Dogs are amazing creatures but some stand out above the rest. We learned about a girl who taught her Goldendoodle the fine art of bowling. In a piece shared by I Heart Dogs, the story unfolds about Blake, the Goldendoodle who has a passion for bowling, thanks to his trainer Katelyn Simpson. The story is heartwarming and it is just what we need to make us smile and realize there are still good things happening in the world around us.
Katelyn began training him early
Blake is a Goldendoodle that started his training as a bowler when he was a puppy. he was just 12 weeks old when she introduced him to the sport. Katelyn bowled on a team at Kentucky’s Pikeville University as a part of the USA Junior National Team. She has since gone on to become a member of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association. Katelyn was good at the sport and it made sense that her dog would also take to bowling to be a part of what she was involved in.
Blake bowled an impressive game for a canine
Katelyn shade that Blake is an impressive bowler for a dog. He has been known to score an occasional strike and he even gets a few spares now and then. His highest game was a 93 which isn’t bad when you consider the fact that 300 is a perfect game. Katelyn and her family had no problem finding the time to train him. They own KT Lanes of Emmett, Idaho, so they had full use of the proper venue to work with him. Blake had grown accustomed to going to work with his family, so they decided to give him lessons in their spare time.
How did they train a dog to bowl?
Katelyn and her family used treats to encourage Blake to push the bowling ball down the alley. They showed him how to do it a few times, then after a while, he figured out how to do it unassisted. Blake is a smart dog who caught on quickly. He is joined by the other family dog named Adam who has also learned how to bow with Blake. The dogs have their own Instagram account with well over a thousand followers. They’ve become the stars of the bowling alley as well as celebrities on social media.
How hard is it to teach a dog to do outstanding feats like this?
We wanted to learn more about training Goldendoodles to perform outstanding feats like Blake and Adam. Can all dogs learn to bowl or compete in other human activities and sports? The answer may surprise you. The first requirement is physical fitness and the second is intelligence. While some dogs are more difficult to train, Katelyn had the advantage of owning her dog from the time that he was a tiny puppy. Also, Goldendoodles are intelligent dogs according to Goldendoodle Advice. Goldendoodles are crossed with a Golden Retriever and a poodle. These are both breeds that are known for their high levels of intelligence. They tend to learn commands fast and retain knowledge. You achieve the best training results when you start with very young dogs and consistently work with them through adulthood.
How can you tell if your dog is smart?
There has not yet been an IQ test developed for canines, but there are still a few reliable ways to tell how smart your dog is. Here are a few traits that point to indications of high intelligence in dogs. Smart dogs remember commands even when you stop giving them for a while. They evidence problem-solving skills, and they tend to know when you’re upset and attempt to comfort you. Smart dogs also know how to get your attention when they want something from you. If your dog rubs against your hand to get you to scratch him behind the ears it’s proof that he’s worked things out and knows how to communicate his desires to you. If your dog masters new tricks quickly, initiates play, remembers familiar landmarks on trips, it’s a safe bet that he’s smarter than the average pooch.
Dogs are capable of spectacular feats
If you own a smart dog you might not realize the full potential that exists within your pooch. Still Doggy points out some interesting facts about dogs that make them amazing creatures. There are some things dogs do better than people. For example, their hearing and sense of smell are several times more sensitive than that of humans. They can follow scents for hundreds of miles and up to forty feet beneath the surface of the ground. That’s what makes them so good at sniffing out hidden drugs or cadavers.
Other feats dogs have been trained to do
Blake and Adam are impressive bowlers, but there are other things that people have trained their dogs to do. The Guinness World Record goes to Otto, an English Bulldog for skateboarding using his hind legs. Some dogs will sit down and watch a television show with you while others play musical instruments, play soccer, catch frisbees, and more. Some dogs are search and rescue professionals while others are loyal members of K-9 units and decorated officers of the law.
Final thoughts
We’re reminded by Blake and Katelyn’s story of just how special dogs can be. They’re loyal pets who become cherished family members. It’s too easy to forget just how capable a smart dog can be. When we take the time to help them develop their full potential, our pets are capable of some truly amazing feats. Even those who just sit loyally by our sides and share companionship are worth their weight in gold.
