There are many theories that speak of the type of intelligence that dogs possess, although opinions about whether their I.Q can be measured differ constantly. Over the last few years, several studies have been conducted that address this issue, and which have even created a large number of test to scientifically calculate the level of reasoning of these animals.
Among them, the one carried out by the London Business School, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh. A team of scientists created a prototype canine intelligence test with which they evaluated 68 specimens of Border Collie, considered one of the most astute breeds. This examination included tests in which the dogs had to distinguish quantities of food, follow the human gesture to point to an object and reach portions of food hidden behind various obstacles.
The conclusions of the study, published in the journal Intelligence, stated that the dogs that completed the tests faster (Each one had a one-hour time limit), did so more accurately. The researchers also observed that those who performed better on one test tended to be more efficient on the rest. In this way, they demonstrated that canine intelligence works in a similar to human, perfectly differentiating the different types of cognitive tasks.
The objective of this research is to understand the relationship that exists between intelligence and health, something that can significantly help treat diseases such as dementia. As Rosalind Arden of the London Business School explains it: 'Dogs are one of the few animals that reproduce many of the key characteristics of dementia, so understanding their cognitive abilities could be valuable in helping us understand the causes of this disorder in humans and possibly trial treatments. "
What is the intelligence of dogs?
When talking about canine intelligence it is convenient to distinguish between innate abilities (dog biology, such as smell and sight) and learning skills (memory, empathy or interpretation of gestures). Certain breeds have been selected to enhance specific traits, but the training and the socialization greatly shape test performance.
- Conference proceedings: remembering words, locations, and paths; some dogs locate objects after changes in the environment.
- Empathy: sensitivity to human emotions and actively seek interaction; they read expressions and tone of voice.
- Exploration: interest in new environments and olfactory search aimed at specific objectives.
- Obedience: response to commands and impulse control versus temptations as food in sight.
- Logical resolution: handling of puzzle (levers, covers) and detection of unsolvable problems.
- Independent thinking: act on your own and prioritize own memory in the face of erroneous indications.
Evidence suggests that dogs can understand more than 150 words and that there are exceptional individuals capable of managing a much larger vocabulary. They also show numerical notions simple (up to four or five) and, in social contexts, are capable of deliberately deceive to obtain rewards, something observed during the game.
His cognitive repertoire is comparable in some respects to that of a little boy, especially in receptive language, spatial memory and reading social signals.
How studies are conducted and what they measure
To achieve comparable measures, the studies propose short test batteries covering several areas. The LSE-Edinburgh prototype included tasks of navigation (go around barriers to get food), discrimination of quantities and monitoring of human aimingThe total time per dog was less than an hour, similar to a human IQ test.
- Navigation/barrier: time your way around obstacles and reach the prize.
- Differentiation of quantities: choose between different portions of food with consistency.
- Social signaling: respond to the gesture of point an object or location.
- Transfer: aligned performance across tests suggests a component of general intelligence.
The findings show that those who solve faster They usually do so with greater precision, and that performance on one task predicts performance on others, just as it does in humans. To minimize bias, factors such as and motivation, appetite, fatigue, sensitivity to rewards and testing environment, seeking validity and reproducibility between laboratories.
What Stanley Coren's rankings provide
In addition to laboratory tests, an influential line evaluates the traceability by race. In this approach, Coren integrated the opinion of a broad sample of judges of obedience of the AKC and CKC, limiting the analysis to breeds with sufficient number of observations and eliminating biases from simple tabulations. There was a substantial consensus in the results: the Border Collie tended to top the list and the Afghan Lebrel appeared in low positions, with convergent validation by other methods (e.g., owner ratings).
According to this standard of work/obedience, the top ten were:
- Border Collie
- Caniche
- German shepherd
- golden retriever
- Dobero
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Labrador Retriever
- Papillón
- Rottweiler
- Australian cattle dog
Performance groups are described by learning speed y obedience to the first order:
- Elite: They understand new commands in less than 5 repetitions and obey the first time ≈95% of the time.
- Very high: 5–15 repetitions; obedience to the first ≈85%.
- Above average: 15–25 repetitions; obedience to the first ≈70%.
- Media: 25–40 repetitions; obedience to the first ≈50%.
- Basics: 40–80 repetitions; obedience to the first ≈30%.
- Initials: 80–100 repetitions; obedience to the first ≈25%.
This ranking mainly measures training capacity, not the totality of cognition. It received both criticism and support, and did not include races not recognized in those clubs (e.g. Jack Russell at the time). Nevertheless, it helps to understand general trends without determining the potential of each individual, since education and environment greatly modulate the outcome.
Examples of simple home tests
- Towel test: place a towel over your head and measure how long it takes get free.
- Walk test: Lift the belt at an unusual time and observe the anticipation.
- Game of glasses: hide a prize under one of three cups and evaluate the search.
- Under cabinet prize: watch him try to retrieve a treat with strategies non-destructive.
- Simple barrier: create an obstacle and time it if you do it surrounds to achieve the prize.
These dynamics do not replace a standardized test, but they reveal the memory, flexibility and use of social signalsOpen initiatives such as challenges for "genius dogs" have shown individuals of very different breeds capable of learn new words with few exhibitions.
Breeds, health and useful comparisons
It has been observed that an average dog handles a vocabulary of about 100–165 signs, and the most gifted reach around 250 words. They also show basic numerical notions (up to four or five) and stand out in spatial resolution (shorter routes, access to resources).
Breeds bred for specific tasks exhibit strengths different: the border collie They excel in memory and obedience; companion dogs like the golden retriever shine in empathy as well as, while self-employed profiles develop more independent thinkingSelective breeding and, above all, positive training model these results.
Research in canine cognition helps explore the relationship between intelligence and health. Dogs are a good model to study cognitive aging and dementia, and a reliable and rapid test can promote a true “canine epidemiology” oriented towards well-being.
In interspecific comparison, dogs show greater social intelligence (they interpret gestures and emotional states), while other domestic animals may excel in spatial memory or persistence in the face of puzzles. Each species optimizes the capabilities that its ecology demands
Beyond rankings, measuring canine intelligence involves evaluating multiple dimensions in a brief, reproducible and sensitive manner social signalsUnderstanding each dog's strengths allows you to fine-tune their training, prevent problems, and enhance their cognitive well-being.
How to stimulate your dog's intelligence
Sustained mental stimulation enhances learning y self-control. Combine variety and progression to avoid frustration and boredom.
- interactive toys and dispensers: dispenses food and encourages solving problems.
- Smell as a pillar: search games, sniffing games and scent trails to channel energy.
- Short and frequent training: 3–5 minutes, several times a day, with positive reinforcement and clear signs.
- Guided socialization: controlled environments with people and dogs to fine-tune social skills.
- Vary walking routes and environments: controlled novelty that increases curiosity and adaptation.
Staying only with the "who is the smartest" impoverishes a rich reality: races and mestizos show cognitive profiles complementary, the environment multiplies or limits their potential and a human-dog relationship based on game, friendly training and appropriate challenges reveal surprising abilities in any canine companion.