She can make you do her bidding
“No one likes to hear this, but our pets also train us,” Brandenburg says. “Do we jump up when they run to the back door? Do we get out the food when they bring us their bowl?” How well trained you are is a sign of how smart your dog is, she says.
See how well trained you really are be checking to see if you make your BFF do things your dog actually hates.
He knows when he's on his way to the vet
If your dog gets excited on the way to his favourite dog park or anxious on the way to the vet, it not only means he can recognise his surroundings but can also remember the route to the destination. Recognising locations and direction is a clear sign of animal intelligence, Brandenburg says.
She learned how to open a door after watching you do it
How easy it is to train your pup can be an indicator of their intelligence, and one way to judge this is whether or not they pick up skills simply by observing, says professional dog trainer Jeff Franklin – who oversees elite canines assigned to the military. “Dogs that can watch either humans or other dogs doing certain tasks, such as opening doors or gates, and learn from their example are certainly more trainable and may be smarter,” he explains.
