Dogs and Mirrors
arami...@my-deja.com
An important test for animal psychology is the mirror test. The ability
to recognize one's own reflection is considered a sign of self-
awareness. Self-awareness is considered crucial to abstract thought and
complex emotions.
Most dogs avoid looking in mirrors. Does your dog look in the mirror?
When shown a mirror, the dog tends to look down or away, anywhere but
at the mirror. By holding a dog's head in your hands you can gently
force his eyes toward the mirror, but he will still try to look away. I
have seen dogs startled by the reflection in a mirror; but, only
momentarily, then they totally disregard the mirror.
On the other hand, many dogs will react with an obvious demonstration
to dogs and other animals on the TV. And, give an apparent different
reaction to themselves on the TV when shot live via closed circuit
video.
Why do dogs not show the same reaction to the mirror? Why is the video
different? Can a video test be used to replace the mirror test? Is the
mirror test fair?
Reflections are spatially different from videos. Reflections represent
a horizontal left-right inverse relationship to the real world - does
this confuse the doggy brain? Or, do our canine friends reject the
visions for what they are, which is a flawed representation of what is
seen (flawed due to the inversion)?
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
Chris Williams
the big indivdual differences. Some dogs ignore mirror images; some
find them engrossing.
I once assumed it was: "If I can't smell it, it ain't there.", but
there must be more to it than that.
In my line of work, some people put a big emphasis on human
sense-preference. They make a big deal of diagnosis by things like;
"See you later"' "Keep in touch"; and "Let me hear from you". Could
something akin to this be at work in dogs' mirror reaction? That is,
how much faith they place in their nose? Would there be a difference
between scent-hounds and sight-hounds?
The Keisers
-snip-
> Most dogs avoid looking in mirrors. Does your dog look in the mirror?
I had a Kerry Blue Terrier once who not only saw her reflection in the
mirror, but she wanted to BATTLE it. Constantly. She was always snarling
and barking at herself. This went on for a few years-I forget how many. I
guess she must have finally given up trying to fight that doggy. (she died
of lymphoma, age 12 in 1980)
Adrienne
--
(remove XY when replying by e-mail)
Cindy
Melanie L Chang <mlc...@mail2.sas.upenn.edu> wrote:
>I'm not sure the visual test of self-awareness is fair to animals who
>rely more on other senses than primates do in their daily lives.
No kiddin'! Can you imagine how we'd do on a scent based test??
--Cindy "...intelligence is inferred from the basic ability to
differentiate self-scent from other-scent..."
--
*********** tit...@io.com ** http://www.k9web.com/tittle.html **************
oooieoo
not a kid has something rotten buried under the bed. <g>
Regarding humans performing a scent-based test, what about all of those
pheromone studies they've been doing in the last several years?
oooieoo
--
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The face of a child can say it all....
especially the mouth part of the face.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Cindy <tit...@eris.io.com> wrote in message
news:6lDe6.306382$IP1.10...@news1.giganews.com...
Jason
face.
Melanie L Chang wrote:
>
> When Solo sees a mirror, he doesn't have any interest in the other dog he
> sees there -- but he does look at me. He looks at me in the mirror, and
> then he looks at me in person, and then he looks at the mirror again, as
> if to say, "How can you be there, and there, at the same time?"
>
> I'm not sure the visual test of self-awareness is fair to animals who
> rely more on other senses than primates do in their daily lives.
> Primates are visual animals above all else, including scent and sound,
> and as far as I know self-awareness experiments have only been conducted
> with hominoid primates (that's the apes, which includes gibbons, orangs,
> gorillas, chimps, bonobos -- and us).
>
> --
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Melanie Lee Chang | Repetition is the death
> Departments of Anthropology and Biology | of art.
> University of Pennsylvania |
> mlc...@sas.upenn.edu | -- Chris Stevens
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
..........
Jason :
·········:
Bluheelr :
··········
arami...@my-deja.com
Interesting. She saw the reflection but did not recognize herself. The
mirror test is the simplest test of self-awareness.
arami...@my-deja.com
Maybe we can find out the answers to those questions if enough people
respond. Those dogs who did find mirrors "engrossing", can you relate
any experience which would demonstrate they recognized themselves? The
test for self-awareness requires the animal not only see the
reflection; but, realize it is their reflection.
