Dog Intelligence tests and dog cognitive traits has become an area of great interest.
Owners and breeders are trying to understand the capacities and characteristics of the particular dogs they are interacting with most of which have for the most part only been in existence for less than 200 years.
The Research Basics of this Dog Intelligence Test
This research from Finland is a comprehensive study conducted over a span of approximately six years, from March 2016 up until February 2022, focusing on various cognitive traits in dogs.
13 different dog breeds were put under the microscope.
With a massive sample size, N=1002 dogs, the research had ample data to make valid and reliable conclusions.
The dogs participating in the study were adults ranging between the ages of 1 to 8 years, and each breed had at least 40 representatives.
The participants were mostly domestic pets, however, some were heavily involved in dog sports. Given the differing backgrounds, the study lacked information regarding the dogs’ training history.
The Testing Procedure
A standardized battery of tests was instituted. These tests majorly focused on comprehending
- the dogs’ ability to understand human communicative gestures,
- their knack for spatial problem-solving, and
- their inhibitory control capability.
Although carefully planned, some dogs couldn’t complete the entire array of tests. Nevertheless, the data gathered from the series of tests served the cause of filling some knowledge gaps in the domain of cognitive abilities in different dog breeds.
Dog Intelligence: Key Findings
Contradictory and inconsistent beliefs about dog intelligence in the field of inter-breed cognitive differences led to this research.
Interestingly, the research didn’t find any significant differences when it came to tasks involving memory or logical reasoning among the 13 breeds.
However, the study did bring forth some fascinating behavioural disparity. Breeds displayed differing behaviours towards unfamiliar persons, their activity levels varied, and even their responses in exploring new environments were remarkably distinct!
The body of work aimed at providing a clearer picture and did succeed in offering a more nuanced understanding of the cognitive variances among different breeds.
13 Dog Breeds Study
- Study conducted on cognitive traits in 13 dog breeds, N = 1002 dogs, between March 2016 and February 2022.
- Dogs tested for understanding human communicative gestures, spatial problem-solving, and inhibitory control.
- No significant differences found in tasks measuring memory or logical reasoning.
- Breeds differed in behaviour towards unfamiliar persons, activity levels, and exploration of novel environments.
- Study aimed to clarify between-breed cognitive differences, which were previously contradictory and inconsistent.
- Participant dogs: adults aged 1-8 years, breeds with a minimum of 40 individuals.
- Testing involved a standardized battery of multiple tests, not all dogs completed every test.
- Most dogs were pet dogs, some used in dog sports; limited information on training history.
- Dogs’ sociability is key to their success in human environments.
‘Dogs have boundless enthusiasm but no sense of shame. I should have a dog as a life coach.’ ( Moby)
Testing Setup and Methodology
The test battery was diligently developed based on previous scientific publication
Tests were performed by trained female smartDOG license testers in Finland.
Design of Cognitive Tests and Measurement Tools
Different components of this cognitive test are designed to check various aspects of canine cognition.
There was a unique greeting test where a pooch’s response to an unknown person was rated on a fascinating scale of 1-7, like a Canine Q Score, measuring their social skills and friendliness.
In contrast, the exploration test was concerned with how a dog behaves in a new environment, rated on a scale of 1-5. This test is a mirror into a dog’s curiosity, adaptability, and its boldness or timidity in unfamiliar surroundings.
The specialists used a FitBark activity monitor to measure the activity level during the test battery.
A device similar to the fitness bands we humans use, the FitBark monitor provides a measure of how active or sedentary our dog has been during the comprehensive battery of cognitive tests.
There was a test of inhibitory control known as the cylinder test. Here dogs had to showcase their control and guidance by detouring to reach a visible food reward, testing their problem-solving abilities and patience.
The Role of Rewards in The Tests
Their favorite treats or toys, provided by their owners, were used as food rewards.
Understanding and Judging Canine Intelligence
In several recent studies looking to measure canine intellectual aptitude, several distinct tests have been utilized. The Gesture tests, for example, are designed to evaluate how effectively dogs can understand human communicative cues. These signals can be as simple as pointing, nodding or even gazing.
A test known as the V-detour assessment scrutinizes how a dog handles spatial problem-solving. In this evaluation, the subject has to successfully navigate their way around a V-shaped fence. This often requires a considerable amount of mental agility and problem-solving capabilities.
Moreover, the Memory vs Gesture test offers dogs a choice between a gesture-indicated bowl that’s empty and a visually confirmed baited bowl. This test, in essence, attempts to gauge their ability to make informed decisions based on both raw cognitive ability and intuitive guesswork.
Challenging Canine Persistence
The curious case of the Unsolvable Task shines a light on a less conventional cognitive attribute in dogs. This test aims to measure the level of persistence and human-directed behaviour in a hopeless scenario. Scientists use this assessment to understand if a dog can realise when a task is impossible and if so, how they respond.
Checking for Logical Reasoning in Dogs
At first glance, one may wonder if dogs can have logical reasoning abilities? But the test that goes by the name of Logical Reasoning aims to provide an answer.
This task requires dogs to infer a treat location based on exclusion. It means they essentially need to deduce where a treat isn’t, to figure out where it potentially could be. Quite a fascinating concept, to say the least.
This test not only challenges their intellect but also their powers of deduction and their overall inquisitive nature. It brings in focus their ability to make inferences, a typically human characteristic that has seldom been associated with animals up until now.
Overview of Dog Behavior and Cognitive Traits Assessment
The study, designed to provide a comprehensive view of breed-specific behavior and cognitive traits in dogs, utilized various tests as part of the evaluation process.
The memory test evaluated short-term spatial memory, marking dogs’ recollection of treat location under one of three bowls. Evaluation of the dogs’ responses upon greeting categorized them as fearful, indifferent, friendly, or overexcited.
The activity level was measured using mean FitBark points, which varied across breeds. Dogs’ tendencies for exploration were measured by noting the level of their investigation in novel environments.
Assessment Results and Data Analysis
The results from the tests were varied, revealing breed differences that might be reflective of their functions such as inhibitory control and socio-cognitive abilities. Cylinder tests and Gesture tests showed varying levels of success and understanding among different breeds of dogs. Findings from the V-detour test showed that, although the majority of dogs succeeded, there were breed differences in solving times. The Unsolvable task yielded variation in independence and time spent on human-directed behavior.
An interesting note was that no significant breed differences were observed in logical reasoning and memory.
Implications of the Study and Limitations
The study’s findings highlight the need for individual breed research over breed group categorizations, with potential effects of training and environment not controlled.
These findings could reflect breeds’ original or current functions, as seen in the high inhibitory control of herding dogs.
However, the study also points out that these breed differences may result from selection for specific traits rather than breed function alone.
The analysis included multiple and logistic regression analyses with breed, age, and sex as predictors. Although comprehensive, the results may not represent the entire dog population, indicating the need for further research.