Dalmation that pulls out running shorts?

    • Bronze

    Dalmation that pulls out running shorts?

    I read this description about Dalmatians that says, "Don’t be surprised if he noses his way into your dresser drawer, pulls out your jogging shorts, and brings them to you as a not-so-subtle hint."  http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/dalmatian

    One of my dogs, Xena, is very smart and is always amazing me with the things that she does.  And she can open and close drawers and I could easily see her opening a drawer to get something she wanted.  And she's done things like bring my slippers when she wants to go out.  But combining the drawer opening with getting something and bringing it to me for an activity seems less likely.

    Do you think that this true or an embellishment?  I've really looked for an example of this and can not find one.

    • Gold Top Dog

     Wouldn't that be funny?!

     My Willy (bichon frise';) will bring my sneaker to me when HE thinks it is time for walkies, lol.  But no drawer opening involved.

    • Gold Top Dog

    It all depends on YOUR habits and what you've trained.

    If the dog stays in the living room and you come out dressed for jogging then no -- Fido is not going to know where you keep your My U jogging shorts.

    However -- If Fido is with you and you wear sneakers most of the time, but you go to the bedroom, open your drawer, put on your shorts and say "Let's go" -- yeah, that dog is probably gonna know drawer + stripes = walk

    Back when David and I were newly married, I had an older alpha "Mike tha Dog".  Some sort of retriever/spaniel mix and he truly kept everyone organized. 

    Monday night and Thursday nights he would, about 9:00 p.m., go into the kitchen and SIT in front of the cupboard that held the trash bags.  they were high up -- so Mikey would just SIT ... noise pointed right at the bags.  If you didn't happen to wander into the kitchen by about the appropriate time, he'd go into the living room, stand in front of my husband and LOUDLY SIGH.  Then LOOK pointedly at the kitchen. 

    He'd repeat that until he was such a distraction David would go to the kitchen, where by Mike would pointedlly LOOK AT the cupboard ."Oh yah --time to take out the trash, huh Mike?"

    Monday night was easy -- it was the night of the first night we'd both go back to work.  I never did figure out how he identified Thursday night, but yes, trash pick up was Tuesday morning and Friday morning.

     The more an animal is reinforced for deductive thinking (and oh yeah, they do!!) the more they will attempt it.  Especially if it gets them something they want -- like to accompany you on a walk that is really a JOB (this was just Mike and David -- no other dogs horned in on this!!) or something fun like a run in the park.

    They pick up on far more subtle cues than we mere humans realize -- maybe your laundry detergent isn't a great as you think it is -- he may be able to smell those jogging shorts from OUTSIDE of the drawer!!

    • Gold Top Dog

    I think this could be very likely.  I could relay tons of stories about how my dogs will let me know when something needs done on schedule.  Mostly however, my Rocky knows when I go to the utility room,where I keep my garden and weekend clothes, on a Sat or Sun morning, depending on what I choose to put on whether he goes to the door to wait for me or to the kitchen on his rug.  I havent figure out if it is the clothes or the shoes but he knows.   If I put on a ball cap, then it is circles around me herding me all the way to the door cause that means we are definately going out.   Big problem is .....it takes me forever to remember all the things I need before going out to the garden....Rocky will usually lay down and not get too excited until my hand is on the door handle and even then I might change direction cause I forgot my gloves, lol.