We love our dogs, and as far as we’re concerned, they are the smartest pups in the world. OK, maybe they are not the smartest in the world, but we love them whether they act as if they’ve got one brain cell in their cute heads or solve tasks faster than a 6-year-old. But can we measure a dog’s intelligence? Do you wonder how high your dog would score? It’s just for fun, so let’s try it.

Types Of Dog Intelligence

The IQ, or the intelligence test we will conduct here, is made by Stanley Coren. He is a psychology professor, neuropsychological researcher and writer on the intelligence, mental abilities and history of dogs. Stanley made one of the most popular books called The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions. According to him, there are 3 types of intelligence we can measure in dogs.

1. Adaptive Intelligence (how fast a dog adapts to a situation and how it uses the knowledge gained in previous experiences in a new situation)
2. Instinctive Intelligence (how well a dog does a job it was bred for)
3. Working/Obedience Intelligence (how quickly a dog learns a command and how well it can do the job it is trained for (not just a job they were bred to do, but other jobs)

Stanley Coren made tests to measure each intelligence. According to these tests, he ranked breeds from the most intelligent to the least intelligent. You can see the rankings in the pictures below.

Of course, this is not the ultimate truth, and each dog is unique. This means you can have a very smart Afghan Hound that will score higher than a Boxer. We should take these tests lightheartedly and think of it as just another fun thing to do with our dogs.

The Stanley Coren’s Tests

It is quite easy to do these tests, and you can do it either indoors or outdoors. I will name the things you will need for each test before you start. Each task has a certain amount of points. You will make a sum of all the points and see the results shown at the end. Good luck, and remember – it’s just for fun! 

Test Number 1 – Treat Under a Can

The first test has a goal to test your dog’s problem-solving ability. 

You will need:

• One empty can
• A treat (your dog loves)
• A stopwatch 

How to do it:

1. Tell the dog to sit. 
2. Show the treat you chose to your dog and let him sniff it.
3. Making sure your dog can see you and has your attention, slowly put the treat on the ground about 6 feet (2 m) from the dog and cover it with a can you prepared.
4. Start the stopwatch and tell your dog to get the treat.

Points:

• If your dog gets the treat by knocking over the can in 5 seconds or under – 5 points
• If your dog gets the treat by knocking over the can in 5 to 15 seconds – 4 points
• If your dog gets the treat by knocking over the can in 15 to 30 seconds – 3 points
• If your dog gets the treat by knocking over the can in 30 to 60 seconds – 2 points

Tip: if your dog doesn’t want to sit or hasn’t learned the command yet, let someone hold him still until you place the treat under the can.

Test Number 2 – Towel Over a Dog

This test also has the goal to test your dog’s problem-solving ability. 

You will need:

• A large towel (a smaller one if you’ve got a smaller dog)
• A stopwatch

How to do it:

1. Your dog shouldn’t be sleepy but normally responsive/excited 
2. Show the towel to your dog and let him sniff it
3. In one motion cover your dog’s head, neck, and shoulders with the towel
4. Start the stopwatch and be silent – no encouragement 

Points:

• If your dog frees himself of the towel in 5 seconds or less – 5 points
•  If your dog frees himself of the towel in 5 to 15 seconds – 4 points
• If your dog frees himself of the towel in 15 to 30 seconds – 3 points
• If your dog frees himself of the towel in 30 to 60 seconds – 2 points
• If your dog hasn’t freed himself after 60 seconds – 1 point

Important: If your dog is nervous and doesn’t like the towel, you can practice it first using treats to encourage the dog that all is well. Don’t rush things. Take time to get your dog to feel comfortable with the towel over his head. Only when the dog is relaxed enough, do the test

Test Number 3 – Dogs And Smiles

This test shows whether your dog can recognize a smile. It’s another problem-solving ability.

How to do it:

1. Sit your dog approximately 6 feet (2 m) away from you
2. You can’t give an order to sit or stay, the dog has to be relaxed, not waiting for a command
3. Stare into your dog until he looks at you; when he looks at you, count to 3 (silently) and smile broadly!

Points:

• If your dog comes to you after he sees you smile with a wagging tail – 5 points
• If your dog comes to you or comes half the way without tail wagging – 4 points
• If your dog stands up or sits (if he was lying down) but doesn’t approach you – 3 points
• If your dog moves away from you – 2 points
• If your dog pays no attention to your or your smile – 1 point

Important: Dogs learn to read our emotions. If a dog was raised in a kennel without a lot of human interaction or if it hasn’t had a family, it might not have developed this ability yet

Test Number 4 – Treat Under a Towel

We’re still checking your dog’s problem-solving ability or a dog’s adaptive intelligence.

