Identifying Your Dog's IQ Level

[Iris]

Dogs are actually far more intelligent than we think. In fact, they display their Intelligent Quotient level in various ways such as learning new tasks, reading social cues, understanding language, solving problems, and more.

 

If you want assess the level of your dog’s intelligence, these simple tests, suggested by various experts, can help you to find out if its brain is sharper than its bark.

 

Problem solving

 

Test 1: Take a large towel or blanket and gently toss it over your dog’s head.

 

Score: Three points if he frees himself from the covering in less than 15 seconds. If it takes 15-30 seconds, two points. If it takes him longer than 30 seconds, give him one point.

 

Test 2: Hide something your dog loves underneath a sofa, and see if it can figure out how to retrieve the object. Your dog may go through several strategies, including digging with paws or using snout to get that object out.

 

Score: Five points for getting the item with its paws in less than 30 seconds; four points if it uses paws and takes more than 30 seconds; three if it uses paws but fails; two if it uses its head but doesn’t try paws, and one point for dogs that try to use their head but then give up. It gets no points if it does nothing.

 

Learning rate

 

Test: Get behind a fence that your dog can see through, with a gate open at one end. With you on the other side of the fence, call your dog and see whether it can figure out how to get around to the other side.

 

Score: Five points if it goes around the fence in a minute or less; four points if it succeeds right away after you take a few steps in that direction and gesture; three if it succeeds in 30 seconds after the prompts; two if it succeeds between 30-60 seconds after prompts, and one if it succeeds but requires even more prompting and time than that.

 

Social cues

Test: Start with your pet sitting a few yards away from you. Stare at your pet’s face. Once you make eye contact, count to three and then smile very broadly.

 

Score: Five points for coming to you with its tail wagging; four points for coming half-way; three points for standing or rising up; two points for moving, and one if your doggie dunce pays no attention at all.

 

Inference challenge

 

Test: With your dog on a leash or in the stay position, use treats and two different bowls set a few feet apart, smear the treat on both bowls. Then very dramatically, put the treat underneath one bowl. Release your pet and see what happens. Repeat 10 times, changing which bowl you put the treat under. Repeat another 10 times without letting your dog see where you’re stashing the treat, but let the pup see you enthusiastically lift the other bowl up each time.

 

Score: Five points if the dog goes to the correct bowl and gets the treat each time; four points if it masters the first 10 and improves over the course of the second 10; three if the first set is perfect but not the second set; two if the dog improves during the first and second rounds, and one if the dog is initially not very good but improves over the first round and completes the second round by going to the bowl you lifted.

 

Language comprehension

 

Test: This test is used to determine how well your dog understands what you are saying. Start with your dog sitting in front of you. Using the tone of voice you use to call your dog’s name, call “generator.” Try this again, calling “movies.”

 

Score: Five points if the dog doesn’t respond to those words but comes after you call its name; four points if the dog comes the second time you call its name; three if the dog starts to come; two if the dog comes to “movies” but not “generator,” and one if the dog simply doesn’t come to any of the calls.

 

Your dog’s overall score:

 

Gifted and talented (25-31): Consider your dog brilliant and then…watch out! Smarter dogs are often harder to live with because as soon as you teach them new skills, they try to get around following your orders.

 

Clever canine (18-25): On the higher end of the intellectual spectrum, these are good listeners who will likely perform tricks well and respond to your commands.

 

Sharp, but slow (10-18): You will find them trainable. However, they may require numerous repetitions to master a skill.

 

Doggie dropout (less than 10): Let’s hope that you selected your pet for its beauty, as opposed to its brains; but since anyone can have an off day, give your dog a good pat on the head, and maybe try the tests again at a later date.

 

From Today's PUNCH.

[Iris]

Share if you 'like'.

[dequeen]

Thanks for sharing. I'll test these on my poppy, Podia.

[Iris]

Podia? Lol..it's a nice name for a dog.

[dequeen]

Lol. thanks. you got a dog?

[Iris]

I don't. But I like anyone who does, it's that bad.

[dequeen]

Lol. that's hilarious.