There is no doubt that the intelligence of dogs is one of the mysteries that intrigue most expert scientists in pets. However, measuring this characteristic is a very complex task because there are different types of cognitive abilities.
For this reason, a study published in Scientific reports More than 1,000 dogs of 13 different breeds were subjected to a series of tests called Smart Dogwhich analyzes the dog’s ability to solve problems and strategy, impulse control, the ability to read human gestures, the ability to imitate them, memory, logical thinking, and the ability to explore and learn about a new environment.
Which race showed more intelligence?
Despite the large number of participants, the tests revealed significant differences between the races.
“Most breeds have their strengths and weaknesses,” lead study author Sara Guntella, a PhD researcher in canine cognition at the University of Helsinki, told The Telegraph.
The strain that performed best during the tests was belgian shepherd malinoiswith 35 out of 39 possible points.
The Belgian Malinois scored highest in the test group. Photo: Pixabay
The Malinois is a highly desirable breed for security jobs. Their affinity for detecting and recognizing criminal acts may be related to their problem-solving skills, proof of which they got an A+.
Another test in which Malinois excelled was interpreting human gestures and spatial evolution.
The only skill they scored low was testing impulse control or inhibition. In this test, Malinois tried and failed to get a cookie from a clear, sloping cylinder by going straight into it instead of going around the cylinder and catching the food through one of the holes.
The researchers noted that this lack of test impulsiveness may be related to Malinois action, as safety dogs require a high response associated with low inhibitory control.
