Furry Children with Paws

I haven't written about my babies in a while.

Like human children, they have good days and bad.

Unlike human children, they don't talk back.

Yesterday, both needed to go to the vet for bordetella vaccinations. That's for kennel cough. The place is large and offers multiple services. It was hopping but we found a little out-of-the-way spot so Shiner wouldn't think everyone was waiting to play with him.

When it was our turn, the vet tech took each one back separately, since all they needed was to be weighed and the vaccine squirted up their noses.
She took Wrangler first, and returned with him about three minutes later. He was so proud - like See what a good boy I was!


Then she took Shiner back. A different tech brought him out.


"Did you know he can open doors?" she asked.

"Huh?"

"You didn't teach him?"

"No."

"These are smart dogs." She nodded and smiled. "The doors have lever handles. We finished and set him on the floor. He went to the door, opened it, and started down the hall."

Now, Wrangler is a border collie. He's a whiz-kid. But his smarts are in a different area. He's extremely intuitive. Shiner is a blue heeler, also known as an Australian cattle dog. His smarts are more in the practical and physical areas. Human-wise, one is an academic and one is an engineer.

On the doggie scale of overall intelligence by breed, border collies are #1. Blue heelers are #10. Many days, both are smarter than I am.

I'm so thankful we don't have lever door handles at home.

Comments

Helen Ginger said…
That's funny. You better watch him, he may learn how to twist a door knob, albeit a low one.

Did you know dogs have internal clocks? Our dog knows exactly when it's 6 a.m. and time to have breakfast and when it's 5 p.m. and time for dinner and when it's 10 p.m. and time for a goodnight treat (an enticement for her to climb the stairs on her own - she's 15 year old).

Helen
Straight From Hel
Carol Kilgore said…
If he learns to twist a knob, I'll need to remember to turn the deadbolt. Should be a week or two before he figures out how to turn it back.

You have a smart baby, too.
Waconda Springs said…
We live in a very small town. Monday through Saturday we have the 0700, 1200 and 1800 whistle. The male dog, Thor, reminds us on Sundays (the day the whistle doesn't blow) that it's time for breakfast, lunch and supper. He don't need any whistle to tell him he's hungry. lol
Waconda Springs said…
Doesn't. He doesn't need a whistle. Sheesh.

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