Frank D
Woody. Woody is very interested in dogs on TV, whereas Jake could care
less. Oddly enough, Jake is by far the more intelligent of the two, and
Woody follows his instincts and less self-controlled.
arami...@my-deja.com
jason_r...@email.mobil.com wrote:
> If I am facing the mirror, my heeler will use the mirror to watch my
> face.
Excellent example! Does your heeler pay any mind to the dog in the
mirror?
> Melanie L Chang wrote:
> >
> > When Solo sees a mirror, he doesn't have any interest in the other
dog he
> > sees there -- but he does look at me. He looks at me in the
mirror, and
> > then he looks at me in person, and then he looks at the mirror
again, as
> > if to say, "How can you be there, and there, at the same time?"
> >
> > I'm not sure the visual test of self-awareness is fair to animals
who
> > rely more on other senses than primates do in their daily lives.
> > Primates are visual animals above all else, including scent and
sound,
> > and as far as I know self-awareness experiments have only been
conducted
> > with hominoid primates (that's the apes, which includes gibbons,
orangs,
> > gorillas, chimps, bonobos -- and us).
<<snip>>
Good point about the senses. Maybe recognizing their own scent would
through inference be evidence of self-awareness.
As to Solo, if Solo looks at your reflection, and then back and forth
to you as if recognizing your image, then what does Solo think of his
own image. Does he give himself a second glance? If he can see you, he
must be able to see the dog. If he ignores the dog, does that mean he
realizes it is himself because he does not react? If he knows the dog
is his reflection, why cannot he not realize that yours is also?
Perhaps, you are simply more interesting?
arami...@my-deja.com
tit...@eris.io.com (Cindy) wrote:
> In article <95estp$g8e$1...@netnews.upenn.edu>,
> Melanie L Chang <mlc...@mail2.sas.upenn.edu> wrote:
> >I'm not sure the visual test of self-awareness is fair to animals
who
> >rely more on other senses than primates do in their daily lives.
>
> No kiddin'! Can you imagine how we'd do on a scent based test??
>
> --Cindy "...intelligence is inferred from the basic ability to
> differentiate self-scent from other-scent..."
We cannot recognize our own scent, therefor we are not self-aware.
David Johnston
> Most dogs avoid looking in mirrors. Does your dog look in the mirror?
All of mine (5 Pekes) have looked in a mirror or other reflective surface at
one time or another. Interestingly, they exhibit the same reactions to the
reflection that they do to a strange dog in the real world. The boldest will
approach wagging his tail and sniffing the "new" dog's face. When he sees
that this "new" dog is doing the same, he goes into a play bow - which of
course the "new" dog does too. He gets very confused that there is no
tactile effect or smell to this dog, but he tends to treat it as if he's
seeing it through a window and gets really excited and runs for the door to
meet this new buddy. The others have varying ranges of reaction from
approaching with caution to just sitting and wagging their tails at this
new dog. But they all treat it as a window and want to go outside to see
this new dog.
>
>
> On the other hand, many dogs will react with an obvious demonstration
> to dogs and other animals on the TV. And, give an apparent different
> reaction to themselves on the TV when shot live via closed circuit
> video.
I have three avid TV watchers - all males, any Y linked trait there <G>.
They all react very excitedly to animals on TV, barking, wagging their
tails, jumping at the screen or rushing behind the TV to see if the animal
is there. I have a video of one of the males being shown at a dog show. The
other two males will watch him on TV and then look at him sitting beside
them, or go rushing through the house to look for him. They seem to link the
dog they see on TV with him. The dog being shown, on the other hand,
displays his normal reaction to the other dogs on the screen, but does not
respond to his own image in TV. I've always wondered if he has a sense that
it's him even though he doesn't with the reflections.
Very interesting thoughts. ........Kathy J
Trailblazer125
>not a kid has something rotten buried under the bed. <g>
Actually, my human anatomy book has a sidebar about a human scent test -
apparently the moms of newborn babies can recognize and discriminate the scent
of their own baby from other babies. And one of my little cousins at about age
2 had, instead of a blankie, one of his mom's nightshirts.
