Eliot, our third Springer Spaniel, for some reason thought that he should have been born with human hands.  Now, he was obviously ignorant of the text book definition that a dogs front paws were “but still they are useful for little besides digging and locomotion. The dog cannot really grasp things with its feet.”

Obviously the scholar that claimed that a dog cannot grasp objects with his feet has not met Eliot.  Eliot can shake hands, hold hands – let me clarify this, he doesn’t just give you his paw like most dogs, he squeezes it, and gets noticeably upset if you don’t squeeze back – and he can unwrap packages and treats.  

UPS packages can’t be left unattended as our eager springer spaniel has learned to pull open the tape with his mouth and stick his paws in the box until the lid comes open, hopefully revealing mail order dog treats.

Most of all, however, Eliot likes to shell peanuts. Some how, with two paws and his tongue, he manages to crack open the shell, and dig the peanut out, carefully not eating any shell.

What tricks can your Springer do with his paws? Is he or she also paw gifted?