Measure your dog’s intelligence
Most dog owners are curious about how smart their dog is. Several not-so-scientific studies have been published that rank particular breeds in terms of their intelligence. In addition, simple tests purporting to determine whether the dog itself is intelligent are also available.
The most frequently referenced study is one presented in a book by Stanley Coren of the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada, entitled “The Intelligence of Dogs.”
The author believes that there are 3 types of intelligence that dogs display, namely adaptive intelligence (the ability to solve problems); instinctive intelligence (genetically dictated behaviors); and obedience intelligence (the ability to obey commands).
As a measure of the latter, Dr. Coren surveyed some 200 dog obedience judges and asked them which dog breeds were most trainable. He then listed the results of the survey, based on how many repetitions it took for the breed to understand a new command and how often the dogs would obey the command the first time it was spoken. Topping the list were Border Collies, Poodles, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, Shetland Sheepdogs, Labrador Retrievers, Papillions, Rottweilers, Australian Cattle Dogs and Welsh Corgis.
Bringing up the rear were the Bull Terrier, Chihuahua, Lhasa Apso, Bullmastiff, Shih Tzu, Basset Hound, Mastiff, Beagle, Pekingese, Bloodhound, Borzoi, Chow Chow, Bulldog, Basenji, and in the background, the Afghan Hound.
Those dog owners whose dogs are rated low can take comfort in the criticism Dr. Coren’s list has attracted. One obvious problem is that the results are based on the subjective determinations of dog obedience trainers. Clearly, this is not an objective scientific method of measuring intelligence. And this flaw is compounded by the fact that only 200 trainers were surveyed, so for each particular breed being ranked, the sample size may well have been low and may not be statistically reliable.
Another issue raised by the list is whether obedience really is a good measure of intelligence. For example, there are some breeds that appear very bright, such as terriers, which rank low in the survey. But the fact that they are slow to respond to new commands means that they are not intelligent, or simply that they are independent and do not love their masters very much. Be that as it may, dog owners whose pets rank high are likely to enjoy and be comfortable with the results.
Various tests can be found on the Internet and also in Dr. Coren’s book that dog owners can do on their own to measure the adaptive intelligence of their particular pet. These involve things like:
(1) Let your dog smell some food it likes, then put the food under an empty soup can and time how long it takes to tip the can over to get the food;
(2) have your dog sniff a large bath towel, then throw the towel over his head and measure how long it takes for him to break free; Y
(3) stare at your sitting dog’s face and when he looks at you, silently count to three, then smile broadly and see if he comes toward you, tail wagging or not, or not moving at all , or away from you.
It is highly debatable whether tests like these provide any real feedback as to the actual intelligence of the dog. Really, as a dog owner, what you should be interested in is his pet’s willingness to obey your commands and his general temperament. And for people who don’t have a dog yet but are seriously considering getting one, the best advice is to talk to a couple of local dog breeders, tell them what characteristics you’re looking for in a dog, and then follow their advice.