New research suggests dog and human IQs can be tested in much the same way and may help us understand the link between intelligence and better health. The daily mail's write up isn't bad and includes a short video of some of the tests.
THE IQ TESTS USED IN THE STUDY The study used four versions of what's known as 'detour tests' designed to measure insight, navigation, and spatial ability. In each test a treat was placed behind a see-through barrier in four configurations - short, long, V-shaped and maze-shaped. The test was to gain the food from a start point and the researchers recorded how much time had elapsed between the dog beginning the test and reaching the food. What? A Border Collie is the most intelligent because it trotted round a flimsy looking wooden screen to get to a plate of food? Charlie would have just booted that screen right out of his way.... Got some panels....let's see how long it takes Charlie then.
He just walked round it. But went straight for the food, no messing about like that slow BC in the vid! I don't think my kitchen is big enough for a maze (er....it's also very untidy because I was messing about with dog IQ tests instead of doing what I should have been doing - putting the grocery delivery away! And quite right too....). GOPR1166 by Julie T, on Flickr
Note the Border Collie was all "what? what? what we doin'?". Whereas Charlie just knew food was involved....
I've spent a lot of time training with Bc at differnt classes I think they are clever in a different way. Labs have that intelligent disobedience thing going on it makes them good at some things other dogs arn't
I don't think the programme showing the experiment with the maze and the dog and cat going through was a very well designed.
