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In animal intelligence research, even defining the subject of study can be difficult. Many basic questions remain unanswered, and people argue endlessly over what the results of tests mean. [1] X Research source Pearce, John M. <i>Animal Learning and Cognition, 3rd edition</i>. New York: Psychology Press, 2008. So remember, if your dog scores low on this dog IQ test, you can still say he's the smartest dog in the world.
Steps
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Hide a treat under the towel. Show the dog a treat. While the dog is watching, put the treat on the floor. Lay the towel over it. Start the stopwatch and see how long the dog takes to reach the treat:
- 30 seconds or less: 3 points
- 31–60 seconds: 2 points
- Tries but fails within 60 seconds: 1 point
- Doesn't try: 0 points
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Find a stopwatch. You'll need a clock that measures seconds for these tests. They're intended to measure problem-solving and adaptation to the environment.Advertisement
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Toss a towel over the dog's head. Let the dog smell a large towel or a small blanket. Toss it over the dog's head, covering it completely. Start the stopwatch and see how long it takes your dog to get free. Write down the score:
- 30 seconds or less: 3 points
- 31–120 seconds: 2 points
- Tries but doesn't succeed within 120 seconds: 1 point — and take off the towel for him!
- Doesn't try to get free: 0 points.
- You might want to practice tossing the towel over a chair beforehand. It should land in one, smooth motion. [2] X Research source Coren, Stanley. <i>The Intelligence of Dogs</i>. New York: Free Press, 1994.
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Set up a low opening. For this test, you need a gap low to the ground, that the dog can reach with its paws but not its muzzle. A couch might work, or you might need to make one yourself out of a pair of books and a wide plank. Weigh down the top of the plank so the dog can't easily knock it over. [2] X Research source Coren, Stanley. <i>The Intelligence of Dogs</i>. New York: Free Press, 1994.
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Test the dog with the puzzle. Place a treat underneath the plank or couch, while the dog is watching. Push it far enough underneath that the dog can't reach it with its muzzle. Encourage the dog to get the treat while you time it:
- Succeeds within 2 minutes (using its paws): 4 points
- Succeeds within 3 minutes (using its paws): 3 points
- Fails within 3 minutes, but uses its paws: 2 points
- Fails, only uses its muzzle: 1 point
- Doesn't try: 0 points
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Teach your dog to find a hidden treat. The next test is designed to challenge the dog's memory, not its problem-solving skills. To do this, the dog needs to understand what's going on. Put a treat underneath a plastic cup, then tell the dog to find it. Lift the cup to show the dog where it is. Do this about eight or ten times, until the dog learns that treats go underneath cups. [3] X Research source
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Test the dog's memory. Place three plastic buckets or cups upside down on the floor, a foot apart. Put a treat underneath one of the cups, while the dog is watching. Lead the dog out of the room for 30 seconds, then back. Urge the dog to find the treat.
- Checks under the right cup on the first try: 2 points
- Finds it within two minutes: 1 point
- Doesn't find it: 0 points
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Score the dog's results. Add up all your dog's points and see how it did:
- 11–12 points: Canine Genius
- 8–10 points: Obedience School Honor Student
- 4–7 points: Just an Average Rex
- 1–3 points: I'm a Barker, Not a Thinker
- 0 points: You might have just tested a mop.
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Treat it like a game. This is no time to be an impartial observer, your dog's college admissions are on the line! But seriously, if the dog isn't interested, she won't even try to complete the challenges. Encourage the dog with gestures or smiles, keeping it interested but not so excited it forgets what to do.
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Pick a special treat. [4] X Expert Source Jessica Powell
Certified Professional Dog Trainer Expert Interview. 5 October 2021. The dog has to cooperate to be tested. Pick a special, smelly treat to bribe it with. Soft, smelly treats are best, since the dog will notice them and eat them quickly. Cut them into small, pea-sized pieces if you plan to do all of these tests at once.- Pieces of hot dog, cooked chicken, or cheese are all good options. [5] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
- Use a dry, non-smelly treat when you're testing memory.
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Have the dog's owner conduct the test. This test works best if the dog spends a lot of time with the person testing him. A dog might not live up to its full potential if it's been living with the test-giver for less than three months. [2] X Research source Coren, Stanley. <i>The Intelligence of Dogs</i>. New York: Free Press, 1994.
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Test a puppy again after it matures. A puppy under one year old probably won't be as "smart" or obedient as an adult dog. [2] X Research source Coren, Stanley. <i>The Intelligence of Dogs</i>. New York: Free Press, 1994.
