Linkmeister

My dog is good at the finger pointing clue thing too. If I dop something on the kitchen floor, he can hear from about a mile a way and comes running. When he gets there, he looks at me, I point to the goodie and he goes right to it. Every time. I also use finger pointing to show him where I want him to stand or sit. He's a smartie that dog of mine!

Surely, though, dogs learn this because their owners spend so. much. time. pointing. at. stuff. for. them?

Maybe. When we first got Tigger we were sure her right foot was hurting her because she was always lifting it. It took about a week for us to realize "no, she's pointing. That's what pointers do."

In Obedience Competition, this is known as the "Directed Retrieve" and is at the Utility level.

I'm kind of amused that the research lab had to do this much work to demonstrate that dogs can follow a pointing finger, when all they have to do is attend an obedience trial and watch dozens of dogs do it.

Mr. Maui wants me to remind you that "can" and "will on command" are two different things.

I knew that because I've been pointing at dogs (even unknown) for years, and was always surprised that they knew what I meant. Thanks for telling me I was right.