The Intelligence of Dogs: Research Discovers Canine Cognitive Abilities

Dog lovers have long touted the intelligence of man’s best friend and are sometimes accused of anthropomorphism. However, in recent years, science has made some exciting discoveries concerning canine cognitive abilities.

Dogs Apply Earlier Learning to Different Situations

In a study at the University of Vienna in Austria, dogs used touch screen computers to show that they could categorize photographs. They were trained with treats to select a dog picture over a landscape picture. When they were shown a different set of dog and landscape pictures, they continued to select the dog pictures, demonstrating that they could apply earlier learning to a different situation. Researchers tested further by presenting the dogs with contradictory information to see if they were capable of forming concepts. When shown pictures of an empty landscape and a landscape with a dog, they continued to select the picture with the dog.

Dogs Selectively Imitate

A Border Collie named Guinness has been able to identify different landscapes, different faces and even different dog breeds. She, like most of the dogs tested at the Clever Dog Lab, seemed to enjoy watching the monitor. Guinness was also taught to open a food dispenser by pushing a handle with her paw. Dogs will instinctively use their nose for most situations like this but when other dogs observed Guinness using her paw, they also used their paw, indicating that they figured there must be an advantage to this method. However, when they observed Guinness with a ball in her mouth and using her paw, they usually used their nose, indicating that they figured the ball in her mouth was the reason she used her paw. They did not simply imitate her actions but selectively chose to imitate when it seemed appropriate.

Dogs Use Logic in Learning New Words

Another Border Collie named Rico was able to identify more than 200 toys. Researchers then placed a new toy among seven familiar toys and, using a word Rico had never heard before, ask him to fetch the new toy. Seventy percent of the time, Rico fetched the correct toy, indicating that he understood that the new word must mean the new toy.

Dogs Understand Human Expressions

In other studies, dogs as young as six weeks showed amazing ability for understanding human expressions such as finger pointing or gazing at certain objects. Juliane Kaminski, of the Mac Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany says, “When it comes to understanding human behavior, no mammal comes even close to the dog.” Perhaps that’s why they came to be known as man’s best friend.

It seems that science is finally catching up to what dog owners have known all along. There really is more going on behind those big, soulful eyes than just sleep, eat, and play. Dogs truly are intelligent animals who use logic, feel emotions, and form strong bonds with humans and other animals.

Sep 16, 2008 11:46 AM

Guest :

I believe most owners of more than one dog will testify to this: our dogs learn behviors from each other and from us. Darby, our 9 yr old Cagtahoula Leopard Dog/Collie/Golden Retriever, doesn't even try to catch things with his mouth any more. We've had him for 5 years now and he has been using his paws to reach out and catch things for at least 4 of them. We got Burgan 2-1/2 yrs ago. She is a 4 yr old Scnauzer/Cairn Terrier mix, and she copies many of Darby's actions. Not particularly interested in games of catch, we haven't noticed Burgi catching with her paws, but she does so many other things that we've found totally unique to Darby. We thought it was just because he was the pack leader, but we notice now he is copying some of her actions as well. And the communication between the two of them is remarkable. She is small and he is large. I assume the same is true of their bladders: she has to go much more often than he. He will often come get us and we will find Burgi at the back door waiting for us when we follow Darby. We open the door for them to go out, but only Burgi goes and when we look around Darb is already back in his spot by the fireplace laying down. Burgi has often alerted us to Darby's need to go out too. He almost never barks but she will sometimes bark to get our attention and when we head for the back door she lays back down. When we get there, Darby is always waiting to go outside. If he notices she is about to embark on undesirable behavior (chasing small animals) he will put himself between her and the intended victim and if she persists he will knock her down, giving the squirrel time to get away. They are fascinating to watch at all times, and their love has added to our lives immeasurably.