As I sit here at school indulging in a well-deserved rest period following a relatively successful presentation at school (I raided the lab fridge for beers, and pulled a buzz from my first beer. My tolerance is gone!), I contemplate animal cognition. Yeah, I'm tired and strung-out from lack of sleep, and there is a whole beer of alcohol coursing through my brain, so this post is likely to be idiotic and pointless. Finally, an improvement, eh?!?
My neighbors have a couple dogs that bark all the fucking time. After the first month or so, we quit noticing it, except when we leave town for a couple days. I've noticed that one dog in particular doesn't just randomly bark though. He (she?) has particular patterns that repeat, over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and then change only to repeat the new pattern over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
I don't know what he is saying, but it seems clear that there is something specific that is being communicated. Why else would the same "word" be sounded out?
Another thing about dogs: It's obvious that they recognize and remember people they haven't seen in a long time. I wonder if they are capable of thinking about people in their absence? My mom's dog (and oldest cat) most definitely remember me, even though I only see them once or twice a year. I wonder if they ever think of me when I'm not there, or if they can recognize me in pictures, perhaps wonder where I am if they catch a glimpse of a picture of me on the wall?
Damn, its a good thing I wrote this before my second beer...
Posted by Nutrimentia at June 13, 2003 06:51 PM | TrackBack