You will need:

• A large towel
• A bigger treat (your dog loves)
• A stopwatch 

How to do it:

1. Tell your dog to sit.
2. Show your dog a treat and let him sniff it.
3. Make sure you have your dog’s full attention and then move 6 feet (2 m) away, and slowly put the treat on the ground and cover it with the towel.
4. Start the stopwatch and encourage your dog to get the treat.

Points:

• If your dog gets the treat in 15 seconds or under – 5 points
• If your dog gets the treat in 15 to 30 seconds – 4 points
• If your dog gets the treat in 30 to 60 seconds – 3 points
• If your dog tries to get the treat but gives up – 2 points
• If your dog doesn’t even try to get the treat in 2 minutes or more – 1 point

Tip: the smellier the treat, the better; also, use a towel so you are not worried it might get dirty or torn; also, if your dog doesn’t want to sit, ask someone to hold the dog until it’s time to find the treat

Test Number 5 – Treat Under a Table

This test is another way to see if your dog can adapt to a problem and use previous knowledge or manipulation in order to solve the issue/get the treat.

You will need:

• A table or similar object that is low enough that a dog can’t crawl under but high enough for a dog to put its paws or muzzle under.
• A large treat (your dog loves).
• A stopwatch.

How to do it:

1. Your dog doesn’t have to sit, but he has to see you and observe what you’re about to do.
2. Show your dog a treat you chose and let him sniff it.
3. Make sure your dog is watching what you’re doing; slowly put the treat under the table so that a dog can reach it with his paws.
4. Start the stopwatch and encourage your dog to get the treat.

Points:

• If your dog uses his paws to get the treat in 60 seconds or less – 5 points
• If your dog uses his paws to get the treat in 1 to 2 minutes – 4 points
• If your dog only uses his muzzle and fails to get the treat – 3 points
• If your dog uses his paws to get the treat but fails in more than 3 minutes – 3 points
• If your dog sniffs a treat, uses his muzzle one or two times, and gives up – 2 points 
• If your dog doesn’t try to get the treat in more than 3 minutes – 1 point

Tip: the key in this test is for a dog to use his paws, not muzzle. That’s why you have to find a suitable piece of furniture where a dog can’t just lie down and get the treat with his muzzle with no problems a tall

Test Number 6 – What’s My Name?

This is the last test, and it aims to check your dog’s language comprehension.

How to do it:

1. Stand 6 feet (2 m) away from your dog.
2. Your dog has to be still, not moving and relaxed.
3. Using the same tone as  when you call your dog by his name, say the word “refrigerator” 

Points: 

• If your dog shows some response to the word and wants to come to you – 3 points
• If your dog doesn’t react, try the word “movies” in the same tone; if the dog wants to come to you or shows eagerness to come – 2 points
• If your dog doesn’t respond to either “refrigerator” or “movies”, call him by his name; if he comes to you or shows a willingness to come – 5 points
• If your dog doesn’t come when you call his name, try it again; if it comes this time – 4 points
• If your dog doesn’t come after you call his name the second time – 1 point

Results

Now make the sum of every point your dog scored and check the results below:

• Over 25 points – a genius!
• From 15 to 25 points – smart dog!
• From 5 to 15 points – cute, but not very bright
• Under 5 points – very cute dog!

How To Apply The Score In Real-Life?

When it comes to owners who want a dog for their family and they want to train their dogs on their own, if they have a dog scoring low on Coren’s intelligence list, the problem they will “suffer” the most from is obedience. And when I say obedience, they will especially have a hard time teaching their dogs to “leave it” or “come”. These are just two examples and it doesn’t mean a dog won’t ever learn what we want them to learn. It means it takes more time and a lot more patience. The owners will have to be consistent and never waver. 

For example, If a dog jumps in a neighbor’s pool 10 times and it still doesn’t understand it is a no-no, then we have to say it 11th or 12th time, again and again. We mustn’t lose our tempers! Patience and consistency. They will have a harder time teaching dogs not to do what dogs love to do when they are puppies – chew. Generally speaking, owners of these dogs will have a harder time controlling their dogs. It will be harder to train them and might come across as “too much”. 

But we have to understand that a dog is – just a dog. They all have their unique personalities, plus thousands of years of DNA shaping every cell in their bodies. We have to understand that there are things we can change and things that can only be refocused.

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Cover photo by Jamie Street