Jana
&Bonnie
Cindy
I knew it! Moms are self-aware, the rest of us are out of luck! <vbg>
--Cindy
Nancy Holmes or Nelson Ruffin
wrong for any dog I have ever seen. Heck my dogs watch the tv and I had one
that recognized a pastel portrait of herself and stood on her hind legs
wagging to see the other dog of her breed.
My dogs as pups are interested in mirrors and obviously recognize what they
see in them. However once they learn the doggie in the mirror will not react
to them and has no smell they lose interest. Many act as if someone is
playing a rude practical joke on them :-)
Nancy
<arami...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:95ejjq$201$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> Through the Looking-Glass
>
> An important test for animal psychology is the mirror test. The ability
> to recognize one's own reflection is considered a sign of self-
> awareness. Self-awareness is considered crucial to abstract thought and
> complex emotions.
>
> Most dogs avoid looking in mirrors. Does your dog look in the mirror?
Chris Williams
> one that recognized a pastel portrait of
> herself and stood on her hind legs
> wagging to see the other dog of her
Recognizing a portrait is amazing!
What do dogs recognize when they watch TV? Mine aren't much
interested unless the sound provokes them. Li'l Pip is particularly
offended by the sound of bears. Since I watch a lot of nature specials
(and "The Bear" is about my favorite movie), my viewing is accompanied
by mumbles and grumbles.
oooieoo
news:20010202193638...@ng-mb1.aol.com...
I think I've heard this idea before, but I'd totally forgotten. When I
remember how well I knew my babies, it all makes so much sense.
Thanks,
oooieoo
oooieoo
> In article <20010202193638...@ng-mb1.aol.com>,
> Trailblazer125 <trailbl...@aol.com> wrote:
> >>Moms do pretty well on scent tests, but that usually determines whether
or
> >>not a kid has something rotten buried under the bed. <g>
>
> >Actually, my human anatomy book has a sidebar about a human scent
> >test - apparently the moms of newborn babies can recognize and
> >discriminate the scent of their own baby from other babies. And one
> >of my little cousins at about age 2 had, instead of a blankie, one of
> >his mom's nightshirts.
>
> I knew it! Moms are self-aware, the rest of us are out of luck! <vbg>
Well, there you go. Heh...
oooieoo
oooieoo
news:24818-3A...@storefull-118.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
My new pup is totally fascinated with the music on that "Who Wants to be a
Millionaire?" show. I don't really watch the program, but if I'm
concentrating on work I won't notice it's on until I see her out of the
corner of my eye. She glues herself to the TV set, cocking her head one way
and the other. A couple of other shows have gotten brief attention for
shrill sounds, but that Millionaire-thing makes her wet her figurative
panties.
oooieoo
kari...@my-deja.com
tit...@eris.io.com (Cindy) wrote:
> In article <20010202193638...@ng-mb1.aol.com>,
> Trailblazer125 <trailbl...@aol.com> wrote:
> >>Moms do pretty well on scent tests, but that usually determines
whether or
> >>not a kid has something rotten buried under the bed. <g>
>
> >Actually, my human anatomy book has a sidebar about a human scent
> >test - apparently the moms of newborn babies can recognize and
> >discriminate the scent of their own baby from other babies. And one
> >of my little cousins at about age 2 had, instead of a blankie, one of
> >his mom's nightshirts.
>
> I knew it! Moms are self-aware, the rest of us are out of luck! <vbg>
Think of it as glorified/rarified puppy breath!
Karibear
> --Cindy
> --
> *********** tit...@io.com ** http://www.k9web.com/tittle.html
**************
>
Trailblazer125
I had a dog who never reacted to barking dogs and such, but once I was
watching a nature show about cats which caught his attention. A black and
white cat was trotting and the camera was following it along - Parker sprang up
wagging his tail and touched his nose to the screen. He also liked to watch
the Teletubbies.
My kitty used to like the TV when he was young and impressionable. Once we
were watching King Kong - he was fascinated by the crowd running in terror and
tried to grab them - then went around the back of the set in hopes they would
come out that side.
Jana
&Bonnie
Nancy Holmes or Nelson Ruffin
particularly recognize breeds they know.
Nancy
Chris Williams <k9a...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:24818-3A...@storefull-118.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
Danae
"Chris Williams" <k9a...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:24818-3A...@storefull-118.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
> What do dogs recognize when they watch TV? Mine aren't much
> interested unless the sound provokes them. Li'l Pip is particularly
> offended by the sound of bears. Since I watch a lot of nature specials
> (and "The Bear" is about my favorite movie), my viewing is accompanied
> by mumbles and grumbles.
