bell ringing antics and an early dinner

[KShep]

Ripley has caught on to the fact that a ring of her bell will not just get her outside, but a refill on her water, and/or remind me that it's dinner time (heaven forbid 5 minutes pass her scheduled feeding time)! Our power went out last night, and I woke up really hot without A/C in the wee hours of the morning. Ripley hears me up and starts to whine. I decided to feed her and let her out a couple of hours early.

Later on, oh say....1.5 hours before her normal dinner time. The bell rings. I open the door. "Wanna go outside?" She stares blankly. I close the door and go about my business. 1 minute later...RING RING. I open the door "Wanna go outside?". *Blank stare* "Thirsty?" *Blank stare* I refill her bowl and go back about my business. 2 minutes later....RING RING RING RING RING. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" ....You can't be hungry already?!" *cocks head to the side inquisitively*

....I feed her.

Too smart for her own good and I can't believe the accuracy of her internal clock!! 6:30 every morning and 6 pm in the evening. She knew it was exactly 11.5 hours since her last meal and time to eat again!! Am I the only one who finds the fascinating?! I mean, she also seemed to respond to the question! That is true communication across species!

[Dempsy's Mom]

That is a wonderful story to start the day out with - now I will be thinking of Ripley all day. Keep mom on her toes Ripley! ... bet she never thought one of her jobs was going to be a bellhop. So sweet.

[josie&holly]

Clever Ripley!

Holly will frequently go the door [no bells] - I open it, no she does want out, she just wants attention!! Or hoping for a biscuit/treat! She uusually does this if I have been on the computer for a while................

[bradl]

We finally removed the bell when we realized Barley had come to view it as the Butler Pull. Gotta love these dogs.

[Hawkeye]

They do have an amazing internal clock. I'd say Ripley has you pegged.

[hheldorfer]

I guess you'll never be off schedule with Ripley around. What a smart girl!

[Idaho Cairns]

make no mistake these Cairns are creatures of habit indeed. Every time we start out the door Sammi has to have precisely two (not one and not three) kibbles from her bowl before exiting. When told to "go to bed" each dog selects a "bed toy" and trundles down the hallway to the bedroom for the night. I am amazed with how they act in the same ways to the same stimulus. They have these little orderly minds imbedded in grossly disorderly behaviors --Jekkyl and Hydes these dogs. I'm truly fascinated by the breed.

[Lynn in TN]

I too am fascinated by the breed. Kelly knows me and Eric and the Kids like the back of her hand. None of us goes outside on a schedule but yet she always knows when one of us is going out. I keep my shoes on even in the house so I can't figure out how she knows when I'm going out. I can be in the bedroom and just up and decide I'm going out and she will beet me to the door every time. With Eric and the Kids they put their shoes on only when they are going out so that is how she knows with them. We can't figure out what I do to let her know i'm going out. She is so smart with all kinds of things like that.

[Tracy A.]

You are now her bellman! Ring Ring.... I need my feet rubbed!

[Meggie]

We finally removed the bell when we realized Barley had come to view it as the Butler Pull. Gotta love these dogs.

We were considering a bell for Hubble but after reading this...I know that's exactly what he'd turn it into too!

[sanford]

I can't believe the accuracy of her internal clock!! 6:30 every morning and 6 pm in the evening... Am I the only one who finds the fascinating?!

We all find their sense of time fascinating! I read somewhere that dogs can tell what time of day, or evening it is, by their sense of smell. I have no idea if this is true or not, but I like the fact that this explanation bestows superior powers on our canine friends!