The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [3]
Breeds ranking in the top 10 smartest can grasp new commands in fewer than five repetitions and obey a known cue the first time it is given 95 percent of the time. The Border collie heads this elite class and is joined by poodles, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Doberman pinschers, Shetland sheepdogs, Labrador retrievers, papillons, Rottweilers, and Australian cattle dogs.
Breeds in the bottom 10 often require up to 100 repetitions to understand a new command and will obey a known cue the first time it is given only 25 percent of the time. Even if they know how to sit, they may need to hear the word four or five times before they plop their rear ends down. This list, which is definitely subject to debate, includes the Shih Tzu, basset hound, mastiff, beagle, Pekingese, bloodhound, borzoi, chow chow, bulldog, basenji, and Afghan hound.
Here are a few fun ways to figure out how smart your own dog is.
THE TOWEL TEST: When your dog is lying down, drape a large bath towel over his head and time how long it takes for him to lose the towel. Smart dogs master this in less than 15 seconds while slow learners can take more than 30 seconds.
THE BUCKET TEST: Line up three buckets (size is not important, but use ones made of lightweight material like plastic). Show your dog his favorite treat or toy and let him watch you place it under one of these upside-down buckets. Divert his attention away from the buckets for a few seconds and then ask him to find the hidden prize. A smart dog makes a beeline to the correct bucket while slower learners may knock over the other two buckets before finally finding the prize under the bucket.
THE LEASH TEST: Pick a time that you do not customarily walk your dog — say mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Without saying anything, pick up the leash and your house keys in full view of your dog. A smart dog associates the leash and keys with a walk and becomes excited at the prospect of going out. A not-quite-so-bright dog won’t make the connection and may need to hear “Want to go for a walk?” before jumping for joy. (Of course, some more phlegmatic dogs may just not be in the mood for a walk!)
Remember that canine IQ tests have limitations, one of which is that the results are subjective and evaluated by people, not other dogs. So a dog who may seem dumb to us could be the leader of the pack in the eyes of other dogs. Whatever the test results, the important thing is to value the love your dog gives you more than the number of brain cells he maximizes.
Superhuman Senses
Q My Siberian husky can be snoozing upstairs in the back bedroom, but within seconds of a bag of potato chips being opened on the first floor, she suddenly appears, tail wagging and ready to share. When we go out on walks, I am amazed at how she sniffs out a cat hiding under a bush or tracks down the smallest bit of something edible on the ground. She can spot a squirrel scampering up a tree faster than I can but will sometimes stop and stare intently at a stick or a rock as though she expects it to move. When it comes to our senses, how do we compare to dogs?
A We all know better than to challenge our dogs to a hearing contest. Canine ears, whether erect like a German shepherd dog, dropped like a Labrador retriever, or folded like a bloodhound, capture more sounds at greater distances and wider frequencies than human ears. Even breeds like cocker spaniels with thick, floppy ears can distinguish the sound of their owner’s car from all other traffic a block or more away, though your husky’s pricked ears probably give her an advantage in hearing the crinkle of a chip bag from several rooms away.
Despite their many different shapes and sizes, canine ears have the same basic function: