The Intelligence of Dogs

What we deem ‘intelligence’ to mean when talking about dogs can be hard to define. It is also very difficult to find ways to measure intelligence in dogs due to the many interpretations we give to ‘intelligence’ in general. There is general consensus that dogs lack foward thinking problem solving capabilities. However, this can vary from breed to breed – it has been observed that some breeds are more active in their problem solving than others, often happening to solve their problem by chance. Therefore, some researchers believe that it is possible that a few dogs might be able to make the connection between their little quandary, and the way they found a solution. It should be pointed out though that this still remains to be proven.

Further problems are constituted by the fact that dogs might show different sorts of intelligence. An example being the various breeds of Husky dogs (or Sledge dogs), who are not the most obedient of dogs and are known to completely ignore instructions from their masters more often than not. Some would attribute this kind of behaviour to the dog not understanding what is being said to them and conclude that the dog it not particularly bright. However, these dogs are often extremely clever when it comes to finding ways to escape from yards, hunting small animals, and figuring out numerous ways to create mischief.

Assistance dogs, such as guide dogs for the blind, need to be completely obedient. There must never be any question what so ever of how they should react. They need to be alert and be able to recognise hazards for their owners before they actually take place. So could it be deduced that dogs are the most intelligent?

Dog owners who work with dogs as their companions in sheep or other herding testify of the difficulty to make sheepdogs (e.g.the Great Pyrenees) understand what they are told. Beagles, Bloodhounds and Basset Hounds also react poorly to obedience tests and are generally more concerned with following a ‘flock’ than doing what their owner wants them to do.

One dog that should be mentioned is the Border Collie. They often excel at herding and agility but also seems to have a highly developed sense of smell and respond very well to training. This often makes them the breed of choice for rescue services. Several tests gives the ‘first prize in intelligence’ to Border Collies, although it’s advisable to treat all intelligence-tests with care: look at what they are measuring, which breeds are covered, and the circumstances under which the dogs been tested.

The following breeds are considered as particularly intelligent when it comes to obeying orders and completeting work assignments (mostly concerned with herding and hunting):

1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Sheperd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador

The list could be made longer and vary according to what kind of tests that have been used. One of the foremost dog researchers, Stanley Coren, observes that dog-intelligence tests should be broken down in at least 6 different fields although he believes three of them to have precedence over the others, these are:

• Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability).
• Instinctive Intelligence.
• Working/Obedience Intelligence.

Other researchers propose different means to measure intelligence in dogs, thus making it very hard to say anything specific about dog-intelligence. Which dog breed is the most intelligent then? Well, as is often said, the answer can only lie in the eye of the beholder.

For further reading on this subject check out the following sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs#Brightest_Dogs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_intelligence
http://blogg.aftonbladet.se/11171/perma/816947
http://petrix.com/dogint/
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553374524/intelligenofdogs#reader