There was a commercial that I think MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) put
out that basically consisted of a baby crying. Tucker would get extremely
upset when he heard this commerical. He would pace in front of the TV, head
lowered, whining, giving me pathetic looks trying to figure out WHY I'm not
doing anything to help the baby!!
He pretty much ignores everything else on TV unless he hears a dog bark,
then he sits up and watches for a minute or two before getting bored. Oh,
and he still runs to the door everytime a doorbell rings on TV ;)
-- April
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> http://community.webtv.net/k9apple/TheAppleDumplingGang
>
Leah
>Those dogs who did find mirrors "engrossing", can you relate
>any experience which would demonstrate they recognized themselves?
From my experiences, I would surmise that dogs think mirror-images are strange
other dogs without scents.
I've witnessed several dogs viewing a mirror for the first time, with the same
responses. At first they try to play with the other dog. Then they get
frustrated... either because they can't "reach" the other dog, or perhaps
because it has no scent? If it's a stand-up mirror, they eventually walk
around it "looking" for the other dog. And after a while, perhaps they realize
that it's only an image, and ignore mirrors from then on.
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Leah
wrote:
>My kitty used to like the TV when he was young and impressionable.
Many years ago, I had a Russian Blue kitten. She noticed the TV for her first
time one night when we were watching in bed, with the TV at the foot of the
bed. She stared at it, fascinated, for a long moment, then took a running jump
and - SPLAT! - flattened herself against the screen.
She learned very quickly that one cannot jump into a TV program. :}
My Border Collie puppy watches TV. She's fascinated by the way it comes on,
and will watch until she determines whether or not it's a show worth viewing.
If there are no barking dogs or crying babies, she'll lose interest. Crying
babies upset her.
My American Eskimo (recently departed) used to love shows with wolves on them.
He would howl along with the wolves. He even taught my chihuahua mix to howl -
which is a riot. Of course, chihuahuas do NOT normally howl. So to mimic the
sound, he comes up with more of a "Yi yi yi-ooooo!" than a normal howl.
rapture
My dog Sebastian used to stand on the bed, and see his reflection in a
mirror and bark.
Buddy just ignores it. But when doorbell on tv rings
he goes running and barking to the door.
Chris Williams
> reflection in a mirror; but, only
> momentarily, then they totally disregard
> the mirror.
> with an obvious demonstration to dogs
> and other animals on the TV. And, give
> an apparent different reaction to
> themselves on the TV when shot live via
> closed circuit video.
Has anyone, intentionally or not, _taught their dog to give meaning to
images in the mirror or on TV?
I often warm the animals' food a bit in the microwave. One of the
cats leaps onto the counter and watches her dish, swiveling her head as
it goes round on the turntable. She is an avid TV watcher. She thinks,
I believe, that it's the window of a great big microwave.
arami...@my-deja.com
"David Johnston" <vin...@navnet.net> wrote:
> >
> > Most dogs avoid looking in mirrors. Does your dog look in the
mirror?
>
> All of mine (5 Pekes) have looked in a mirror or other reflective
surface at
> one time or another. Interestingly, they exhibit the same reactions
to the
> reflection that they do to a strange dog in the real world. The
boldest will
> approach wagging his tail and sniffing the "new" dog's face. When he
sees
> that this "new" dog is doing the same, he goes into a play bow -
which of
> course the "new" dog does too. He gets very confused that there is no
> tactile effect or smell to this dog, but he tends to treat it as if
he's
> seeing it through a window and gets really excited and runs for the
door to
> meet this new buddy. The others have varying ranges of reaction from
> approaching with caution to just sitting and wagging their tails at
this
> new dog. But they all treat it as a window and want to go outside to
see
> this new dog.
That's wild, I've seen dogs who paid attention to the reflection; but,
never heard of so many with such a strong response. I've seen a
startled response with barking followed by a realization and then
ignoring the mirror -- seems like recognition to me. They would never
ignore a dog seen out the window.
> > On the other hand, many dogs will react with an obvious
demonstration
> > to dogs and other animals on the TV. And, give an apparent different
> > reaction to themselves on the TV when shot live via closed circuit
> > video.
