Who says dogs can’t reason?
Reading a post about pill taking in another thread brought back memories. I had a little Chow mix that had a problem with nasal swelling which would cause her to wheeze and snort. The vet said to gi...
Forum Discussion
Specifically, I think that was conditioned response, not reasoning.
Pavlov's theory is, indeed, conditioned response. While I don't disagree some dogs can process behaviors and words better than others, what the OP posted is a conditioned response, not reasoning. Same behavior, same outcome is conditioning not reasoning. Most of what has been described is also not reasoning-you are exhibiting a behavior, i.e. getting a hunting firearm or ammo-and the dog is responding accordingly.
All I have to do is get out a box of shotgun shells. BPCR (black powder cartridge rifle) cartridges have no effect (like Tom Selleck shot in Quigley Down Under), but let me get out a box of 16ga shells and Barney the Beagle is ready to go.
Smell. Black powder and shotgun powder smell very different and this is most likely what the dog is picking up on.
Again, I'm not saying all dogs responses are conditioned just that more are than we'd like to think.
Pavlov's theory is, indeed, conditioned response. While I don't disagree some dogs can process behaviors and words better than others, what the OP posted is a conditioned response, not reasoning. Same behavior, same outcome is conditioning not reasoning. Most of what has been described is also not reasoning-you are exhibiting a behavior, i.e. getting a hunting firearm or ammo-and the dog is responding accordingly.
All I have to do is get out a box of shotgun shells. BPCR (black powder cartridge rifle) cartridges have no effect (like Tom Selleck shot in Quigley Down Under), but let me get out a box of 16ga shells and Barney the Beagle is ready to go.
Smell. Black powder and shotgun powder smell very different and this is most likely what the dog is picking up on.
Again, I'm not saying all dogs responses are conditioned just that more are than we'd like to think.
