Many trainers who use operant conditioning and clicker training are fond of saying that we can train an animal to do any behavior the animal is physically capable of performing. Once we figure out what motivates an animal, there’s an almost unlimited variety of behaviors that can be trained and the limiting factor is usually only the imagination of the trainer.
What’s even more fascinating, is when animals train themselves. Many animals are much smarter than I think we often give them credit for.
I found a great story online today about a group of feral dogs in Moscow. The dogs live in the suburbs. However, most of the good food for scavenging is in the city center. So, the dogs have learned how to ride the subway!
The article says:
“Experts studying the dogs say they even work together to make sure they get off at the right stop — after learning to judge the length of time they need to spend on the train.”
Take about some smart dogs! I know plenty of people who have trouble remembering to get off at the right train stop.
I need one of those dogs to ride along with me to remind me to get off at the right stop. Ha ha! 🙂
What an interesting article. I am pretty certain that my dogs would be riding on those trains forever, never figuring out how to get off 🙁
ha ha. what an interesting post. Yeah love to have my dogs on them.
yeah i think dogs are unbelievable animals .. i have 2 myself and i can say there the smarest animals, well next to monkeys .. so this is aricle is not a big surprise.. i think dogs are capable of learning many things..