>
> I have three avid TV watchers - all males, any Y linked trait there
<G>.
> They all react very excitedly to animals on TV, barking, wagging their
> tails, jumping at the screen or rushing behind the TV to see if the
animal
> is there. I have a video of one of the males being shown at a dog
show. The
> other two males will watch him on TV and then look at him sitting
beside
> them, or go rushing through the house to look for him. They seem to
link the
> dog they see on TV with him. The dog being shown, on the other hand,
> displays his normal reaction to the other dogs on the screen, but
does not
> respond to his own image in TV. I've always wondered if he has a
sense that
> it's him even though he doesn't with the reflections.
>
> Very interesting thoughts. ........Kathy J
Thanks for sharing. Most of our dogs didn't pay much attention to TV.
We now have an avid TV watcher. When we play home videos, he will go to
the room being shown, just to check and then return. There is a video
with cooking and preparing for Thanksgiving that always sends him to
the kitchen, hopeful. When he sees pictures of himself playing in the
yard, he may go check the window. Seeing himself evokes some crying and
barking and wagging. Seeing other dogs causes greater excitement with
jumping and running.
arami...@my-deja.com
"Nancy Holmes or Nelson Ruffin" <fmka...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> Boy I'd love to see the actual study that showed this one <LOL>
directly
> wrong for any dog I have ever seen. Heck my dogs watch the tv and I
had one
> that recognized a pastel portrait of herself and stood on her hind
legs
> wagging to see the other dog of her breed.
> My dogs as pups are interested in mirrors and obviously recognize
what they
> see in them. However once they learn the doggie in the mirror will
not react
> to them and has no smell they lose interest. Many act as if someone is
> playing a rude practical joke on them :-)
> Nancy
Your description of reaction to mirrors is consistent with my own
experience. I am delighted to read here about a variety of other
responses (though not surprised).
We have a dog that seems to recognize people in photographs. We have a
couple of portraits, which he will sit down and solemnly gaze at by
himself. When I walk in and find him looking at the portraits he always
responds with sweet displays of affection and happiness. You decide.
arami...@my-deja.com
Our dog will respond even if there is no sound. "The Bear" was a great
movie; but, the bear in "The Edge" was a little too ferocious and cause
for jumping in my lap and hiding from it. Bears don't seem to be
particularly well liked anyway.
arami...@my-deja.com
"oooieoo" <ooo...@hotmail.com> wrote:
<<snip>>
> My new pup is totally fascinated with the music on that "Who Wants to
be a
> Millionaire?" show. I don't really watch the program, but if I'm
> concentrating on work I won't notice it's on until I see her out of
the
> corner of my eye. She glues herself to the TV set, cocking her head
one way
> and the other. A couple of other shows have gotten brief attention for
> shrill sounds, but that Millionaire-thing makes her wet her figurative
> panties.
That's cute. Does she enjoy music? Try playing some classical music for
her, or some Chopin piano concertos, maybe she is a music lover.
Millionaire probably just sounds exciting.
arami...@my-deja.com
trailbl...@aol.com (Trailblazer125) wrote:
> >What do dogs recognize when they watch TV?
>
> I had a dog who never reacted to barking dogs and such, but once I
was
> watching a nature show about cats which caught his attention. A
black and
> white cat was trotting and the camera was following it along - Parker
sprang up
> wagging his tail and touched his nose to the screen. He also liked
to watch
> the Teletubbies.
Our dog gets very excited about nature shows; but he absolutely loves
watching the Teletubbies. I think it's the smiling baby in the sun, and
the occasional live bunny that does the trick for him.
He also loves to watch basketball and tennis.
Occasionally, the bad guy on TV earns a grumble or two as well. He
reacts to anyone holding a gun. We've tried this with the audio
completely unplugged and a new movie he's never seen before, he doesn't
like guns.
arami...@my-deja.com
Yeah. Dogs seem to care a lot about crying babies (and doorbells). I
see the same behavior in our dog.
arami...@my-deja.com
They
> particularly recognize breeds they know.
