An adorable and intelligent border terrier named Bramble has learned how to play Connect 4 and other classic games from the 1970s.
The old adage of "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is untrue in Bramble's case, with the cute pooch having learned how to play the classic puzzle game at the grand age of 11.
She lives with dog trainer and behaviourist Jodie Forbes, 25, who has taught her beloved pets dozens of tricks - including how to pick up tokens with their paws and slot them in the grid, Dorset Live reports.
Bramble has a sister who also plays - 11-month-old Kelpie and Border Collie Cross, Willow.
Jodie, 25, from Bournemouth, explained: “When I was a kid, I read that Border Terriers were ‘untrainable’, ‘not to be trusted off-lead’ and ‘highly stubborn’ and I vowed to prove that wrong.
“Bramble has learned hundreds of tricks and her and Willow’s latest is to play Connect Four. I started by using socks and a plastic tub and I’d get them use their nose-eye co-ordination to drop the sock in a tub.
“Then I used smaller and smaller objects until we they were able to pick the Connect Four tokens up in their mouths and drop them in the top of the grid.
“If a token falls on the floor or table, they know to pick it up and drop it in again. They’re such clever dogs.”
Jodie has been training dogs since she was nine including for media campaigns and has appeared at Crufts many times, showing her dogs and taking part in agility and displays.
She is a brand ambassador for pet food company Natures Menu and Bramble and Willow showed off their skills at the world’s biggest dog show at the NEC in Birmingham last weekend.
And for pet parents looking to teach their dogs tricks, Jodie suggests a simple ‘spin.’ “You get a smelly treat - I like the Natures Menu puppy training ones.
“Hold it between your finger and thumb above their nose and spin 360 degrees, and they follow it, do a spin then you give them the treat. Keep practicing and rewarding so when you say ‘spin’ they do it!”
Jodie says dog owners want to spend more time than ever with their furry friends thanks to the bond they built during lockdown.
The canine population shot up from 9.5 million in 2019 to 11.5 million in 2021 and now one in three households in the UK has a dog.
Jodie said: “People want to try new activities and sports with their dogs because they were sat at home for so long and our dogs were such good company.
"We’ve connected more and after all that we’ve been through for the past few years; we’ve realised it’s fun to go out with your dog, enjoy life and feel good.”
