Intelligence of Dogs There's a new book on the market on dog intelligence.  It is a fun book filled with silly, yet fun tests to give your dogs to find out just how smart they are.  I haven't read the book, only seen the reviews and news features. Of course, I had to try some of the tests on my dogs (I have quite a few at home) to see who was the smartest of the pack.  The first test they recommend is the towel over the head test. It's simple enough – just place a towel over your dog's head and count the number of seconds it takes them to get it off. One of my dogs shook it off immediately while another just stood there, towel on head until I removed it.  This was supposed to be the most basic test where a dog of reasonable intelligence would get the towel off his head within 15 seconds.  The only thing I can say in defense of my one towel-headed dog is that she is the oldest and was actually probably just thinking "why bother, she'll eventually take it off me anyway".  Hmm, maybe she knew something the rest didn't. The second and third tests involved food.  All dogs love food and I couldn't imagine that my pack of food-loving pups wouldn't pass this with flying colors.  But I have to say there were definite differences in their ability to solve the next two problems.  The first of the "food" tests involved taking a treat and putting it under a cup or small box, anything that hides the treat.  The second step was to see if your dog could get the treat.  This test actually ended up being quite amusing. A couple of my dogs managed to scoot the cup over the entire patio, never getting to the treat and finally just looking at me as if I was some cruel treat torturer.  Another dog (the winner of the towel over the head contest) simply knocked the cup over with her nose and got the treat.  The other ones eventually retrieved the treat by accidently scooting the cup into something that knocked it over.  At least everyone got a treat for their hard work instead of just a towel over their head. The last test in the doggie intelligence trifecta also involved food (which of course the dogs were very happy about) and their memory. You put your dog on a leash, let them watch you hide a treat, then take them out of the area, wait 3 minutes, and let them off leash to run back and find the treat (please only perform this test in a secure area where your dog cannot escape, like inside your house). The first dog (and so far the smartest and winner of the two previous tests) walked immediately to the treat, ate it and looked at me as if to say "next?" Most of the dogs eventually found the treats in varying times with one refusing to look for it at all.  In the end after I added up all the "scores" it turned out my pit/German shepherd mix, Max, who I had rescued from the streets was the "smartest" dog.  I had a feeling that her early lot in life had honed her survival skills, which even after years of a soft life, were still intact. The runner-up was my border collie mix, Oso, who loves to play and is so good natured that I just think he wasn't in a hurry to beat out his girlfriend (she is definitely the one in charge). My daschund, Dee Dee, came in third, while she has never lived on the streets, she is the omega dog in our house and I suspect has had to hone her survival skills to avoid loosing out to the more dominant dogs. However, I also must add she was first in her doggie obedience class, so Dee Dee is definitely smart. Then there was the dog who came in last, the shiz tsu, Bobbie. All of her life, Bobbie has wanted everything done for her.  She lays in the kitchen with her head in the food bowl, not even bothering to get up to eat.  She wants to be carried when we all go on walks. She won't jump into the car, but must be lifted. She wants her hair brushed, her food on time, and to be petted first.  Come to think of it, she may be the smartest one after all. For more doggie intelligence tests check out the new book, "The Dog Intelligence Test" by Kathy Coon. http://www.dogintelligencetest.com/ Read more about doggie intelligence and more tests reprinted from a CBS News article