"Smart as a dog" is a pretty common phrase I read about tegus and much to my pleasant surprise, I'm discovering that Rex is beginning to understand the word "no" although the look he gives me when he acknowledges it clearly indicates he doesn't like the word.
Despite the claims of tegus not being climbers, when allowed to, Rex will always climb onto the couch and then up onto the back of it, in fact, he almost always seeks out the highest vantage point he can find.
He does occasionally try to burrow into the cushions though, resulting in a "no Rex" and me moving him but he's actually now stopping and moving on his own when I tell him "no."
That doesn't stop him from trying to burrow into a different cushion or coming back after he feels he's waited a sufficient time for "no" to no longer be valid but he's learning.
Sorry if this sounds like not news to the rest of you but after having dealt with nothing but reptiles with "reptile brains" having a pet lizard this smart and interactive is pretty amazing for me.
Despite the claims of tegus not being climbers, when allowed to, Rex will always climb onto the couch and then up onto the back of it, in fact, he almost always seeks out the highest vantage point he can find.
He does occasionally try to burrow into the cushions though, resulting in a "no Rex" and me moving him but he's actually now stopping and moving on his own when I tell him "no."
That doesn't stop him from trying to burrow into a different cushion or coming back after he feels he's waited a sufficient time for "no" to no longer be valid but he's learning.
Sorry if this sounds like not news to the rest of you but after having dealt with nothing but reptiles with "reptile brains" having a pet lizard this smart and interactive is pretty amazing for me.