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Train the dog with treasure hunts. Tell the dog to stay while it watches you "hide" a treat in a box or under a table. Once it finds the treat, hide the next one in a harder to find location. As your dog gets better at this, you can hide the treat while the dog isn't looking, and put it behind several barriers. [6] X Research source
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Teach the "new trick" command. This is a great way to challenge your dog. It works best if you've clicker trained your dog with several tricks already. [7] X Expert Source Jessica Powell
Certified Professional Dog Trainer Expert Interview. 5 October 2021. Use the clicker and say "new trick," then reward it for any trick it does. Repeat immediately with another "new trick" and only reward it if it does something new . Keep going until the dog runs out of tricks or gets confused. [8] X Research source -
Get brain-testing puzzle toys for your dog. You can't always be around to tutor your dog. Give it some homework in the form of an interactive dog toy. These have treats hidden inside that won't fall out unless the dog solves a puzzle. Some of them even have an electronic voice to give commands, although be careful giving those to dogs with a constant chewing habit.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionI tried it, but my dog couldn't do it. Is it hard at first?Community AnswerYes. Some dogs have trouble because they are hyper or easily distracted. Just keep at it.
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QuestionIf my dog isn't hyper or easily distracted, is it just dumb?Community AnswerOf course your dog isn't dumb. Perhaps boredom is the issue here. Some dogs are just low-key and not easily distracted.
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QuestionI know a sick dog. His owners have cancer and feed him table scraps and cheap dog food. He has lost the hair around his ear, face and belly. His skin looks like an elephant. What should I do?Community AnswerAsk the owners if you can take him to the vet. Once he is better, you can ask the owners if you can take him to care for him or take him to a shelter.
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Tips
- You can find dog intelligence games online or on mobile devices, for you and your dog to play together.Thanks
- Don't get frustrated if your dog can't do it at first. Keep working on it!Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Always play with your puppy and go outside to play with it for at least an hour so it gets exercise.
- Try many tests to get an average score, then see if it is intelligent.
- Have fun! It's just a test so don't get upset or be hard on your dog!
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Warnings
- Only use a light blanket that the dog can easily move under. Don't suffocate a puppy or small dog with a heavy quilt.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- A dog
- A stopwatch
- A blanket or towel
- Treats or a toy
- 3 buckets or cups - preferably matching.
References
- ↑ Pearce, John M. Animal Learning and Cognition, 3rd edition . New York: Psychology Press, 2008.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Coren, Stanley. The Intelligence of Dogs . New York: Free Press, 1994.
- ↑ http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/10-brain-games-to-play-with-your-dog
- ↑ Jessica Powell. Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Expert Interview. 5 October 2021.
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/teaching-your-dog-hand-target
- ↑ http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/10-brain-games-to-play-with-your-dog
- ↑ Jessica Powell. Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Expert Interview. 5 October 2021.
- ↑ http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/10-brain-games-to-play-with-your-dog
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To test a dog’s intelligence, start by placing a treat under a bowl on the floor and timing how long your dog takes to find the treat. You can also place a treat under one of three cups on the floor, then urge your dog to find the treat 30 seconds later, since the most intelligent dogs can find it on their first try. If you want to improve your dog’s intelligence, practice these tests whenever you can and offer special treats, like cooked chicken or cheese, when it does well. Alternatively, buy some interactive puzzle toys for your dog to solve when you’re not around. For tips on how to help your dog become more intelligent, read on!
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- "Our Molly is a shelter dog we got when she was about one year old. She is very strong-willed but learns easily, so we always thought she was smart. I put Molly to the test with your challenges. She aced it! Amazing! She made every one of them look like a no-brainer. " ..." more
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"Our Molly is a shelter dog we got when she was about one year old. She is very strong-willed but learns easily, so we always thought she was smart. I put Molly to the test with your challenges. She aced it! Amazing! She made every one of them look like a no-brainer. "
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"I am testing the intelligence of my friends' dogs for a school project, and this really helps. I think my dog, Annabelle, will be a doggy genius; she figures out new tricks in about five minutes!"
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"Thanks for all the info! I now love throwing towels on my dog's head, and plan on showing all my friends and family! Thanks, wikiHow!"
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"I cant wait to try this with my friend, she always says her dog is so so smart. I know my Karma is smarter, so we will have to see!"
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"It helped us be able to get information on our dog. He scored a 13 on the IQ test. Plus, this had new tricks to try."
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