“Dumb dog” not an accurate phrase

“Dumb dog” not an accurate phrase


The phrase “dumb dog” may be an oxymoron. Research shows that canine intelligence is at about the level of a human 2-year-old. Dogs can learn more than a hundred words, count to four and grasp basic arithmetic.

One highly trained Border collie named Chaser knows more than a thousand nouns and can link them with verbs to recognize short sentences. This uncanny canine was the center of attention at a recent meeting of the American Psychology Association.

When asked to find one specific toy out of more than a thousand, Chaser always complied and knew the difference between nosing and pawing the toy. Through the process of elimination, Chaser was even able to fetch a new toy it had never seen.

When you combine this intellect with a keen understanding of human moods and body language, it’s no wonder that dogs can enrich our lives in so many ways.

 

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