Dog Geniuses

Here we are, Mugs.

Our first day of class at Pooch University.

Oh, boy!

I've waited my whole life, all two years of it,

to attend Pooch U.

Me too!

And look at this place!

It's everything I thought it'd be.

Let me tell ya.

- Smell these halls, the textbooks,

the number two lead pencils, the erasers!

Listen to those paws squeak

on the freshly mopped tile floors.

Oh, I've dreamt of this!

So have I!

Hey, let's find our classroom.

I don't want us to be late

to our very first lesson.

Neither do I!

Let's go.

Check this place out, Mugs!

It's so big!

So sprawling, it's vast!

I know!

Imagine throwing a bone down this hallway,

then chasing after it.

Oh, what fun!

Or a Frisbee!

- Now, hold on a second, buddy boy.

This is the world of scholastics,

an institution of higher learning.

Yeah, so?

What's your point?

- Well my point, pup pupil, is this.

We can't act like a couple of animals here.

We're not marauding mutts, backyard brutes,

canine commandos.

We're students, and we're here

to get an education.

Oh, yeah!

I gotcha.

No chasing our tails or alerting when

someone uses a pencil sharpener!

- Or barking when someone drops a book.

Oh!

No barking?

Oh, no barking, Slobberstick.

Zero, nada, zilch.

Barking's a no go here.

We bark, and we'll be canine non grata

for the rest of the semester,

you mark my words.

Sheesh!

Okay, but barking is my favorite activity, Mugs.

It's gonna be some kinda tough to control myself.

Well you gotta, Slobberstick.

We only get one chance to make a first impression,

and I want ours to be the best it can be.

Who knows, maybe someday we'll be professors here.

Whoa!

Really?

You think?

- If we play our biscuits right, you never know.

- That'd be incredible!

Professor Slobberstick.

Professor Mugs.

The future's bright, Mugs.

Let's buy some chains.

- First things first, Slobberstick,

let's get to class.

Here we are!

There's our room number.

Oh, boy!

Here we go!

Uh, hi.

You must be Professor Fetch.

- And you must be Slobbersticks and Mugs.

Mugs and Slobberstick.

Nice to meet you.

Yes, yes!

Well, are you dogs ready for your introduction

to higher learning?

Are we?

We were born ready.

Well!

I like your attitude.

Let's get ready to start class.

Oh, goody!

Goody, let's go.

Toss something, Professor.

You got a rock, a wet stick, an old shoe?

- Hm, well this is not that kind of class,

this is higher dog learning.

We must follow a certain scholastic etiquette.

Etiquette?

Is that a dessert?

It's like a donut, right?

Yum.

I love donuts.

Slobberstick, please.

You're embarrassing us.

Quite the contrary, Mugs.

You are inquisitive, curious.

Etiquette is the customary code

of polite behavior in society,

or among members of a particular profession or group.

Oh!

Like dogs.

Yes, like dogs!

Which, as it so happens, will be the subject

of our first class today.

Dogs?

Woo hoo!

I know this subject like the back of my paw.

Me too!

This should be fun.

No doubt, pupils, no doubt.

Since you boys are rearing to go,

let's say we begin at once.

There's much ground to cover.

How sweet!

Awesome!

Let's see...

Where to begin?

Ah, how about with one you'll know.

If you don't mind me asking, Mugs,

what kind of breed of dog are you?

Me?

I'm a sheepdog, Professor.

Excellent!

We'll start there.

Have a seat.

If you or your friends ever need to be corralled,

it's a good bet that the Shetland Sheepdog

can more than do the trick.

In fact, herding is exactly

what this cute little animal was bred to do.

Shetland Sheepdogs are also known

as the "Sheltie" for short.

They're small dogs that look a lot like

tiny versions of the very popular collie.

The Sheltie is part of a group of dogs

called "herding dogs".

The amazing Shetland Sheepdog comes to the world

from the Shetland Islands,

where breeders created it

by mixing Icelandic Yakkins with Border Collies.

These pooches were primarily used to herd sheep

so that they are kept away from garden plants.

How neat!

Even though when it comes to herding

few dogs are as good as the Sheltie,

today these magnificent mutts are mostly found

herding kids around in homes everywhere.

Moms and dads are very grateful for this.

You can imagine.

The Sheltie is super popular in the United States,

where it comes in at number 20

on the most popular breeds list.

Shelties can grow to be about 15 inches tall,

and weigh in anywhere from 20 to 40 pounds.

These cute little guys have a thick double coat,

and a hefty mane around their necks.

They come in lots of colors like black and gray,

but it's the tricolored black, white, and tan ones

that are most often seen,

and wow do we love seeing them.

They're just so doggoned adorable!

Shetland Sheepdogs have heads that are shaped

like a slice of pie, almond shaped eyes,

cute little ears with folded tips,

and muscular bodies with long tails.

Shelties are incredibly smart too!

In fact, they are the sixth most

intelligent type of dog in the whole wide world.

Wow!

I didn't know all that.

Neither did I.

You were a mystery to me, buddy.

- Welcome to the world of higher learning, pupils.

Where no subject is exempt from our probing minds,

and no mental stone will be left unturned.

Stones?

I love turning over stones, and sticks,

and balls, tennis balls especially!

Slobberstick, please.

Oh, right.

Moving right along.

Yeah!

Tell us more, Professor.

What about collies?

Every wonder what the smartest dog

in the whole wide world is?

Well, you're about to meet them.

Get set to meet the wondrous animal

known as the Border Collie.

Border Collies are working dogs

who are relatives of landrace collies.

These amazing animals were created

during the 19th century