Are you smarter than your pet?

djack · 02-29-2008, 08:23 PM

National Geographic Magazine - NGM.com
Name: "Betsy"
Species: Border Collie
Home: Vienna, Austria
Smarts: Retains an ever growing vocabulary that rivals a toddlers.

How much thought goes on behind those eyes? A lot, in this case. Six-year-old "Betsy" can put names to objects faster than a great ape, and her vocabulary is at 340 words and counting. Her smarts showed up early: At ten weeks she would sit on command and was soon picking up on names of items and rushing to retrieve them—ball, rope, paper, box, keys, and dozens more. She now knows at least 15 people by name, and in scientific tests she's proved skilled at linking photographs with the objects they represent. Says her owner, "She's a dog in a human [pack]. We're learning her language, and she's learning ours."

Jonesy · 02-29-2008, 09:00 PM

Truth is, cats are faster learners than almost every human on the planet.

lrrp · 02-29-2008, 10:00 PM

Heh, I work outside and I gotta tell you all that raccoons are very smart. I have seen them get into dsl huts that I have to use wrenches to access.

They watch you to see how to do things, go up, put thier paws on it, look away (you can almost see the little cogs turning between the ears) and open things.

We have had to start putting padlocks on cabinets because the critters can open a simple spring catch. They seem to know and understand leverage too. Then again, out there it gets plenty cold, and the electronics bays are warm, big motivator.

I would be curious to see the results of some tests on them, to see where they line up in this context...

The_Heretic · 02-29-2008, 10:03 PM

Cat intelligence is restricted to fewer applications than humans.

But there are some animals whose recently reexamined intelligence is startling. The crocodiles and alligators are proving smarter than we realized. Some kept in captivity were shown to respond to their given names, and only that one individual who's called will come for its food as the others wait their turn.

djack · 02-29-2008, 10:50 PM

A lot of times I wonder if we're not the beginning instead of the end. Most animals live a more enjoyable life than we do. They aren't bothered by stress except when they're locked up by humans or slaughtered for their meat and/or fur.
Like I told my cats, "A short life lived free is much better than a long life imprisoned in the house."
Maybe someday humans will live a natural life like the 'lower' animals.

W.M.DEEEZ · 03-01-2008, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djack

A lot of times I wonder if we're not the beginning instead of the end. Most animals live a more enjoyable life than we do. They aren't bothered by stress except when they're locked up by humans or slaughtered for their meat and/or fur.
Like I told my cats, "A short life lived free is much better than a long life imprisoned in the house."
Maybe someday humans will live a natural life like the 'lower' animals.

Notice the posting styles of many here who live in the cities.

Many have a short fuse.

I read your cat stories, and I too have a cat who just can't seem to stay the hell off of me.

Except he's got this need to get his face right up against mine. So...it's a game now. I'm laying on the couch..he jumps on me...I start to put my hands in a position to block his attempts to get "in my face".

He looks away, as a decoy...then he tries to sneak around my guard.

After about 3 minutes of this, he relents, and lays down. He just THINKS he's smarter than me.

Although, I've often wondered if I've trained him, or he's trained me.

He does get to go out whenever he wants, though.

Edit...I had a Border Collie/Husky mix for 10 years....she was a genius. Those herd dogs are amazing

BleedingPinky · 03-01-2008, 05:30 AM

Jimi!! Come here damnit! (No way, he´s smelling a bitch´s piss at some bush) Gotta love them.

Malkavian · 03-01-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djack

National Geographic Magazine - NGM.com
Name: "Betsy"
Species: Border Collie
Home: Vienna, Austria
Smarts: Retains an ever growing vocabulary that rivals a toddlers.

How much thought goes on behind those eyes? A lot, in this case. Six-year-old "Betsy" can put names to objects faster than a great ape, and her vocabulary is at 340 words and counting. Her smarts showed up early: At ten weeks she would sit on command and was soon picking up on names of items and rushing to retrieve them—ball, rope, paper, box, keys, and dozens more. She now knows at least 15 people by name, and in scientific tests she's proved skilled at linking photographs with the objects they represent. Says her owner, "She's a dog in a human [pack]. We're learning her language, and she's learning ours."

Damn!

Human gig is up. Pretty soon we will start losing jobs to Border Collies.

