According to the definition in that article I referred to, a lot of what dogs do isn’t thinking. It is the result of learning, not independent thought processes. Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are not “thinking” in this definition.
That is not to say, of course, that dogs CAN’T think, just that a lot of examples people give AREN’T thinking.
Right, I assume that conditioned behaviors aren’t “thinking,” but I meant problem solving, learning skills that aren’t taught to them, that sort of thing.
My dog Ivan taught himself how to open doors. It was a multi-step process of hooking his nose under a latch, pulling the door towards himself, then wedging his nose into the gap and flinging the door open. Also, it was a thumb latch, so it was a different process to go in from outside and to go out from inside, and we never taught him. He just figured it out.
He also had a guilty conscience. Once in a while, when he was home alone, he’d steal a loaf of bread from the counter. No matter how many hours later we came home, he’d always greet us outside, and then immediately send himself to his crate and sulk, but he only did it when he had stolen food.
Everyone says that you can’t discipline a dog unless you catch them in the act, because they can’t connect the punishment to the crime after the fact, but he could. Fortunately, we didn’t really have to punish him. He punished himself.
I’m sure not all dogs behave this way.
Ivan was the best dog of all the dogs, after all.
