Cognitive Skills (Or, What Clifford Did Today)

Posted on February 10, 2008 by Nancy J. Bailey

I just told my friend Ellen a little Cliffy story. It is cold and windy up here on the hill. The horses are SO HAPPY. They weren’t even voracious for their hay as I imagined they would be. I had left a few carrots in a bag in the barn and they were frozen. I dropped one as I went into Clifford’s stall, and since I had a bucket in my other hand he was focused on that and didn’t notice the carrot on the floor.

“I dropped a carrot,” I pointed at it. “It’s right there. Pick it up.”

He immediately left the bucket chase to follow the direction of my pointing finger and get the carrot.

Sure, he can fetch a cone and other stuff, but this shows that he has a complete understanding of the whole “point and fetch” concept — because he didn’t know the carrot was there. I was pretty flabbergasted.

About Nancy J. Bailey

Artist, author, bad karaoke singer. Woodsy ragamuffin. Mom of a horse named Clifford who plays fetch and paints with watercolors. He visits libraries and schools with me, to promote literacy and making the world a better place. Yes, he is house trained, no, he doesn't live in my house! I have written three books about Clifford. But my newest book, THE NORTH SIDE OF DOWN, is co-written by my awesome sister Amanda, who has Down syndrome. Her unexpected one-liner wisecracks can always make me laugh. If you make me laugh, you've made my day!
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2 Responses to Cognitive Skills (Or, What Clifford Did Today)

  1. Victoria Cummings says:
    February 11, 2008 at 5:27 pm

    Of course, his carrot radar was on. And besides, he totally understands every word you say.

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  2. Nancy says:
    February 11, 2008 at 5:56 pm

    He sure does! Thanks Victoria.

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