The_Heretic · 03-01-2008, 11:40 AM

Learning rate is one very important aspect, but we also have to consider what their learning ceiling it at.

djack · 03-01-2008, 01:14 PM

I hope they aren't vengeful. We've done some really evil stuff to them. I wasn't worried till I found out they remembered.

02-29-2008, 08:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
djack Chairman of the Bored Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,187 My Mood: Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Are you smarter than your pet? National Geographic Magazine - NGM.com Name: "Betsy" Species: Border Collie Home: Vienna, Austria Smarts: Retains an ever growing vocabulary that rivals a toddlers. How much thought goes on behind those eyes? A lot, in this case. Six-year-old "Betsy" can put names to objects faster than a great ape, and her vocabulary is at 340 words and counting. Her smarts showed up early: At ten weeks she would sit on command and was soon picking up on names of items and rushing to retrieve them—ball, rope, paper, box, keys, and dozens more. She now knows at least 15 people by name, and in scientific tests she's proved skilled at linking photographs with the objects they represent. Says her owner, "She's a dog in a human [pack]. We're learning her language, and she's learning ours." __________________ "Last words are for fools who haven't said enough." Karl Marx (last words)
	Top

02-29-2008, 09:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jonesy Truth Lion Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,554 Thanks: 10 Thanked 32 Times in 23 Posts	Truth is, cats are faster learners than almost every human on the planet.
	Top

02-29-2008, 10:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
lrrp Banned Alchol Test Champion! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Evergreen, Colorado Posts: 1,602 My Mood: Thanks: 24 Thanked 57 Times in 32 Posts	Heh, I work outside and I gotta tell you all that raccoons are very smart. I have seen them get into dsl huts that I have to use wrenches to access. They watch you to see how to do things, go up, put thier paws on it, look away (you can almost see the little cogs turning between the ears) and open things. We have had to start putting padlocks on cabinets because the critters can open a simple spring catch. They seem to know and understand leverage too. Then again, out there it gets plenty cold, and the electronics bays are warm, big motivator. I would be curious to see the results of some tests on them, to see where they line up in this context...
	Top

02-29-2008, 10:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
The_Heretic Master of Quill-Fu Space Invaders Champion! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Taylorsville, UT [stuck in the 20th century]. Posts: 6,381 My Mood: Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 28 Thanked 96 Times in 69 Posts	Cat intelligence is restricted to fewer applications than humans. But there are some animals whose recently reexamined intelligence is startling. The crocodiles and alligators are proving smarter than we realized. Some kept in captivity were shown to respond to their given names, and only that one individual who's called will come for its food as the others wait their turn. __________________ John McCain: "He's in Iraq... with a few centuries to kill." *You won't fight for the Bill of Right? Fine! I won't fight for you in the ballot box!*
	Top

02-29-2008, 10:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
djack Chairman of the Bored Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,187 My Mood: Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	A lot of times I wonder if we're not the beginning instead of the end. Most animals live a more enjoyable life than we do. They aren't bothered by stress except when they're locked up by humans or slaughtered for their meat and/or fur. Like I told my cats, "A short life lived free is much better than a long life imprisoned in the house." Maybe someday humans will live a natural life like the 'lower' animals. __________________ "Last words are for fools who haven't said enough." Karl Marx (last words)
	Top

03-01-2008, 05:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
BleedingPinky Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sevilla Posts: 646 My Mood: Thanks: 6 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Jimi!! Come here damnit! (No way, he´s smelling a bitch´s piss at some bush) Gotta love them.
	Top

03-01-2008, 11:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
The_Heretic Master of Quill-Fu Space Invaders Champion! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Taylorsville, UT [stuck in the 20th century]. Posts: 6,381 My Mood: Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 28 Thanked 96 Times in 69 Posts	Learning rate is one very important aspect, but we also have to consider what their learning ceiling it at. __________________ John McCain: "He's in Iraq... with a few centuries to kill." *You won't fight for the Bill of Right? Fine! I won't fight for you in the ballot box!*
	Top

03-01-2008, 01:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
djack Chairman of the Bored Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,187 My Mood: Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	I hope they aren't vengeful. We've done some really evil stuff to them. I wasn't worried till I found out they remembered. __________________ "Last words are for fools who haven't said enough." Karl Marx (last words)
	Top

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