Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home/homesinc/1000pets.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-word-count/public/class-wpwc-public.php on line 123
How Smart is Your Dog?
Intelligence is a subjective concept but tries these fun exercises to see how your dog’s brain measures up.
Measuring dog intelligence is like measuring human intelligence. They all have distinct abilities and IQ scores. For example, bloodhounds may not do very well at herding sheep, but, on the other hand, Border Collies may not excel at tracking scents.
Sometimes what we perceive as stupid can be a type of canine intelligence. For instance, wolves must be very wise of their surroundings to stay safe and find food in the wild. That perceptiveness in dogs can translate into some pretty silly things. What if you set a new cereal brand on the table, and your dog noticed and appeared wary of the different colored box? It would seem silly to us, but your dog’s intelligence would serve him well in the wild.
We all agree that a dog that can do tricks is clever. However, dogs who do not cooperate reasonably with training may not be stupid. They may have the intelligence to think for themselves and prefer to do things their way; it may not be your way. Many northern breeds are notorious for this trait.
Some police dog candidates fail the test because of their intelligence. Police dogs cannot be vicious as they are constantly in public. However, they must learn who, when, and where to bite. They are taught bite techniques by people wearing full-body suits, including a “sleeve,” padded to protect the arm underneath. The dogs who learn to bite the sleeve only are called “sleeve sure.” A dog who sometimes goes for the stomach or throat fails the test because he is considered too dangerous for police work. This dog is simply intelligent enough to figure out that biting that sleeve is not hurting the enemy and that he should go for a better hold.
Keeping all this in mind, here are some fun and straightforward ways to measure your dog’s intelligence.
- Count how long it takes your dog to extricate himself from a towel over his head—an average of maybe 15 to 20 seconds.
- Three upside-down paper cups, three feet apart. Allow your dog to witness you put weenie beneath one. Turn him in a circle twice or lead him into another room for about 30 seconds, and then see if he can go to the correct cup the first time.
- Make a flat side on a weenie. Place it just under the edge of the sofa. Time how long it takes him to get it out—an average of around 60 seconds.
- Take your dog on a long leash outside the yard and walk along the fence several feet from the gate, which you will leave open. Toss a bit of weenie back over the wall. See if he figures out to go back through the gate to get the treat.
