog(s) be able to pass that last laundry basket test?

Let me know in the poll below! Thanks!


24 comments:

  1. There are no small dogs at our house, so I can't help with the laundry basket test. lol He certainly has a unique style of fetching, though!

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  2. well that was insanely fun and incredibly silly. Magi hopped out of the basket at 3 seconds, Siren took 13. then I threw the ball into the basket. Magic pushed the laundy basket around for about 37 seconds then flipped it to get the ball out.

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    Replies
    1. Magic and Siren might need to apply for Mensa membership, Dawn! Clearly, all the work you do in performance with those two has paid off!

      Delete
  3. Pallo absolutely can jump into and back out of a laundry basket for a ball. The basket, however, may not remain upright during this test.

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  4. Once, I attempted to do this test with Kolchak. Convinced he was too smart for his own good, I thought he'd ace this and I could confidently lay claim to having the Sheldon Cooper of the dog world. It didn't quite go as planned.

    I'm not sure if you can see this if we're not Facebook friends: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150170649749798&set=vb.747384797&type=3&theater

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    Replies
    1. Sheldon Cooper of the dog world! Heehee!

      Jodi, I have been your FB friend for some time, but I can't open that link. Says it might have moved or I don't have access. :(

      Delete
  5. How funny. Shiner is a horrible fetcher. She goes and gets stuff, but it's impossible to get it back from her lol. I like the playpen game! Looks like Bertie might now know what to think of it though.

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  6. I didn't take the poll, although since she's a puppy, Rosie probably would count as a low-rider dog. (Yes, she'd jump in and out - her legs are like springs) Besides, after listening to that first video, when the second began and you repeated "Get the ball" a few times, Rudy ran to get one and brought it in here for you. Hmmm... I think he might be special, too :-)

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    Replies
    1. That's awesome, Sue! Yay Rudy, you special boy, you! :)

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  7. We too agree that is funny. We haven't tried any of those on our peeps but we can guess she'd probably fail LOL.
    Have a serene Sunday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  8. No short legged dogs in our house to do the test. But you have convinced me that every laundry basket should come with its own corgi. That was so freaking adorable I almost peed my pants. :)

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  9. We don't have a low-rider, but I did play fetch once with Rita employing our laundry basket. I would toss her ball in thre so she'd have no choice but to reach in for it. She's afraid of so many things, and a moving laundry basket is one of them. She'd reach in, it would slide, she'd get spooked. But she got braver and it was a good little confidence builder for her. (At least I hope it was. Or I kinda fried her brains a little.)

    Cute cute cute videos. Your boys are SO adorable.

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    Replies
    1. Jackie, my dog Molly wouldn't have fetched the ball off a silver platter in front of her face. She was not a ball girl. But so sweet, just like Rita, I'd bet. :)

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  10. I just had to share photos from a local Corgi gathering! http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Photos-over-corgis-at-the-PNW-Corgi-Picnic-219175431.html?tab=gallery&c=y&img=0

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the pics and the smiles, Camelama! That is some corgi gathering! I'm going to share the link on my FB page tomorrow. :D

      Delete
  11. Holy moley. I'd say that's a rope addiction. There's gotta be a 12 step program for that, right?

    Will you be at BarkWorld?

    www.dogtreatweb.com

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    Replies
    1. Flea, not going to BarkWorld, although I made a hotel res. months ago. It's just a little too far and a little to close to the first day of my kids' school. Oh, and I no have the $$. :(

      Delete
  12. I've got a Cardi that's more special than yours--Barkly. He doesn't like tennis balls at all. Socks now, they're a completely different story. Dirty, clean, wet or dry, it doesn't matter. He's NOT going to bring them to you though. He's going to try to eat them, and he'll always make at least one hole before you notice he's got it. Beware the sock monster! That dryer thief hasn't got anything on him!

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    Replies
    1. Barkly! Barkly! Barkly! Why so special?! (Thanks for sharing his speciality! Hide the socks! BTW, JF and Dewi used to eat my underwear. I'm glad they've moved on to balls.)

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    2. Oh so sad. :( Have fun baking cookies and getting kids off to school! I'm leaving all three of mine behind, but two are in college and the other is homeschooled, a sophomore. It's a tough life ... leaving the kids to take care of the dogs and chickens and rabbit and duck and goose and cat ... not having to cook for days ... spending time with other bloggers ... taking photos of everyone else's dog ... you'd hate it. Be glad you're not going. ;)
      www.dogtreatweb.com

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  13. I can get out of a laundry basket, I a short but not as short as a Corgi. Not at all into fetching but I enjoy stealing out of the laundry basket :)

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  14. Thanks for making me smile :) They are too cute!!

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  15. This totally made me laugh. Such an interesting way to retrieve a rope! I laugh when we play doggie chess here. While Daisy and Cupcake will pick a cup up to get the treat underneath, Jasper just pushes and pounds on the cup until it topples over. I suspect he would not figure out how to get his ball out of a laundry basket either. :)

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