Dogs are fairly easy to train, as are horses. However, I find many people believe many other types of animals (especially small animals) are “dumb” or “impossible to train.” However, with proper motivation (HINT: food is usually a good motivator) most species are actually quite easy to train. In addition, training is good because is provides both mental stimulation and physical activity for your pet and usually makes obedience training easier, since the animal has a better understanding of learning commands.
Here’s some common misconceptions about animal training:
Fish can’t be trained.
Cats can’t be trained.
Fish aren’t friendly/cuddly and don’t like to be petted.
Chickens can’t be trained.
Turtles can’t be trained.
So, you might want to think twice next time before calling a fish, bird or reptile dumb!
2 responses so far ↓
1 Elizabeth P // Dec 5, 2008 at 7:50 am
Did that fish like to be petted or just tolerate being petted?
I would also like to see a turtle sit. Is a sitting turtle like a standing turtle, except he’s resting his shell on the ground? (I assume turtles don’t drag their shells as they walk, but most turtles I’ve seen have been in a grassy context, and they definitely brush the grass with their shells as they walk.)
2 Jim // Jan 21, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I always chuckle at the whole “dumb animal” hoopla–anyone who has had experience with more than one of any particular animal knows they run the gamut from Einstein-like intelligence to profoundly retarded–just like humans. I have had amazingly intelligent cats as well as really STUPID ones!
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