http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/28/police.dogs.smell.detection/index.html

I think this is so incredibly nifty!!

I had a basenji back when I was a teenager. They are probably among the smartest breed of dog... and extremely hard to train, because they have a very strong "What's in it for me?" attitude. It takes a very special trainer to be able to work with a 'senji... and an exceptional one to encourage one to do a job of this magnitude.

I am in awe.

And completely thrilled. 'Senjis don't get enough credit for their smarts, and have often been labeled as "dumb" because they just don't want to do what a trainer is trying to teach. With the right motivation, they can do incredible feats. Finding that motivation, however...

I once found a little blurb in a trivia section of our newspaper over twenty years ago (yes, I kept the blurb). I don't remember it word for word, but it basically said that a study had been done testing breed intelligence by observing the reaction of various breeds when a bunch of firecrackers were set off next to a momma and her puppies. Some barked at the firecrackers. Some ran away. Some ran to stand protectively over the puppies. Some looked around in confusion or didn't react.

The basenji was rated the highest.

Ignored the firecrackers.

Bit the guy who lit them.

Tags: basenji
Current Mood: giddy