Choices

[JudyN]

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Some days, particularly if it's warmer, Jasper doesn't want an afternoon walk and would rather play/chill in the garden. Other days, an afternoon walk is a must. Working out which is which can sometimes be tricky, and sometimes he's probably not sure himself.

It was clear enough the other day when while I was getting togged up he went and got a ball and dropped it in front of me, but other days we've walked about 100 yards and then he's asked to go home and then heads straight for the back garden. And I would rather avoid having a good game/chill with him in the garden and then him insisting he still needed a walk.

Which has set me thinking: can a dog understand, on any level, 'Walk or garden? Which do you want?' Or can I offer him choices like 'Upton Heath or the Woods?' (when we're going by car so he can't tell me by walking in his chosen direction)? He is a smart dog but I'm wondering if this is beyond any dog's capabilities.

 

[Mad Murphy]

I dont know , I think they can make choices . when Benny got really old I was sometimes unsure of his energy level so we would go to the island where dogs are allowed off lead and I would let him choose turn left for the long walk, turn right for the shorter one.. He never got too tired if he chose the long walk so I can only assume he felt ok to take the longer walk on those days.

 

[JoanneF]

I read a Victoria Stillwell piece on choices. Dogs have little degree of control in their lives (we dictate what and when they eat and usually where and when they walk). We know that giving a dog the choice to move away from something scary is good for their confidence because they aren't forced to confront their fear. So as I remember, this extrapolated the concept to whether we should offer choice in other things too. I normally offer T a choice which way to walk (provided we don't have a reason to go a particular way) and nine times out of ten he will select the beach for the morning walk and the fields for the afternoon. Sometimes he surprises me though! So I absolutely do think they can make choices. It's communicating the options and the decision that is the challenge!

 

[JudyN]

I've wondered about that aspect too - Jasper loves Upton Heath but I wonder if he really factors in the 25-min walk on pavements that he really won't enjoy because of his corn. He rarely turns back halfway, though it has been known.

 

[merlina]

I do think working dogs make a decision about walks (which are work opportunities) based on game theory. If we've been that way this morning my spaniels will all do a bit of passive resistance faced with my attempt to go the same route in the afternoon. In fact they give you a look which says, "No! You're wasting my time now. I've cleared it already." So I give in.

 

[JudyN]

I missed your post, @JoanneF . Jasper certainly makes choices about where - or whether - to walk, where he's going to sleep at night (sometimes by our bed, sometimes he insists on the spare room), whether he'd going to be brave and walk past the dustbin lorry or turn back (which I'm sure helps him BE brave because he knows he won't be forced to overface himself). I suppose it's more whether he can grasp when he is being offered a choice, particularly when it's presented verbally, as in 'walk or garden?'

Merlina, I can pretty much guarantee that if J has been to a certain location one day he'll choose to go somewhere else the next day. I've never thought that it might relate to whether he's scoped it for prey recently. Though we often see deer when we go to the golf course (where he's never let off lead) and if he sees one one day, he'll still choose to go somewhere else the next. Maybe because he knows I'm not going to let him off lead...

 

[JoanneF]

it's more whether he can grasp when he is being offered a choice, particularly when it's presented verbally, as in 'walk or garden?'

Yes, I get this. I will walk to the front of the drive and T will stop in his tracks. I can say 'beach' or 'field' and get a blank look. I have to go back a couple of steps so I am beside him rather than ahead (like leading a horse) and as we walk on he will turn left or right. So he makes the decision but communicating it is an issue.

 

[JudyN]

Do you get that stare where he's trying to communicate to you telepathically and can't understand why the message isn't getting through?

 

[JoanneF]

Do you get that stare where he's trying to communicate to you telepathically and can't understand why the message isn't getting through?

Oh yes. He thinks I am really stooopid. But - we are in the Lake District where EVERYWHERE is dog friendly and I have been getting intensely eyeballed by a gorgeous lemon working cocker. I spent 45 minutes working out whether it was 'I'm your long lost soul mate, take me home' and 'you once had a piece of kibble in that pocket 15 washes ago'. I suspect the latter.

 

[JudyN]

 

[merlina]

That gorgeous lemon working cocker sounds like mine! if so it will be kibble-related.