Is your dog exceptionally intelligent? While all dogs are good pups, some are also capable of doing extraordinary things. But how do you know when your canine is indeed smarter than ordinary?
The average dog’s intelligence is often compared to that of a 2-year-old child, making it one of the smartest animals in the world. They understand approximately 165 words or gestures on average. However, some can learn as many as 1,000, according to VCA Animal Hospitals.
Newsweek spoke to veterinarians to find out all the ways in which canines can show exceptional intelligence, and these are the top six signs that your pup might be truly gifted.
Learning New Commands Quickly
Dr. Liza Cahn, veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance, told Newsweek that one of the main signs of exceptional intelligence in dogs is learning new commands quickly without the need for extensive training.
“Some dogs require lots of repetition to learn a new trick or command, but highly intelligent dogs may learn very quickly after just a few tries,” she said.
Understanding Many Words and Gestures
Exceptionally smart dogs, according to Cahn, may also understand more words and gestures than most other dogs.
They might know the names for specific toys or treats they like, and may even be able to understand commands with multiple steps. Some dog can also excel at understanding human emotions and needs.
Having a Good Memory / Anticipation
Smart dogs are often able to remember people, places, and commands that they haven’t practiced in a long time.
“To test your dog’s memory, teach them a new trick but then don’t practice it for a few weeks. Do they still remember it? Or hide a toy or treat and see if they come back to it later,” Cahn said.
Being Able to Problem Solve
Intelligent dogs also excel at problem-solving, whether that is figuring out a puzzle toy or how to open the front door. A good way to test your dog’s problem-solving ability, according to Cahn, is with a puzzle toy made especially for dogs.
“They will have to move flaps or levers with their nose to find a treat! Additionally, if your dog is amenable to it, you can try tossing a large blanket over them and see how long it takes them to escape,” she added.
Getting Into Trouble
While frustrating for pet owners, smart dogs may also get into trouble more often, because of their outstanding skills.
“They might figure out how to get out of their crate or reach a forbidden item from the counter [for example],” Cahn said.
Love for Training
Dr. Gary Dattner, veterinarian at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, and CVO of Tandem Vet Care, told Newsweek that the smartest pups also love training.
“Dogs that enjoy training and even show signs that they want to train beforehand are typically very intelligent and show drive to work,” he said.
Some of them are also capable of observational learning, and able to figure out how to open a door or mimic human movements just by observing them.
Dog Breeds That Are Naturally More Intelligent
According to Dattner, while a dog’s intelligence is circumstantial, some breeds are known for being extremely smart. These include working breed dogs, such as the Belgian Malinois or border collie, renowned for their high drive and intelligence levels, as well as their strong desire to train and learn.
“Other breeds known for their intelligence include poodles, German shepherds, Papillons, and Doberman Pinschers. A few factors that determine a dog’s overall intelligence levels include breeding, early training and nurturing, and medical conditions,” he added.
Can You Help Your Dog Become Smarter?
You can help your dog learn stronger intelligence skills by incorporating regular training and enrichment sessions into their day-to-day lives, according to Dattner.
Puzzle toys, clicker, or treat training are great tools to boost their intelligence. Enrolling them in a dog sports class, like fly ball or agility, may also help your dog fine-tune their smarts.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
The post Is Your Dog Secretly a Genius? Expert Reveals 6 Signs appeared first on Newsweek.
