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Originally Posted by Penthouse  Somebody help me out. I have four teacup Yorkies, 3-5 pounds. One of them loves to chase a tiny "tennis" ball and bring it back to me. If I don't pick it up and throw it again, she goes into the classic pointing position and will stare at the ball intently until I throw it again. Sometimes, as a game, she hides the ball under a chair or coffee table a few feet away and then runs over to me. When I say, "Where's the ball?" she will go wherever it is and point to it for me. No one has trained her to do any of this. Chasing the ball doesn't surprise me, but the pointing, the hide-it game, and helping me find it are all utterly amazing to me. No one taught her any of this, and she has never seen another dog -- including her sister, mom and aunt -- do any of it. Is this all instinctual? Was it originally bred into rat-hunting Yorkies in England? If so, why haven't I seen another Yorkie do this? |
I can't quote the source off the top of my head but I did read somewhere that any dog within any breed which lifts its leg or points when "hunting" or fetching is considered to be more intelligent than its peers.
I don't know why as I can't remember but that part of the article stuck out for me because Teddy does the same thing! He also lifts his paw when he's listening to a command and deciding rather or not he'll oblige. Smart but bratty!