> Nancy
Yep. I often think he sees it as a window because he will run and check
other windows. But if it's a picture of another room in the house, he
doesn't check the window, he checks the room. And, if it's a live
picture of him, he does neither. I don't know if they're as dumb as we
think they are, or if they are as smart as we think they are; but, they
are certainly as fun as we think they are!
arami...@my-deja.com
"Danae" <dan...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> <arami...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> news:95ejjq$201$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > Through the Looking-Glass
> >
> > An important test for animal psychology is the mirror test. The
ability
> > to recognize one's own reflection is considered a sign of self-
> > awareness. Self-awareness is considered crucial to abstract thought
and
> > complex emotions.
>
>
> I think Tucker understands the concept of a mirror, at least
partially. He
> doesn't react to his reflection like it is another dog, and he doesn't
> delibrately avoid looking in the mirror either. He's just
indifferent to it
> most of the time. The reason why I think he understands the concept
of a
> mirror is because if I'm playing hide and seek with him, Tucker has
used the
> mirror, seen my reflection, and then went directly to where I was
hiding
> using the cues in the mirror as a guide (ie, if I'm behind the couch
in the
> mirror he will go to the couch).
>
> The only time his reflection ever catches him off guard is in our gas
> fireplace that has a glass cover. At a certain time in the day the
sunlight
> will cause a faint distorted reflection in the glass in the fireplace.
> Tucker has growled at this reflection before. Why, I'm not sure.
Maybe
> because the reflection is distorted and doesn't look like him? Or
because
> it is so faint? Or because it only appears on certain occations?
>
> -- April
Using the reflection when he needs to proves he understands what he
sees. Oddly, our dog generally ignores mirrors, and sometimes growls at
his reflection in the fireplace, then he walks up to it for a closer
look, realizes his error and ignores it.
Our dog also loves to play hide-and-seek. Neighbor kids have been known
to come by specifically to play this game with him. With some
assistance, he will hide his face usually under a pillow, while kids
hide throughout the house. Then, he races off to find them and doesn't
stop until he's found them all. Thanks to his nose, a closed closet
door is no barrier to discovery. He thinks this game is great fun!
Chris Williams
> the room being shown, just to check and
> then return.
As for self-recognition, does anyone remember the program about Koko,
the signing gorilla, in which she was given many photos of humans and
gorillas to separate into appropriate piles? She was totally accurate,
with one exception. She placed the photo of herself among the humans.
Isn't that heartbreaking?
arami...@my-deja.com
I suspect if dogs were capable of doing the same, they might place
their owners in the dog pile!
arami...@my-deja.com
k9a...@webtv.net (Chris Williams) wrote:
> >I have seen dogs startled by the
> > reflection in a mirror; but, only
> > momentarily, then they totally disregard
> > the mirror.
> >On the other hand, many dogs will react
> > with an obvious demonstration to dogs
> > and other animals on the TV. And, give
> > an apparent different reaction to
> > themselves on the TV when shot live via
> > closed circuit video.
> How do you interpret this?
I believe dogs are self-aware, albeit at a very fundamental level. If
closed circuit video is an acceptable alternative to the mirror test,
and I don't see why not, then dogs pass the first test of self-
awareness. But, why do they then not pass the mirror test -- except for
a few reported in this ng?
> Has anyone, intentionally or not, _taught their dog to give meaning
to
> images in the mirror or on TV?
> I often warm the animals' food a bit in the microwave. One of the
> cats leaps onto the counter and watches her dish, swiveling her head
as
> it goes round on the turntable. She is an avid TV watcher. She
thinks,
> I believe, that it's the window of a great big microwave.
It is due, in part, to the sound of the microwave that are dog
associates the kitchen with his dinner time.
David Johnston
> Yeah. Dogs seem to care a lot about crying babies (and doorbells). I
> see the same behavior in our dog.
One of my females, who has had puppies in the past, reacts very strongly to
babies crying on TV. She'll run around the house looking for the source of
the crying, but she dosen't look at the TV at all. She also runs to the door
if she hears a doorbell ring on TV - very interesting since we don't have a
doorbell, nor did her breeder! ...Kathy J
Nancy Holmes or Nelson Ruffin
change the channel until it got to cartoons or westerns - she then dabbed at
the horses or the cartoons. She was awfully consistent and Nelson and I had
some serious discussions about channel changing before we noticed it was
that innocent looking 'sleeping' cat on the TV.
Nancynews:29519-3A...@storefull-114.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
Nancy Holmes or Nelson Ruffin
about the clear smooth stuff that things can be on the other side of from
them.
