An intelligent dog!

60 comments

I know Labradors are intelligent – they couldn’t be trained to be Guide Dogs for the Blind as well as Hearing Dogs, otherwise, could they? However, Henry is a pet dog – not trained for any special tasks.

He enjoys being in the garden with me: he lives for his food – as Labs all do!

He also loves his daily walks. So – what makes me think he’s really intelligent?

Well – there’s one particular walk I take him on, and last week, as he often does, he found a stick in a field. Now, Henry doesn’t do things by half – when he chooses a stick it has to be a very big one – usually about 6 – 8’ long – more of a branch, really!

He always ‘prunes’ his sticks a bit before we start off again. He’s a happy dog with the stick firmly held in his mouth.

But – on this walk, we have to negotiate several stiles! He wouldn’t leave his stick behind – I could see that his usual method of wriggling underneath wouldn’t work if he held the stick like that… there simply wasn’t enough space!

Yes – that’s the small space he has to wriggle under. Lucky he isn’t overweight, isn’t it! What would he do to get his stick to the other side?

I watched in amazement – he looked at the gap, put the stick down and grabbed hold of one end of it. Then he dragged the stick after him through the hole under the stile!

Off he trotted triumphantly ahead of me – with a really jaunty swing! This is a mown footpath across some private land – yes, it is a public footpath.

The path leads past a wonderful spinney – the berries are beautiful. I always look forward to this time of year. To pass such shrubs is a real pleasure.

I’m not sure what species of Euonymus this is – but just look at the colour of the berries! Orange and pink!

The owner of this spinney is a real plantsman – he has bred many plants, Irises in particular.

He grows specimen trees, too – just look at this gorgeous beech tree, glowing in the light.

And three silver birches planted close together, to create a multi-stemmed tree. I’ve done the same in my garden! My birches are still small at the moment, though.

At the end of the path is a swinging gate leading onto the lane – how would we cope when Henry has to be on his lead and negotiate the gate?

Why did I bother to wonder? He was through with a quick flick of his head and a swing of his hips!

Leaving me standing at the wrong side of the gate.

‘Why are you so slow?’ he seemed to say – ‘Stop staring at trees and get on with our walk!’.

Oh – another problem. After the gales, there’s a fallen tree across the path – not a problem for Henry, though, only for me. Should I try a limbo dance underneath – or climb over it?

By the time I’d clambered over the tree trunk and reached the next stile – he’d already negotiated it!

Across another field – and there’s another stile. Henry stood for a moment and surveyed it – could he work it out again? Would he?

Oh, yes. A repeat performance!

It was a tight squeeze with that stick held firmly in his teeth, dragging behind him.

He did it, though – Well done, Henry! Clever boy!

So there we were – on the track near the end of our walk – triumph written all over my dog’s happy face.

A few more steps across the lane to our own home.

‘Come on! I can’t open gates…yet! Let me in!’

So that’s how I know that Henry is intelligent – he repeated this feat on the next day…and the next…but quicker! I’m so proud of my problem -solving Labrador.

21 Nov, 2009
26 likes

Comments

Pipsqueak

Wonderful to watch them grow both in size and intelligence :~))
There'll be no stopping him once he has mastered gates. Believe me I know because my oldest girl is an ace with gates and latches and has taught the youngest, her granddaughter LoL

21 Nov, 2009

Heron

I guess you both learn from eachother.He's a great companion.

21 Nov, 2009

Rachelsmum

Lovely blog Spritz

I have a secret longing for a lab, but I dont think Phoebe the cat agrees, nor unfortunately does hubby..............

21 Nov, 2009

Bobg

Great blog Spritz and Henry is clever, as all dogs are really, but he was waiting for you to open the gate just to make you feel good, I bet he can open it truth be known :o)))))))))

22 Nov, 2009

Sanbaz

clever boy henry, well done, they are very intelligent dogs barbara, loved the walk and the pics, but love to see dear henry best of all :o)))

22 Nov, 2009

Louise1

He's a lovely dog Spritz :-)))
They're clearly an intelligent breed.

22 Nov, 2009

Nariz

Lovely animal! I fell in love with Henry as soon as I entered this site and your avatar of him still makes me smile every time I see it.

22 Nov, 2009

Grindle

He's a real sweetie, and I agree a very clever lad :)))))))

22 Nov, 2009

Mavisc52

What a clever dog and a lovely walk.

22 Nov, 2009

Drc726

I enjoyed seeing him and the beech lovely winter colour. Handsome lad and he does looks intelligent Spritz, and he looks so like you!

22 Nov, 2009

Alzheimer

What a bright boy, Spritz!! But then - as you know - I am a mad lab woman!!!
I know just how clever they can be ...one of my current rescue ones has obviously missed her vocation...she should have been a sniffer dog...LOL
A few days ago I left the dogs at home for an hour or so - and on my return discovered that Di had taken a brand new tin of Roses Chocolates off the table - opened it (you should see the tin - it is mangled!) and devoured 2 lbs of chocs....and all but three of the wrappers!!! She hadn't even had the decency to share them with her chum Honey either!!
Apart from a raging thirst - she was totally unaffected - and had the temerity to look for her tea....which she didn't get I may add!

22 Nov, 2009

Amblealice

Really enjoyed that walk thismorning....really invigorating......Henry is a handsome boy isn't he?....Lovely blog Spritz......its the way that you tell 'em:))))

22 Nov, 2009

Hollyeves

love your walk...... what a clever boy Henry is......

22 Nov, 2009

Tulsalady26

Henry is gorgeous and so clever.

22 Nov, 2009

An intelligent dog!

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