Smart & Dumb Dogs

[RD]

There's definitely no breed that's smarter than another, but there are individuals that are quicker learners.

It takes 5-10 reps to teach Ripley a behavior. It teaches 2-3 reps to teach Dakota a behavior. It takes 2-3 reps of watching Dakota learn the behavior to teach Eve that same behavior.

That being said, Dakota is my most flexible dog. He'll generalize commands very well, while Eve is a little more sensitive to detail. If I point at something and tell Dakota to pick it up, he picks it up. If I tell Eve to pick it up, she hesitates and looks around for something she had previously been reinforced for picking up. I don't think either one is smarter than the other, I just think Eve takes things more literally.

 

[Whisper]

Millie is definitely a much quicker learner than Lucy. It took only a couple reps to teach her to pick up a tennis ball and what the tennis ball is but it might take Lucy many times that for the same behavior. She's not stupid but she is not to the same level of responsiveness that Millie is. She is easily mistaken as dull but it takes knowing her that she is a strategic thinker and needs more repetition to impress things upon her. Having said that, her intelligence is not quite to the same capacity that Millie's is.

 

[Rosefern]

Our Rhodesians, for example. I would classify them as very intelligent dogs. As a breed, they are generally of high intelligence. They weren't overly obedient, however, by any means. That doesn't make them "stupid" or "dumb". It makes them stubborn.

-Rosefern

 

[sparks19]

Millie is definitely a much quicker learner than Lucy. It took only a couple reps to teach her to pick up a tennis ball and what the tennis ball is but it might take Lucy many times that for the same behavior. She's not stupid but she is not to the same level of responsiveness that Millie is. She is easily mistaken as dull but it takes knowing her that she is a strategic thinker and needs more repetition to impress things upon her. Having said that, her intelligence is not quite to the same capacity that Millie's is.

this is definitely not the case with Belle.... she is famous for the "blank stare" lol. I often wonder if I could hear her thoughts would I just hear "DUHHHHHH" lol don't get me wrong.... I love her to death and she is a GOOD girl.... she just doesn't "Get it". We tried all kinds of reinforcement and it STILL took over a month and a half to teach her to sit..... and even now I sometimes get the "Can you repeat that" stare lol She's just funny haha. Maybe her ears are too long and block the sound

 

[bubbatd]

Aren't they all great though !!! Having a Grandson with Down Syndrome , I appreciate all levels of ability ! Have dog's chromosomes ever been tested !?? Since 1 of 10 babies with DS are aborted ..... there may be many pups out there who have some disabitities .