Nancy
<arami...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:95l56b$rpa$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
J1Boss
>
>I had a cat that used to sit on top of the cable box (remember those?) and
>change the channel until it got to cartoons or westerns - she then dabbed at
>the horses or the cartoons. She was awfully consistent and Nelson and I had
>some serious discussions about channel changing before we noticed it was
>that innocent looking 'sleeping' cat on the TV.
>Nancy
The TV in my bedroom is 21 years old, so we have one of those cable boxes
(which you need for "premium" channels anyway). I've come home, even from a
weekend trip, to find the TV on, courtesy of Carey-cat. The outlet we have the
TV plugged into is controlled by the wall switch - we just have to remember to
turn that OFF before we leave town!
Janet Boss
Best Friends Dog Obedience
"Nice Manners for the Family Pet"
"Second-hand dogs AREN'T second-rate"
see Lucy at: http://www.flyball.com/nsl/
Theresa Willis
>>
>>
>>I had a cat that used to sit on top of the cable box (remember those?) and
>>change the channel until it got to cartoons or westerns - she then dabbed at
>>the horses or the cartoons. She was awfully consistent and Nelson and I had
>>some serious discussions about channel changing before we noticed it was
>>that innocent looking 'sleeping' cat on the TV.
>>Nancy
>
>The TV in my bedroom is 21 years old, so we have one of those cable boxes
>(which you need for "premium" channels anyway). I've come home, even from a
>weekend trip, to find the TV on, courtesy of Carey-cat. The outlet we have the
>TV plugged into is controlled by the wall switch - we just have to remember to
>turn that OFF before we leave town!
>
>
My aunt's parrot is a big fan of Sesame Street and Reading Between The
Lions.
Harlan finds stuff with people talking over police radios interesting.
--Terri
Lori Spier
My coonhound is vain enough to actually search out mirrors - he stands
on the back of the couch, just to look across the room and admire his
reflection. The other hounds ignore mirrors completely.
As for tv watching, again it's the coonhound who pays attention.
Doorbells,
barking dogs, crying babies - they all set him off on a baying spree, as
does
any song sung by Ricky Martin.
- lori and the Gang of 4
Jake, Rachel, Elwood and Sally
http://ni.umd.edu/~spier
Leah
>As for tv watching, again it's the coonhound who pays attention.
>Doorbells,
>barking dogs, crying babies - they all set him off on a baying spree, as
>does
>any song sung by Ricky Martin.
My husband and I write music, and my Eskie apparently had a favorite song.
Whenever we would begin to perform it, he would join in - howling away. (And
he taught my chihuahua mix to sing harmony.)
I was interested in whether it was the music, the lyrics, or my tone when I
sang it that set him off. So I experimented - singing the lyrics to a
different tune, changing the rhythm and the way I sang it, singing different
lyrics to the same tune. It didn't matter. No matter what I did with this
song, Holy Smoke would join in within the first bar.
Paul Matthews
writes:
>they all set him off on a baying spree, as
>does
>any song sung by Ricky Martin
might want to teach him how to save himself by changing the channel...basic
self-defense <g>
Paul C
Purebred...mix...their tails still wag the same and they'll still grab your
lunch. Scratch an ear anyways.
Lori Spier
Paul Matthews wrote:
>
> >they all set him off on a baying spree, as
> >does
> >any song sung by Ricky Martin
>
> might want to teach him how to save himself by changing the channel...basic
> self-defense <g>
> Paul C
> Purebred...mix...their tails still wag the same and they'll still grab your
> lunch. Scratch an ear anyways.
Too late - Elwood knows the opening chords of "La Vida Loca" and heaven
help you if you turn it off before he has a chance to listen to the
whole
song. On the flip side, my oldest guy really enjoys Janis Joplin and
Jimi Hendrix.
- lori and the Gang of Four
Paul Matthews
>Too late - Elwood knows the opening chords of "La Vida Loca" and heaven
>help you if you turn it off before he has a chance to listen to the
>whole song.
wonder if there's deprogramming for dogs? You'd think with a name like Elwood,
he'd have some blues in him
>On the flip side, my oldest guy really enjoys Janis Joplin and
>Jimi Hendrix.
well, at least one of 'em has taste