Comments on: Don’t Fool Your Dog

By: Jodi

Jodi — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 15:43:43 +0000

I think they did say the dogs were rewarded afterward by treats, and I admit to laughing a couple of the dog’s reactions. It did leave me wondering what kind of people willingly submitted their dogs for this experiment.

By: Lauranne

Lauranne — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 08:29:25 +0000

I have to say I laughed at the video, but there was an assumption on my behalf that all the dogs got the promised treats and plenty of fuss to make up for it. If that wasn’t the case then this video isn’t quite as funny, in fact it isn’t!!

I’m interested in your “always give food if promised” comment as we were advised by a trainer to initially always give food, but as the recall (for example) gets stronger only treat occasionally, likewise when learning a trick, as the trick is known the amount of tricks they have to do before getting the treat increases. I was told that this helps keep the dogs interest and focus. I’d love to know what you think!

By: Kylie

Kylie — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 07:13:54 +0000

I don’t think tricking dogs or scaring them is acceptable. However a little bit of fun is ok, though my hubby tries to tell our dog there’s a cat around and he goes looking. It’s kind of wrong, but a little bit funny too! As long as it’s not done constantly or causing anxiety, I think it can be ok sometimes.

By: 24 Paws of Love

24 Paws of Love — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 02:54:21 +0000

I don’t like pranks done on me and I don’t do them with my dog. They have an attitude all by themselves without me trying to fool them. bol!

By: Margaret T

Margaret T — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 00:30:10 +0000

I’m not wild about laughing AT anyone, dog or human. Laughing with someone is more fun for all. People who lie to their dogs generally get dogs who don’t believe them. (“Come here and we’ll go for a ride.” And then no ride. Do you think the dog will fall for it next time? Eventually, no, he won’t. My dog sometimes anticipates where I’m going to throw the ball, and she runs. But I don’t laugh. I wait until she turns around to look at me, and then I throw the ball, usually in a different direction.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 23:37:42 +0000

I strive not to fool my guys, too. It just seems unfair, especially because I personally hate being fooled. I actually enjoyed that video (except for the fearful pup, the poor dear) because I felt like it showed us so much about their thought process. There was a clear idea about object permanence. I was also fascinated by the breakdown among the dogs between those who immediately looked to the humans for answers and those who jumped into problem-solving the missing treat. I know it was silly and just for fun, but I thought that there was an excellent canine cognition demo!

By: Jen K

Jen K — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 20:34:16 +0000

I share your cynicism for the day. How does anyone even fall for it anymore, when all of social media this morning was “prank” after “prank”?

I don’t play tricks on Mo or Alma. Their enthusiasm for fetch is so short-lived that fake-throwing the ball would only diminish it further.

I also don’t recall them for things they might dislike, which I think falls under this topic. We’ve spent so long building up the trust that every time they come to me it’s a good thing, I’m not going to start calling them over for things they won’t like – leaving the park, cleaning ears, etc.

By: Emma

Emma — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 18:27:23 +0000

We are lucky, Mom doesn’t fool us. If she says squirrel, there is a squirrel, if she opens the treat drawer, we get treats. She thinks it is the polite way to treat us.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 17:33:09 +0000

Silas, the freak, ADORES the pretend-to-throw-the-ball game. Probably because he’s so smart that he looks for the ball before he chases it.

I’m so glad someone else doesn’t like that magician video. I almost cried when I saw poor Salli, who acts a lot like Silas does with “bad’ strangers.

By: Jan K

Jan K — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 16:33:34 +0000

This is not one of my favorite days. And I really do have a sense of humor, I think! I don’t do the fake throw the ball thing, unless I have a reason that I want the dogs to look the other way, i.e., I threw the ball and they weren’t paying attention, and now I’m trying to direct them the right way! However, my hubby does it sometimes and Cricket is not at all amused….fetch is serious business to her!
I am sure dogs don’t get humor or appreciate being teased, but I guess the video was harmless fun. I liked when the dogs barked at the guy like they were telling him off though! Like, “not really funny, you jerk!” 🙂