Dog Intelligence Tests

This week I have listed two more of the dog intelligence tests. They seem a little long in description, but are really not too long in execution. I don’t want you to feel in any hurry to perform these tests, I know we are all busy. But I think they are interesting and may at some point of your day, work their way into your schedule -- proving your dog is a genius, as you already know :)

TEST 3
This is a measure of problem solving. You need a large bath towel or heavy cloth of similar size. Make sure the dog is awake and reasonably active, and then let him sniff the towel. Then, with a quick, smooth motion (you may want to practice a time or two without the dog), throw the towel over the dog’s head, so that it’s head and front shoulders are completely covered. Start the stop watch and watch silently. If the dog frees himself in fifteen seconds or less, score 5; If in fifteen to thirty seconds, score 4; in thirty to sixty seconds, score 3; in one to two minutes, score 2. If the dog has not removed the towel after two minutes, score 1.

TEST 4
This is a test of social learning. Pick a time when your dog is sitting around 8 feet away from you but has not been told explicitly to sit and stay. Then stare intently at its face. When the dog looks at you, count silently to three and then smile broadly. If the dog comes to you with any tail wagging, score 5; if the dog comes but slowly or only part way with no tail wagging, score 4; if the dog stands or rises from a lying to a sitting position but does not move toward you, score 3; If the dog moves away from you, score 2; if the dog pays no attention, score 1.

Don’t you know they are wondering at OUR intelligence as we perform these tests?

Alice England
Makingstuffwithlove.etsy.com