Page 2 | Puppy knows names of family members...?!?

LalaMelyn · 2022-01-15T20:10:50+00:00

I've realised our 5 month old puppy (collie x black lab) knows the names of DS, DD, and DP [shock] and can reliably go and find the right one if I tell her to. She can do this in the house, even if they're not on the same floor, and out on walks or in the park. Clearly she's the cleverest dog in the *whole wide world* right?

Kleptronic · 15/01/2022 20:58

Aw bless her dogs are the best.

ZoeTheThornyDevil · 15/01/2022 20:59

Who's a clever girl? She is! SHE IS!

I used to have a black lab X collie cross and she was also fiendishly intelligent, and a bit of a mischief maker. Fortunately, she had an adoring and much less bright Staffy little sister to torment.

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 15/01/2022 21:01

Oh wow!! She is gorgeous!!

ShowOfHands · 15/01/2022 21:02

DH's aunt has a collie and he has a zillion toys and knows them by name. You can tell him to fetch one, give him a command for what to do with it once has it eg "shake it" or "throw it", then a third command of where to put it when he's finished. You tell him all of this first and he will do it in order. He had two brand new toys the other day and we were asked to name them by holding them up and saying "this is x" and then added the toy to the pile. He memorised their names immediately. He knows many other tricks too but DS is always completely amazed by his toy fetching/playing skills. He knows numbers too. You can ask him to fetch a certain number of pine cones or tennis balls and he will.

Original poster

LalaMelyn · 15/01/2022 21:05

@ShowOfHands

DH's aunt has a collie and he has a zillion toys and knows them by name. You can tell him to fetch one, give him a command for what to do with it once has it eg "shake it" or "throw it", then a third command of where to put it when he's finished. You tell him all of this first and he will do it in order. He had two brand new toys the other day and we were asked to name them by holding them up and saying "this is x" and then added the toy to the pile. He memorised their names immediately. He knows many other tricks too but DS is always completely amazed by his toy fetching/playing skills. He knows numbers too. You can ask him to fetch a certain number of pine cones or tennis balls and he will.

This is what DS is going to have to do with her when she's been spayed and can't go out running round scaring pheasants. Tire her out with educational activities

OP posts:

strawberriesarenot · 15/01/2022 21:05

We have a collie too, and basically the more you put in, the more you get out. Ours knows many names, phrases and locations, and will collect socks for the washing machine, do hide and seek and treasure hunts, and has her favourite songs. They are lovely, lovely dogs.

gsaoej · 15/01/2022 21:09

She is beautiful

I think my dog is very clever as well. He knows the whole family, including granny. Unfortunately he uses his intellect to get what he wants and is a very naughty boy!

Squills · 15/01/2022 21:12

We have a border collie - they’re an incredibly intelligent breed. Your puppy’s intelligence will be down to the collie in him. They’re great fun!

I don’t know exactly how many words our dog knows but I think around 50. He’ll go to his toy basket and get the toy you ask for… so, basil the bear, Ferdi the fox and so on. He has more than 20 toys and knows them all. He knows all family names and instructions such as in it, on it, bring it, leave it, over it.

I said the other day to my husband that I think he needs a shower and he got up and went into the shower… the dog that is, not my husband!

He also recognises words within a sentence not directed at him.

Angrymum22 · 15/01/2022 21:22

I trained my lab to find my son. I send her upstairs to get him out of bed. She also retrieves all his dirty socks from his bedroom but that was self taught. She also opens his sock drawer and brings me clean ones when she runs out of dirty ones.
When she needs a wee she fetches a shoe or pulls on your sleeve.
She also gives her food container the death stare when she is hungry. She use to bring her bowl to you but when she start chewing it as a pup it had to stored out of reach.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 15/01/2022 21:41

I love a waggy fool personally. I don't like the feeling that my dog could be more intelligent than me...

Original poster

LalaMelyn · 15/01/2022 21:44

@UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea

I love a waggy fool personally. I don't like the feeling that my dog could be more intelligent than me...

Don't get me wrong, we adored the waggy fools 😍 and considered them clever at the time. Just this dog is so quick and smart in comparison!

OP posts:

HolidayNanny · 15/01/2022 21:47

I've always had border collies. They spoil you for other breeds because they're so damn intelligent. My current one (bless her heart, I still love her to bits!!) is actually a bit of a thicko if I'm honest but still picks up a good 50% more than an ordinary dog would.

Datsandcogs · 15/01/2022 21:47

We had a Lab who would jump the fence to ‘talk’ to people walking passed, then cry at the gate as she wouldn’t jump back in! She would also bring the empty water bowl if she was thirsty, broke a few dropping them at our feet, she was very specific as to which one she wanted to drink from!
Another Lab desperately searched DD1’s bedroom when she was on a school residential, sat in her arms and huffed with pleasure on her return! She will also bring a toy on request.

HolidayNanny · 15/01/2022 21:48

Oh, I meant to say, channel that intelligence OP! Lots and lots of training. Otherwise she'll get frustrated and troublesome. Luckily the lab in her should be eager to respond to food rewards!

RobotValkyrie · 15/01/2022 21:52

I was once "formally introduced" to a tiny dog, who instantly memorised my name. This was demonstrated on the spot by his proud owner, followed by a demonstration of how he also knew the names of a multitude of everyday life objects (allegedly, several hundreds of them!?)

I was (still am) very impressed.

Thatldo · 15/01/2022 21:59

I wouldn't expect any less from a collie

HappydaysArehere · 15/01/2022 22:07

Our lovely golden retriever could recognise names and words. We resorted to spelling words if we didn’t want her to react to something. A friend of mine has a black Labrador who recognises our names and family members. They are so intelligent.

MintyGreenDream · 15/01/2022 22:09

My dog is as thick as shit 😁 knows he own name and thats it

Coronawireless · 15/01/2022 22:11

@UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea

I love a waggy fool personally. I don't like the feeling that my dog could be more intelligent than me...

Coronawireless · 15/01/2022 22:12

This is amazing. We have a v intelligent retriever pup. Was wondering how to stretch him a bit as I too worry about being stupider than my dog. I will try the name thing. No idea they could go that. Thank you!

Ghostsintheshelf · 15/01/2022 22:28

@HappydaysArehere

Our lovely golden retriever could recognise names and words. We resorted to spelling words if we didn’t want her to react to something. A friend of mine has a black Labrador who recognises our names and family members. They are so intelligent.

We have to spell things out in front of our golden as he understands everything. Unfortunately he's now learnt the spellings too

StopStartStop · 15/01/2022 22:30

Oh, what a beautiful girl! Yes, I believe she is clever - very clever indeed.

Bouncer500 · 16/01/2022 00:48

Our dog knows our names. We're on our 3rd dog ams they have all known our names. Maybe it depends on how much you say names.

UnUdderOne · 16/01/2022 03:47

What breeds were your waggy fools?

Mollymalone123 · 16/01/2022 06:30

Yes our ddogs do this as does ourDD’s dog.Dd has to be careful not to mention our names as her puppy goes crazy waiting at the window for us-so no more saying ‘nanny and grandad are coming today ‘ 😂