Are they smarter?

[Purple Banana]

After watching countless hours of my dogs entertaining themselves, it gave me a very good reason to sit down and think a while. I sparked up a bowl, climbed a hill behind my house with my dogs, and let them play in the fields.

Simply by letting out a highly complex series of hormone combinations, dogs can easily tell what is going on with each other; whether it's a combination of body language and fear being sensed in the pack, or a silly play bow and ginning face, dogs readily pick up these phermones from not only their own species, but humans and other animals as well. This combination instantly signals to a dog what may be occuring, what has happened, who has been in the area, when, and what it is. All of this from one scent.

Hierarchy from animals always follows a specific pattern- you have loners, packs of alpha male and female, beta, etc; prides of lions, groups of whale swimming together, the hypnotic array of a formation of swiftly moving birds- so efficient and sudden; each member of the flock can predict every other bird's movements so rapidly to do what is best for the group.

Animals don't NEED written language to survive, adapt, evolve, and live together peacfully- natural hierarchy determines each animal's involvement due to importance, yet most animals in hierarchival groups tend to get along well and let the other members thrive with equal personal freedom. The animals KNOW instinctively that the leader of the pack knows what's best, and they trust him. But he can be overthrown.

Sure, animals haven't found ways to perform open heart surgery, nor do they constantly die from heart attacks. Depression is essentially non-existant in wild animals, they work together as a team to support each other, hunt, eat, protect, and raise their future generations. Dogs can sense human emotions and act accordingly, hear a car- YOUR car- come up the road before your family knows, help the blind, save human lives.

Dogs don't judge you on what you wear, look like, or even smell like... They just love and accept you. Kids bring guns to school becuase their classmates tease them; they don't wear the right clothes, say the right things... Even the lowest wolf in the pack is treated with respect. Everything is constructive criticism.

And it's kind of sad seeing how the human race has lost its most basic set of instincts in turn for a mechanical heart and more power.

Sorry about this looong post, it just hit me so suddenly.

Purple Banana Reviewed by Purple Banana on 11-15-2007. Are they smarter? After watching countless hours of my dogs entertaining themselves, it gave me a very good reason to sit down and think a while. I sparked up a bowl, climbed a hill behind my house with my dogs, and let them play in the fields. Simply by letting out a highly complex series of hormone combinations, dogs can easily tell what is going on with each other; whether it's a combination of body language and fear being sensed in the pack, or a silly play bow and ginning face, dogs readily pick up these Rating: 5

[ChiefSmokesAlot]

Smarter? probably

Far More Advanced? Yes.

[ChiefSmokesAlot]

and Btw, Rep to you for this great thread. :thumbsup:

[scagster]

For some reason, this reminded me of when I was watching planet earth the other night, and there were birds of paradise doing the most ridiculous mating dances. My point? Animals might seem advanced in ways, but it's silly to say they are way ahead of us, I mean come on, they were here first. Not saying I don't respect animals, I love them, but their virtue is the simplicity and innocence. I don't think they ever break it down as much as we do. I'm getting the message that civilization has become way too complicated, and I totally agree! I don't think anyone would be depressed if they spent a good part of their day doing hands on work in the outdoors, socializing with others, and providing for themselves. :stoned: Now I want to start my own farm.

Sorry it's a cloudy day, and I'm in a rambling mood myself.

[stinkyattic]

Nanner, you're so perceptive. I like the comment on only constructive criticism the best.

[birdgirl73]

Dogs are definitely smarter and more advanced. They have those wonderful animal skills that have evolved out of us since our survival depends on a differend kind of smarts.

My dog Daisy is a wickedly intelligent little thing about finding and stealing food, sensing trouble, hearing inaudible sounds, managing the other animals with constructive criticism, herding anything that moves, and all sorts of other things. One thing's for sure, though. I don't ever want her doing heart surgery on me or anyone else. An open, oozing incision is just the sort of thing she likes to taste of. Above all else, she's a gourmet.

[hreskofreight4]

damn dude good post, ive never thought like that. i totally agree with you.

[Purple Banana]

I was thinking about this simply because I have a VERY strong relationship (insert jokes here) with my dog- we understand each other, he looks out for me, listens to me, lays with me when I'm sick. He gives me unconditional love, and expects nothing else from me. If our society could be run like wolf packs, think how much more efficient we could be in a natural sense...

[Psycho4Bud]

And besides all that dogs can lick themselves........FAR more advanced.

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[Dave Byrd]

My dog Daisy is a wickedly intelligent little thing . . . .

You sure you're talking about the tan Chihuahua that lives in our house? The one who left a turd the size of a yule log in the upstairs hallway this morning and who sometimes misses the back steps when she's running too fast? She's a Rhodes scholar alright. A really superior canine intellect there.