How to determine a dog's intelligence level - research
Scientists have found that a dog's intelligence can be assessed by how quickly it turns to a human for help with an impossible task. In tests, the Belgian Malinois led with 35 out of 39 points, followed by the Border Collie (26) and the Hovawart (25). Labradors understand gestures well but are weak in spatial thinking; Shetland Sheepdogs showed consistent results.
Scientists have discovered that a dog's intelligence can be evaluated by how quickly it seeks human help when faced with an impossible task. Canadian researcher Saara Junttila, together with colleagues from the University of Helsinki, conducted extensive testing. Dogs were offered to retrieve a treat from a hermetically sealed container or navigate a transparent V-shaped barrier. The time of independent attempts before turning to a human was measured. The Belgian Malinois became the absolute leader, scoring 35 out of 39 points. Border Collies and Hovawarts received 26 and 25 points respectively. Labrador Retrievers excelled at understanding human gestures but performed worse on spatial thinking tasks. Shetland Sheepdogs showed stable results across all tests, without demonstrating any serious weaknesses.