A
apbtmom76
http://www.torontos un.com/news/ columnists/ peter_worthingto n/2009/08/ 24/10580221- sun.html
How smart are dogs?
Stanley Coren, a canine expert and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, says the average dog has the mental abilities of a two-year old child, with an understanding of between 165 and 250 words.
When it comes to arithmetic, Coren figures a dog can reliably count up to five -- about the same mathematic level of a four-year-old child.
Coren presented his research findings to the American Psychological Association' s (APA) annual meeting in Toronto in early August.
To cut to the chase, he figures the intellectual elite of the canine world, in descending order, are: Border collies, poodles, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Dobermans, Shetland sheepdogs, Labrador retrievers.
At the bottom of the canine IQ ladder are hounds (relying on smell and sight more than brainpower), the bassett hound, Afghan, bulldog and, finally, the loveable "dumb blond" of the dog world -- the beagle.
I suspect people who own dogs (or are owned by dogs, which is more appropriate) , might argue with Coren's list. Personally, I've no problem accepting the intelligence of border collies, poodles and shepherds, but I'd argue that Golden retrievers and Labradors don't rate highly in the IQ sweepstakes.
They are lovely dogs, friendly, unthreatening, good natured, with an eagerness to please that shouldn't be interpreted as rocket science.
Not motivated
I wonder how Prof. Coren would rate Jack Russell terriers? Not highly, I suspect, because JR's are not motivated by an overwhelming urge to please.
As someone who has owned a succession of JRs, I consider they (and most of the terrier clan) are just as smart as they have to be, and no smarter. For example, terriers don't consider rolling over or doing tricks a sign of intelligence. They like to chase things -- preferably things they can kill.
All six JRs I've lived with knew the word "cookie," and reacted appropriately. One, (Felix) understood "c-o-o-k-i-e," causing a startled friend to exclaim: "My god -- the dog can spell!"
Unlike some dogs, Jack Russells don't aim to please, but to rule.
They are cursed with curiosity (which kills a lot of them) and all are selectively deaf. But they know what's going on around them, and are ever poised to get away with what they can.
Felix, for instance, was wise enough to never get out of the car until he was certain the door wouldn't inadvertently be slammed on him -- unusual, because most dogs bolt out the car door without checking, the moment it is opened.
Murphy, recently deceased whose absence is still mourned, solved the issue of having pills forced on her by pretending to swallow, then hiding the pill in her cheek or under the tongue and then spitting it out. Even pills hidden in cheese, peanut butter or meat fooled her only once. She was Houdini with pills.
Avoiding pills
Lucy, in her day, could locate a pill camouflaged by food and eject it in a gentle arc when she thought no one was looking. JRs had considerable vocabularies, and understand the creaking of cookie cupboards or refrigerator doors being opened.
I make no extravagant claims for the wisdom of terriers, but I've not met many dogs that terriers don't try to dominate, or boss around. That takes courage as well as smarts -- especially when other dogs argue back.
Back to more research, Prof. Coren.
How smart are dogs?
Stanley Coren, a canine expert and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, says the average dog has the mental abilities of a two-year old child, with an understanding of between 165 and 250 words.
When it comes to arithmetic, Coren figures a dog can reliably count up to five -- about the same mathematic level of a four-year-old child.
Coren presented his research findings to the American Psychological Association' s (APA) annual meeting in Toronto in early August.
To cut to the chase, he figures the intellectual elite of the canine world, in descending order, are: Border collies, poodles, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Dobermans, Shetland sheepdogs, Labrador retrievers.
At the bottom of the canine IQ ladder are hounds (relying on smell and sight more than brainpower), the bassett hound, Afghan, bulldog and, finally, the loveable "dumb blond" of the dog world -- the beagle.
I suspect people who own dogs (or are owned by dogs, which is more appropriate) , might argue with Coren's list. Personally, I've no problem accepting the intelligence of border collies, poodles and shepherds, but I'd argue that Golden retrievers and Labradors don't rate highly in the IQ sweepstakes.
They are lovely dogs, friendly, unthreatening, good natured, with an eagerness to please that shouldn't be interpreted as rocket science.
Not motivated
I wonder how Prof. Coren would rate Jack Russell terriers? Not highly, I suspect, because JR's are not motivated by an overwhelming urge to please.
As someone who has owned a succession of JRs, I consider they (and most of the terrier clan) are just as smart as they have to be, and no smarter. For example, terriers don't consider rolling over or doing tricks a sign of intelligence. They like to chase things -- preferably things they can kill.
All six JRs I've lived with knew the word "cookie," and reacted appropriately. One, (Felix) understood "c-o-o-k-i-e," causing a startled friend to exclaim: "My god -- the dog can spell!"
Unlike some dogs, Jack Russells don't aim to please, but to rule.
They are cursed with curiosity (which kills a lot of them) and all are selectively deaf. But they know what's going on around them, and are ever poised to get away with what they can.
Felix, for instance, was wise enough to never get out of the car until he was certain the door wouldn't inadvertently be slammed on him -- unusual, because most dogs bolt out the car door without checking, the moment it is opened.
Murphy, recently deceased whose absence is still mourned, solved the issue of having pills forced on her by pretending to swallow, then hiding the pill in her cheek or under the tongue and then spitting it out. Even pills hidden in cheese, peanut butter or meat fooled her only once. She was Houdini with pills.
Avoiding pills
Lucy, in her day, could locate a pill camouflaged by food and eject it in a gentle arc when she thought no one was looking. JRs had considerable vocabularies, and understand the creaking of cookie cupboards or refrigerator doors being opened.
I make no extravagant claims for the wisdom of terriers, but I've not met many dogs that terriers don't try to dominate, or boss around. That takes courage as well as smarts -- especially when other dogs argue back.
Back to more research, Prof. Coren.
