dogs intelligence?

Question

how smart are dogs compared to humans is the average dog as smart as a 4 year old child or another age?

Answer 1

Studies indicate dogs are capable of understanding approximately 250 human words. This would put them about the three to four year old range, depending on the child.

The nice thing about dogs...they never ask for an allowance, or the keys to the car. And if you get annoyed with them, you can put them out in the fenced yard for awhile, and no one calls child protective services.

Answer 2

What you need is an answer directly from a dog. My name is Indiana Jones and my sister's name is Mango. We have a different kind of intelligence. If you were to measure us by human standards we would probably appear to have only the intelligence of a 2 year old at best. Yet we evolved to excel at very different things than you. For instance, if I sniff you I can tell if you've been around other dogs or people, and would even recognize the scent of particular dogs or people on you that I know. I can even tell by smelling you where you've been if it's a place familiar to me. Can you do that? I didn't think so, but I wouldn't underestimate your intelligence because of it.

Also, my sister and I are good hunters, and we coordinate together to catch small varmints in our backyard. Even though we can't speak, we know how to work together to herd and corner the critter.

Dogs are sometimes given dog IQ tests by humans, and there are 3 major types:
1. Adaptive Intelligence tests learning and problem solving ability, "relating to the knowledge and skills a dog can acquire during its time here on earth" (see 1st link below).
2. Innate Intelligence deals with "behaviors and skills programmed into the animal's genetic code." (ibid - Arf!)
3, Working/Obedience Intelligence "has to do with how well an animal can follow commands" (ibid - Arf!)

The following is excerpted directly from Wikipedia (yes, dogs read Wikipedia):
"Various studies have attempted to confirm the intelligence of dogs in a rigorous manner. A recent example is animal psychologist Juliane Kaminski's paper in Science that demonstrated that Rico, a Border Collie, could learn over 200 words. Rico could remember items' names for four weeks after last exposure (Kaminski eliminated the Clever Hans effect using strict protocols).

Rico was also able to interpret phrases such as "fetch the sock" in terms of its component words (rather than considering the utterance to be a single word): he could give the sock to a specified person."

In conclusion, "Woof!"

I hope that answers your question. And by the way, instead of points, could you just give me a really tasty biscuit?

Answer 3

Here is a very interesting article on the intelligence of dogs:
http://www.tarazet.com/mt/archives/002240.html
I think that your average dog is about as intelligent as a 3 year old. I couldn't find a website that could give me an exact age, though.
You might try reading the book "How to Speak Dog" for more info on doggie intelligence.
Hope this helps!

Answer 4

I wouldn't say they are smarter than a four year old child but probably smarter than a 1 year old. You can tell a dog to do something and if they are a good dog they will listen and understand you. A very young child may not.

Answer 5

Dogs are very smart. and for the first person who answered, a dog can decide if they WANT to obey commands. Dogs may not seem smart but they are!

Answer 6

In my opinion, it's how much you work with your dog..Dogs can be crazy smart, all you need is to put in some time and effort.

Answer 7

dogs are very smart! they are as smart as a seven year old at the age of one. the smartest dog in the world is a maltese-lhasa apso named sophie, who is 2 years old, and as smart as a 3 year old dog.