We all know our dogs are thinking something; Bad To The Bone Tells Us What That Something Is

Blogcritics ^ | Bob Etier

[La Lydia]

I know exactly what my dog is thinking: “Do I have to get up? Walkies (squirrels!), breakfast (chicken), run around, tummy rub, nap, run around, run around, nap (sleeping on the humans’ pillows), walkies (deer and squirrels!), run around, bark at the vacuum cleaner, nap, scratch, nap, tummie rub, walkies (damn squirrels again!), dinner (chicken, chicken, chicken, salmon treats), wheedling part of the humans’ dinner (especially chicken, but will accept fruits and vegetables), walkies (too dark to see squirrels! frogs!), tummy rub and chin rub, nighty night.”

[Oldpuppymax]

Anyone who argues that dogs DON’T think and only react out of instinct, has never owned a dog. I’ve had dogs throughout the better part of my near 60 years and these guys/gals have never ceased to amaze, surprise and impress me with their near-human moods and actions.

[newheart]

Okay dog lovers (I am one, although I don’t currently have one), I have a question for you. A friend of mine recently got a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback. About 14 months old. He does not seem to like me. He barks and challenges and it does not stop as long as I am there, so my friend winds up putting the dog in the bedroom or the backyard. I seem to be the only human that he exhibits that kind of behavior toward.

I’m not afraid of dogs and have even managed to calm unfriendly pit bulls (well, some, not all). The bigger the better—I’ve had Great Danes as pets in the past. But this guy seems to have my number and I can’t figure it out.

Any thoughts?

[Admin Moderator]

Pulled with regret, because of a Larson copyright complaint.

[Lazamataz]

I’m sorry! Too bad Larson doesn’t let his work out.... :(

[Doogle]

"yeah right, wonder what's going on inside my head"

[mbynack]

This is Trooper. I'm still learning his language. Last night he walked into the hallway and peed all over the floor. As soon as he did it I realized that he had been trying to get my attention a few minutes before and I ignored him. Trooper is training me to understand him, but I'm a little slow - especially when I'm focused on food.

Trooper was run over by a car and lost his leg. His owners dumped him at the vet and never came back. We were supposed to be his fosters, but couldn't stand to get rid of him.

[davisfh]

Find a copy of the movie, “A Boy and His Dog.” Early Don Johnson. Only then will you truly appreciate what dogs are thinking.

[LibertarianLiz]

When did my corgi visit you?

[misharu]

The dog senses that you are an alpha and he is nervous about his status in the pack when you are around.

[NavyCanDo]

I have lots of experiences with dogs that prove to me they do have independent thought.

Here's one:

When my son was just a baby and on my lap crying because he was hungry and his Mom was upstairs getting his bottle ready. My Shiba Inu came up to my feet looking up at me, and cocked his head and then ran upstairs. He returned moments later with his rubber bone in his mouth. He jumped onto the armrest of the chair and dropped the rubber bone onto the baby’s stomach then jumped down again. It was like he was saying, here Dad, give him my bone, that will get him to stop crying.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Our late and greatly missed Golden Retriever, Prior Lake Jake was very communicative and was smart enough to follow hand signals while swimming.
His favorite day was Halloween when he could announce the arrival of the ghosts and goblins arriving at our door. He also liked to check out the goodies in the kid's beggar’s bags.

[LibertarianLiz]

I found this: "Rhodesian Ridgebacks are loyal and intelligent. They are, however, aloof to strangers."

Also, they were originally used to hunt lions. I would think that, that would make them a strong, assertive personality type dog.

As for Great Danes, since you have had them you probably know that they are big, but they are actually "gentle giants". I wouldn't put a Ridgeback in the same category.

[La Lydia]

I have found that having set times for walkies helps, but I also observe. When my dog starts pacing around in tight circles, as if she is worried about something, I take her for a brief walkie and she goes. But the next scheduled walkie has to happen at the set time, regardless of how recently the unscheduled walkie occurred. That way, she knows when she is expected to do her business, always. She doesn’t do the pacing in circles thing very often. They really do want to please us, but like you said, it’s learning to speak their language. Trooper sounds like a real Trooper. Perhaps the person who left him at the vet couldn’t afford to pay the vet bill! I don’t know how people can just abandon an animal like that.

[LibertarianLiz]

I had a similar experience with my first sheltie. My brother and his children were visiting and he was trying to get them to clean up the toys so they could go home. They were not cooperating, my brother got irritated and his voice got louder.

My sheltie started bringing her toys to him and practically throwing them at him. I believe she was trying to distract him, get him to play with her, so he would stop yelling at the kids.

[La Lydia]

Are you a male, and is your friend a female? Otherwise, I suspect you remind him of someone who did something he didn’t appreciate.

[cripplecreek]

I just brought my corgi-jack russel mix home from the foster home on Sunday. We're all getting along fine except Bowser (The male) wants to know who the heck invited her to "our" bedroom.

[Renegade]

That flick was on Direct TV last night !