The test of the number of kibbles
Test your dog's logico-mathematical intelligence with two bowls and 5 kibbles. Tell your dog to sit in front of you and not move. Squatting, in front of him, place a bowl on your left and a bowl on your right then drop 1 croquettes in the bowl on the left and 3 croquettes one after the other in the bowl on the right. Make sure that each of the kibbles makes a noise when it falls into the bowl and that your dog remains very still and observes you during this time. Then give the indication to your dog to come and eat the croquettes.Repeat this exercise three times, varying the number of kibbles in each bowl and the side where you will drop the most kibbles.
If your dog systematically goes to the bowl with the most kibble first, it's certainly because his logico-mathematical intelligence is well developed. It's not necessarily because your dog knows how to count but because he realizes that 3 kibbles is more than just one!
The chair test
This exercise tests your dog's spatial, bodily and practical intelligence.
Start by placing two chairs against each other near a wall but without placing them against the wall. Take care to leave a space between the chair and the wall but too narrow for your dog to pass through. Then have your dog sit facing the chairs and stay still while you stand on the other side.Crouch behind the chairs then call your dog by motivating him with a treat or his favorite toy.
If your dog immediately joins you by going around the chairs on the side where he has the most space, it means that he has been able to use his 3 forms of intelligence to get around the obstacle that you have placed in its path. It is also a good sign if he tries to pass on the narrow side, near the wall and sees that it is too narrow to pass before resolving to go around the chairs to join you!
On the other hand, if your dog forces the passage on the side that is too narrow, jumps on the chairs or gets stuck behind the chairs, it means that he has some progress to make! Do not leave your dog in a situation of failure, get up and show him the way by inviting him to follow you, then repeat the exercise a few days later.
Variation: you can also practice this test in a garden behind a gate or fence!
The blanket test
This exercise assesses your dog's practical intelligence, this form of intelligence that allows him to solve concrete problems through action.
Get a blanket (a blanket, a large bath towel) and have your dog sniff it. Then facing your dog, completely cover his whole body and head with this blanket. Proceed gently, without sudden movements so as not to frighten your dog.
If your dog manages to free himself from the blanket in less than a minute, his practical intelligence is well developed! He seeks and finds the solution to a problem, even an unprecedented one, in an efficient and rapid manner. If your dog takes longer to free himself, does not manage to do so for more than a minute, freezes or, on the contrary, begins to get angry, he may be missing a bit of practical intelligence but mostly because he gets excited too quickly or seems too inhibited! It is then necessary to teach him to control himself better in the first case and to give him more self-confidence in the second.
The unknown word test
Practice this test in a quiet environment free from distractions to test one aspect of your pet's linguistic intelligence and, in particular, its ability to understand the meaning of a word (its name, in this case) independent of the tone in which it is pronounced.
Choose for example a moment when your dog is lying peacefully next to you then look at him and say a word that the dog does not know (for example: "hammer" ) but in the same tone that you usually use to call your dog.
If your dog gets up to come see you, it's because he didn't understand the meaning of the word you said. On the other hand, if he looks at you dumbfounded, repeat the experiment with another word (for example: “screwdriver”) pronounced in the same tone. If your dog still does not come to you, it is because he understands his name well and he can tell the difference between the meaning of this word and the intonation on which this word is pronounced.Then call using his name and reward him! If your dog doesn't react at all, it may simply be that your relationship needs to be strengthened or that your dog is not at his best.
The smile test
Your dog's intelligence is not just about understanding our verbal language but it also includes understanding other communication channels such as our gestures, our facial expressions, our facial expressions It is possible to appreciate the dog's understanding of our non-verbal language using the smile test.
Ask your dog to sit in front of you and not move. As soon as your dog looks at you, keep a neutral expression on your face and after 5 seconds, smile at him.
Observe your dog's reaction when you smile: does he wag his tail, stand up or even approach you? He is able to decipher your smile as a positive signal.
If your dog does not react to your smile, it may be because he is not focused enough, he does not interpret this signal well or your relationship deserves to be reinforced.
The hidden treat test
Test your dog's skill and practical intelligence with the tea towel test.
Get a tea towel and a treat that your dog loves then show it to your dog to motivate him. Then place it on the floor then cover it with a tea towel and invite your dog to find the treat hidden under the fabric.
If your dog manages to remove the fabric to eat the treat, congratulations! He demonstrates both agility and unfailing practicality!
On the other hand, if your dog fails to take the treat or does nothing to get there, it may be because he lacks concentration, motivation or these skills! Don't worry, it works! Do not hesitate to repeat this game at another time and show your dog how to do it by lifting the cloth.
Variation: you can also use a plastic cup or bowl to hide the treat!
The test of geometric shapes
Cut 3 geometric shapes out of cardboard: a triangle, a circle and a square. Then, facing your dog who you have asked to sit down and not move, present the geometric shapes one after the other to your animal 5 times and for a few seconds. When you present the square to your dog, give him a treat at the same time.
At this end, represent the shapes to your animal in a different order then, when you arrive at the square, do not give the treat right away to your animal and observe its reaction. If your dog is agitated, shows signs of impatience when he sees the square, it means that he can distinguish between the geometric shapes and that he has understood which gave him the right to receive a treat!
If your dog gets impatient regardless of the shape presented, it may be that he needs a little more training. Then repeat the exercise for a few days. If your dog is not responding at all, it may be because he is not motivated enough by the treat or not focused. On the other hand, if your dog is not interested in geometric shapes but is interested in your hand holding the food, it is because he is too hungry to concentrate or he suffers from bulimia.
My dog failed the tests
Don't worry! The "IQ tests" presented here are only a vague indication of the intelligence of your companion. All the better if your dog passes the tests but if he fails one or more of them, do not systematically conclude that your dog is not intelligent! Maybe he just wanted to do something else that day, that these exercises were done at the wrong time or he lacked motivation or training! Even in humans, the measurement of Intelligence Quotient is no longer the only criterion for measuring intelligence today because it only measures a few aspects of it.However, in dogs as in humans, intelligence takes many forms! Don't forget!