Comments on: Dogs Understand Language

By: Dale Madren

Dale Madren — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Looks like someone needs to revisit L. Wittgenstein's comments regarding Hans the Wonder Horse, whom the scientists 'confirmed' count do mathematics. Hans would count the answer with his hoove beats. Of course, Hans real skill was being intimately in tune with his owner. Dogs don't know words. Dogs do have communication skills. But only "researchers" would be slaves to the model human speech in their analysis.

By: Christopher Cross

Christopher Cross — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Hey, remember when Bill Maher compared retarded children to dogs? That was fun... :-/

By: McGehee

McGehee — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Well, when they come up with a dog that can write literally millions of words and shape people's thinking or make them laugh out loud at their own foibles -- and get paid for doing so -- then I'll be impressed. If I took that "fetch" test I'd flunk with flying colors. Tell me to "fetch" something for ya, and I'm as likely to ask after the condition of your presumably broken legs, as to ignore you outright.

By: jen

jen — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

McGehee - heh.

By: Brett

Brett — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Well, Rico's a border collie. They're already eerily close to being human. Try the tests with an Afghan hound (or, sadly, a pug) and the results would be much less impressive, I'm afraid.

But if someone comes up with a dog with a sense of humor, I'll be really, really impressed.

By: McGehee

McGehee — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I'm with Brett. And no, Brian Griffin doesn't count.

By: Alan Kellogg

Alan Kellogg — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

When I was a teen we had a samoyed (a breed from Siberia originally.). Damn smart animal. He learned what 'walk' and 'ride' meant. In both cases, upon hearing the word he would jump up and go to the kitchen drawer where we kept his leash. When the leash was on he'd haul us to the front door and wait anxiously for us to open it. If the word was 'ride' he'd head left to the car. If the word was 'walk' he'd head right. He'd get so excited we'd have him dancing around and getting in the way. Got to the point we started spelling the words out so he wouldn't catch on. Then he learned to spell.

By: Meezer

Meezer — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Haven't these researchers ever heard of Assistance Dogs or Seeing-Eye Dogs? They obviously know hundreds of words (assistance dogs especially as they have so many and varied tasks to perform).
I remember a $100,000 (at the time a huge sum) study that sonorously intoned "Just discovered: cattle have an intricate social structure." I spent my formative years watching "baby-sitter" cows getting stuck with all the kids while the high status mothers went off for mah-jong or cud-chewing. Any farmer could have told them what they wanted to know for the price of a long-distance phone call.

By: Jen Speaks

Jen Speaks — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

But, Of Course They Understand!
I'ma dog owner and I knew this:

As many a dog owner will attest, our furry friends are listening. Now, for the doubters, there is scientific proof they understand much of what they hear.

German researchers have found a border collie named Rico wh...

By: the evangelical outpost

the evangelical outpost — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Can Canines Comprehend?
Why doesnât thisâ¦ German researchers have found a border collie named Rico who understands more than 200 words and can learn new ones as quickly as many children. â¦ Rico's learning ability may indicate that some parts of speech comprehension...

By: BoiFromTroy

BoiFromTroy — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Trojan Huddle: Thursday is the new Friday
Got an email today telling us that Columbus Day will be celebrated to tomorrow, or that Thursday is the new Friday...or something...so if there is light blogging while I watch Reagan's funderal and babysit my newpher, here is the OTB...

By: Dean's World

Dean's World — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Watch What You Say Around Your Dog...(Joe Gandelman)
Your dog is a LOT SMARTER than you think. The Moderate Voice can attest to that...and gives you the scoop on cats, too (see what...

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