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Calculating dogs (dogs use calculus?)
Science News Onlin ^ | 2/18/06 | Ivars Peterson

Posted on 02/18/2006 2:42:48 PM PST by T-Bird45

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To: T-Bird45
Atlas, my Weimaraner (pics on my home page) plots an intercept when chasing a squirrel, endeavoring to nab it as it runs toward the safety of the nearest tree. He is absolutely aware that the squirrel will be running toward the tree, and his path of pursuit "leads" the squirrel.

Unfortunately for Atlas (and fortunately for the squirrels), the rodents can vary their speed in a nanosecond; frequently, they will slam on the brakes, and Atlas will overshoot. Good planning, but poor execution when it comes to adapting to rapidly changing circumstances. A Weimaraner chasing a squirrel looks like a Mercedes S-Class trying to run down a skilled skateboarder: it ain't gonna happen. Atlas is zero-for-several hundred with respect to squirrels. Plenty of speed (he has dispatched a couple of rabbits, whose lack of tree-climbing ability proved fatal), but a bit lacking in mobility.

21 posted on 02/18/2006 3:12:52 PM PST by southernnorthcarolina (I've upped my standards! Up yours!)
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To: T-Bird45

Wow, who would of thought that a dog having the ability to fetch something using the least amount of effort would be news worthy.


22 posted on 02/18/2006 3:15:04 PM PST by Fzob (Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
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To: redpoll

"I'll bet flying birds use thermals with a precision similar to mathematical models showing how to best soar through the air"

It has been proved that birds that migrate south for winter, always wait for northern cold fronts to ride the jet stream south.

Time of year, and even food supply, is less of a factor to when they leave, than the jet stream.


23 posted on 02/18/2006 3:18:31 PM PST by Beagle8U (An "Earth First" kinda guy ( when we finish logging here, we'll start on the other planets.)
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To: T-Bird45

24 posted on 02/18/2006 3:22:14 PM PST by kstewskis (Buy Danish!)
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To: T-Bird45
Depending on the dog's running and swimming speeds, the strategy that Elvis follows appears to minimize the time that it takes to get to the ball.

Wow, the same principle that explains refraction.

25 posted on 02/18/2006 3:24:24 PM PST by Moonman62 (Federal creed: If it moves tax it. If it keeps moving regulate it. If it stops moving subsidize it)
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To: Dallas59

That old picture is really a fake. Dogs can't play poker. They just can't keep from wagging their tails when they have a killer hand.


26 posted on 02/18/2006 3:26:52 PM PST by 19th LA Inf
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To: Beagle8U

I saw a strong cold front go through a couple of weeks ago, and there were a bunch of buzzards gliding with it.


27 posted on 02/18/2006 3:26:56 PM PST by Moonman62 (Federal creed: If it moves tax it. If it keeps moving regulate it. If it stops moving subsidize it)
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To: mathprof
I could only teach differential calculus to my Westie. This bread hates integrating!

Doncha hate it when a glaring typo spoils a perfectly good punch-line?

28 posted on 02/18/2006 3:31:16 PM PST by Fido969
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To: IronJack
In truth, calculus is simply a tool used to describe the behavior that already existed.

Why do you even need to assume their might be ANY intellegence? How does a cannonball know exactly what path to fly based on complicated physics of ballistics?

29 posted on 02/18/2006 3:34:11 PM PST by Fido969
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To: davisfh

Which higher cognitive functions are canines utilizing when they eat their own skat?


30 posted on 02/18/2006 3:40:12 PM PST by Right Angler
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To: Moonman62
I watch lots of science programs on cable, with the Internet, now they have been able to track migrations closely, the jet stream/ cold front theory was exact in every case.
31 posted on 02/18/2006 3:41:05 PM PST by Beagle8U (An "Earth First" kinda guy ( when we finish logging here, we'll start on the other planets.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

lol -- nice post


32 posted on 02/18/2006 3:45:30 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: IronJack

If I throw two balls in close succession, the second ball lofted while the first is in the air, my dog will always lose interest in the first ball and more often than not, fail to catch the second ball.

If I throw the second one after he catches the second and begins his return, he will immediately drop the first ball and go after the second ball.



33 posted on 02/18/2006 4:02:05 PM PST by Old Professer (Fix the problem, not the blame!)
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To: T-Bird45
..and American 's school children can't even +,-,* & /....goin' to the dogs. :^/
34 posted on 02/18/2006 4:12:09 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
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To: flying Elvis

You better be careful, I got stuck in one of those things once!


35 posted on 02/18/2006 4:14:31 PM PST by pepperdog
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To: trashcanbred

I follow 10 paces behind my dog and pick up his crap. Don't know if he's a genius but he's smarter 'n me.


36 posted on 02/18/2006 4:25:18 PM PST by DManA
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To: trashcanbred
"geniuses"

I never did see a dog that could unwrap itself from the pole it was tied to after it had wrapped itself around the pole. They just sit there and look puzzled wondering why they can't move as far from the pole as they had just done a few minutes before. If they find the dog that can unwrap itself, then I might start believing in canine calculus.

37 posted on 02/18/2006 4:40:49 PM PST by driftless ( For life-long happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

OK! OK! So I'm not too damned good at licking
myself either.


38 posted on 02/18/2006 4:45:20 PM PST by davisfh
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To: pepperdog

I bet your dog found it amusing. Mine just tried to lick my face, completely oblivious to the knowledge I was trying to impart.


39 posted on 02/18/2006 4:46:44 PM PST by flying Elvis
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To: cripplecreek
My Jack Russells are pretty smart sometimes.

My Jack Russell peed on the utility room linoleum last night; the first time in 14 years that he's done that. He was obviously embarrassed about it, and judging by the volume of the flood, must have held it as long as he could. But I didn't heed his barking in time.

His mathematical genius is shown in his skill at catching Frisbees. He adds, subtracts, divides, (doesn't multiply -- he's fixed), differentiates, integrates and solves several partial differential equations simultaneously in order to catch the Frisbees.

He's very modest about his genius though. I can't even get him to paw out the correct answer to 2 + 2. He gets "5" every time. But he claims he's using a different base.

40 posted on 02/18/2006 4:49:03 PM PST by Ole Okie
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