Special Reports

IQ Test For Dogs Popular Among Owners

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Boy that Lassie was smart, always sensing danger before it was too late. Most realize Lassie was, well, Lassie and that other dogs aren't quite that clever. But now there is a way to find out at home the intelligence level of your dog.

With the help of Dr. Kathryn Gorski of the Old Derby Animal Hospital in Hingham we put the Pooch IQ test to the test. Like most pet owners, Nancy McAloon is willing to do pretty much anything for her dog Holly, so together they ran through the 15 different drills outlined in the kit.

For example, Nancy hid under a blanket to see if Holly could find her.

Another exercise tests whether or not a dog has advanced reasoning skills. In this instance, Holly was put in a darkened room and the veterinarian pointed a flashlight in different directions. She watched to see if Holly showed any interest in the source of the light.

Initially, Holly didn't do so well on the test. She was unable to learn a new trick. She did, however, successfully find a hidden treat. Nancy even had to don a ski mask to see if Holly could identify her with her face concealed. Again, Holly didn't do so well.

Dr. Gorski noted, "I think we should sufficiently say she runs away scared."

Dr. Gorski liked the test's structure. She thought the results were valid, and that it would be a fun exercise for both a pet and his owner. When it came time to calculate Holly's score, Dr. Gorski determined she was right in the middle of the pack. "It shows that it is 104, and Holly's IQ…is about average. Fifty percent of dogs are smarter than Holly.'

Dr. Gorski thought the kit, priced at about $50, was a fair value.

Nancy made sure Holly knew she was still loved, despite the disappointing score. She joked, "Her SAT scores better come back better than this test."

The good news is that Holly seemed to take the whole experience in stride.

There is some research that shows certain breeds of dogs, in general, do tend to be more intelligent than others. Dr. Gorski has put together a list based on that research.

 Check out a full list of the most intelligent dog breeds

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