Does your pet make decisions?

That is, do you think that your dog/cat/bird/whatever can think beyond its instinct? Do they do what they do out of some kind of choice, or is it their hard-wiring only that dictates their behavior?

Say, when you discipline your pet (with your voice, or a sharp sound, or a squirt of water, etc.), and the pet modifies its behavior (or so one hopes). Does it then know "wrong" behavior and ceases it? Or has its walnut-sized brain unconsciously connected an action with negative reaction?

I'd like to think that animals "know that they know," and have a small semblance of free will and choice, but this, according to hard-hearted science, is a stretch.

Of course, only the pets are truly informed on this subject, and last time I checked, mine weren't talking!

Cheers to all pet-lovers --
:toast:

My Boober knows when he is doing something naughty because when I walk in the room and catch him he slinks off with his head down - really fast.

He's also started punishing me (again) when I leave without him. Trash can contents are strewn all over the floor when I get home.

My mom had a cat that would poop on the roof of her car whenever she packed the night before a weekend trip.

My wife and I currently have two cats, one of which is *extremely* attached to her. The cat cannot have my wife out of her sight. When my wife showers and dresses to leave, the cat runs around the house, bringing every loose item into the bathroom (spools of thread, cat toys, wallets, small paperbacks, etc.)

I can't figure out if the cat is saying in effect, "Don't leave, look how terrific I am by bringing you all this cool stuff," or if the separation anxiety is such that the cat's hunting and/or nesting instincts kick into overdrive.

I've got one cat that with the dog follow me to and from the john as well. :eyes:

I agree with few, if any of them :)

And I can't resist those sad, yellow-green eyes.

Just like people. We do the same thing. We learn by trial and error for the most part.

I always laugh at people who say 'people learn, animals are trained'. Then why do we go to school? You're trained to do the majority of stuff we do each day. "Potty training" anyone?

one of my cats will whine until I let him out the front door, upstairs, even though he knows the back door, downstairs, is always open. His choice is the FRONT.

Well the hamster got out of his cage and was roaming around last night. Mr. Old and IN the Way finally looked up and saw Mr. B eyeing the hamster. Now this could have been an hour after the hamster escaped. Mr. B never made a move on the hamster. I think he knew what would happen to him if he did...

I'll bet he knew!

:toast:

like a fiddle. :evilgrin: Just kidding. :)

I've heard they can be very manipulative, though. I like a bird who makes a conscious effort to outwit me. ;) Keeps me on my toes. :)

I had a cockatiel some while back who learned to imitate the 'warble' on my telephone because it sent me running into the room where her cage was and got her a little bit of attention. She didn't get the timing of the ring right, but the sound was perfect, the little turd.

He doesn't like getting wet, and it often rains here. Sometimes when he stands at the door, he determines that he will not be going out after all today. Then he scurries upstairs to his spot on the sofa. Sometimes, in spite of the rain, he choses to go out for a bit, and returns all wet and bedraggled-looking after a short while.

StirFry can get a water dish filled in either the kitchen or the bath. He seems to prefer the bath, but sometimes he choses the kitchen. So he seems to perceive possibilities and make a choice or at least express a preference, which is not substantially different.

I try not to moderate my cats' behaviour with punishment. Sometimes they do earn a squirt of water, but I've had much better success rewarding for success than punishing for failures.

Dobbs is such a water-nut that I've got H2O dishes strategically placed around the abode -- he can drink in at least three places on any given day. (Not to mention the ice water that's ofen available in the kitchen - he's a nut for ice cubes, and I cater to him unmercifully.)

However, it appears that his preference is to grab a cool one at the bathroom sink, and only when I'm standing there turning the tap (yet more catering). Obviously, this is also much more fun and interactive than a stationary bowl -- there's splashing, and drops flying, and a drain to watch, etc.

Obviously, I'm *wrapped*.

We even had a sheltie once who'd figured out how to get goodies by deception. She'd look out the front window and start barking furiously to get the other dogs to come. Then, as soon as they rushed to the door, she'd sneak away and take their treats.

