“Unfortunately, it looks like your drooling, howling, underwear-sniffing, sock-eating angel of perfection is not, you know, especially smart.” — AJ Willingham, CNN
Really? This is the author’s take-away from a study published in the so-called “scholarly” journal Learning & Behavior? I’d like to take issue with her statement for all sorts of
reasons: 1.) It’s beyond patronizing; 2.) Why would I ever stoop to eating a sock when I’m one of the world’s foremost experts at snagging cheeseburgers right off the grill tray?; and 3.) Just look at these photos of me and my buddy Kemba. Can’t you just see the intelligence? I thought so. This fake-news study concludes that “when a broad enough set of comparison species is considered (dolphins, chimpanzees, pigeons, etc.), there is no current case for canine exceptionalism.” And it harps on “physical cognition,” contending that dogs are not that stellar at interacting with and
understanding objects around them. Okay, true, Beagle Man used to laugh at me when I’d bark at a basketball. And now he gets a kick out of Kemba growling at, and then stalking, Roomba the robot vacuum cleaner. Fine. But what about that time at a Trinity football tailgate, when I couldn’t quite reach all those delectable wings and chips and salami slices . . . so I just yanked the table cloth and they all came tumbling down for me to devour? And how ’bout Kemba, my protege? Dude knows he’s not supposed to jump up on the comfy white chair until it’s covered, so when he gets sleepy, what does he do? He stares at the chair, stares at his Mets fleecy blankets, stares at the B-Man — and gets exactly what he wants. And does anyone remember that YouTube video from five years ago — showing that absolutely brilliant move by one of my Beagle brethren to nab some chicken nuggets out of a hot oven? Try that one, dolphins and chimps. And Ms. Smartypants Willingham.
The Roof Rack Report used to appear regularly on Mondays. Now it appears once in a blue moon, when Beagle Man deigns to give me some space . . .
And Ricky,to build on your point.. I have personally watched in amazement how Kemba knows how to attract and retain virtually anyone’s attention by returning with the ball …and giving the tilted head of cuteness plus the puppy eyes look to get another round of retrieval….he’s no slouch on strategizing!
Yup, he’s A+ on that!
Amen to that, Ricky. Furthermore…..name a chimp or a dolphin that blogs….not only while on earth, but from the hereafter as well,
Well said!