Frenchie Graduates from Harvard......like in the University!!!!!!
Bronwyn is the owner of some very smart Frenchies......
Well, Sweetums and I went to Boston today to participate in the canine cognition testing at Harvard University. It was a ton of fun. Sweetums was asked to make a series of decisions, and the correct decision would reward her with a cookie. I sat in a chair in the room, and she worked for the researcher by watching him and responding to his body language and cues. She was very intense with him, and even barked at him with sheer enthusiasm. Her first decision was to open a box. I was very skeptical since I have never seen her use her feet or face to open a thing. Well, it happened in less than 2 seconds that she ran out, looked at it, figured it out, lifted the lid to the box, and received her reward. Then two identical boxes were placed at an even distance apart, and she had to choose which one was correct. The testing lasted about an hour. The researcher said that she actually was 98 percent correct! Maybe higher when they review the tapes. That she also was the one dog out of the hundreds he personally tested that made specific correct decisions on the most difficult cognitive tasks when all the other dogs were incorrect. I couldn't tell which box was correct for goodness sakes. They had cameras in each corner of the room at the ceiling taping everything (me, the dog, the researcher, etc). The boxes were hidden behind a blind so that she couldn't SEE which box the reward was in. There also was no sniffing...just RUNNING out and making the correct decision. FAST. One test had a box to the right and one to the left of the researcher. He pointed at the first box and said her name twice...then at the 2nd box he pointed and said her name then NO then her name then NO...he then covers his face...drops his head...and rests his hands by his sides...she actually ran to the correct box which was the one without the negative command. Fascinating really. They have asked her back for phase 2 which I have readily agreed to have her participate in. I said to the researcher that I bet he was really surprised that a short waddling senior little frenchie would of responded the way she did. He said he really was amazed, and is pleasantly surprised how the little dog excelled at the testing. Loved how she was so fixated with his actions. She earned a leash, and I've attached her diploma! Now I can say someone in our family graduated from Harvard LOL!Photo of "Sweetums" as Veteran
AKC/UKC CH. Fancibul's Conquistadora CDX RE TT TDI CGC
Photo of Sweetums and Bronwyn winning Rally award.
"Sweetums" Harvard Degree
To see more information follow this link to Bronwyn's website http://www.sweetumscapecod.com/index.html