Not so sure about cats, though, although I just may miss out on their thinking because I'm not so much of a cat person.

my old cat, Polly, shit in my bedroom slippers. She'd NEVER gone inside the house before. Yeah, they make decisions.

I'm laughing, Dookus, but I feel your pain!

:toast:

I don't really see that you have to have one or the other. Humans have both instincts and decision making ability. We are in the animal family, too. I think cats and dogs just have different ways of expressing their choices/preferences. Today, little Grey brought a bird into the house, and was letting it get away, then catching it again. An instinct. She got very mad at me when I made her let it go. I am going to see if she modifies her behavior, knowing I do not approve of bird messing-with.
Maybe a better example, t hough, is an exceptionally intelligent black and white cat that lived with me for awhile. She decided she did not want to live with me, because I have another cat here, who thinks of herself as #1. The black and white cat decided that she did not want to live here, though the food was good, and #1 was friendly to her. She found herself another home, which unfortunately did not work out, because the people moved away. Then she became somewhat morose for a time, and sat out in a grassy area behind some garages. She sat there all the time, and would not come home. Then, a very nice woman started feeding her, and now she has a new home, and seems very happy there. I'd say she made quite a few good decisions and a few bad ones.

Just this week, my Cat, Sid, has decided that he will 'help' me train the new puppy; sadly, his idea of 'training' the puppy would cause even Ghengis Khan to wince in sympathy. :P

to jump through hoops for them. I never noticed but my husband did. He said one day about one of them, "Boy did he train you." I think there is some thought that goes into it on the part of the cats. They know what's important to you and how to get you to respond. For example, present kitty never scratches the furniture until he isn't getting his way, then he scratches the furniture.

and would grab something to play with which was inappropriate, I would take it from him and give him a mom-approved play thing. He seems to have learned some sort of bartering ethic from this early exchange. At a very mature 3 years old, he will still offer me one of his toys in exchange for something I have which he finds interesting. Now that he is not a puppy, he feels he has some rights to excercise his curiosity and judgement. He is right in many cases. Unless his papa was a pack rat (unlikely, considering his size) he thinks, learns and reasons beyond mere instinct. Show me any dog who doesn't and I will show you an evolutionary-dead-end-hound.

Oh, he also figured out that the bipeds in the household tend to 'let sleeping dogs lie'. He uses this policy along with some refined acting skills to try and hog the bed. When he figures we are about to retire for the night, he often bolts past us, leaps onto the bed and immediately commences making loud snoring noises! As he doesn't show signs of narcolepsy at any other time, I can only assume it is a ruse to assure that he gets his half in the middle! Very smart dog. Good thing he is charming most days or I would lease him out as a tow truck!

is oh so cute when we eat. She puts her head on my lap and looks up with that "I'm about to starve to death" look.

I am laughing here at my desk (am still in the office). I can easily visualize your "tow truck" grabbing his share of the bed and starting in with the Academy Award-winning snore.

Too funny! Cheers -- :toast:

...has an evil spell on me. everyday i pray for the sweet release of death. help me. ohh, no, he's here now...MUST GO WALKIES...

my cats demonstrate a type of logic for at least some of their actions. When I am on the computer, and one of them wants attention from me, they <appear> to recognize that my attention is focused on the keyboard, and monitor. They will walk in front of the monitor, and sit down, looking at me, so that by placement, they become the object of my attention. - bugs the heck our of me.

Or, they will try to lie down on the keyboard, because that's what my hands are "petting" rather than them. :grr:

When you introduce the word "choice" into the discussion you are introducing a concept of morality that pets do not possess.

Just my .02.

...no question w/ Charlie, though - if properly riled up, he'll hump.

Sometimes when I look at a bird, I feel like I'm watching him think. Sometimes, when I give the bird a food he hasn't had before, I'd swear he gives it a taste, then thinks about if for a minute to decide if he likes it before he continues eating it (if he likes it).