How Intelligent are Dogs, Really? (feat. @TraceDominguez) | Animal IQ

Dogs are humanity's best friend, but did we domesticate the brains out of our favorite companions? What's your favorite dog video? Share it with us! 🐕

The humble dog has been adapting and evolving alongside humanity since before we learned agriculture and how to make our own tools. This long history means #dogs are incredible at human-canine interaction but is there a downside to this all human-focused adaptation? Hosts Natalia Borrego and @TraceDominguez talk to Laurie Santos, Director of the Yale Cognition Center, to find out.

On Animal IQ we dig into the research and talk to the experts to find out just how smart animals appear to be. We then use that knowledge to fill in our AIQ Rubric across five domains of intelligence: Social, Rational, Awareness, Ecological, and our own intelligence X-Factor. Every animal is clever, but their talents vary based on their evolution, biology, values, adaptations, and environment. We hope y'all learn how each of our animals tick on Animal IQ!

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This program is produced in collaboration with #PBSNature! Follow them across the internet:

Support was also provided by PBS Digital Studios! Follow them and learn more every day:

You can also seek out our experts and hosts here:
:: Laurie Santos ::
:: Dr. Natalia Borrego ::
:: Trace Dominguez ::

📚 READ MORE

Dogs and people share social intelligence skills
Study with 552 dogs, pet, assistant dogs in training, military explosive detection dogs, “variety of breeds” Game-based tests, hiding treats, -- then humans pointed, looked at hiding places

There is no human counterpart to some types of dog intelligence
University of Exeter psychology professor (and dog expert) Stephen Lea, says that domestication “has radically altered the intelligence of dogs.” Not so much raised or lowered it as changed its nature from the type of intelligence we would expect from a wolf.

Dog lovers have been saying it for years: dogs are smarter than many people give them credit for
Over the past decade, research into canine behavior and intelligence has been blossoming, and a range of experiments have suggested that dogs are capable of surprisingly complex feats of social intelligence and emotional sensitivity. On the whole, psychologist and dog researcher Stanley Coren estimates, the average dog's intelligence is roughly as sophisticated as a 2.5-year-old baby's.

Music: APM
Footage: Storyblocks, Nature Footage

[Snowstar]

It's so cute that dogs will realize something is hard and think "this is a Human Problem" 🥺

[PeloquinDavid]

Ravens, crows and corbids generally are an obvious group to tackle here too.

[benny_lemon]

One evening my dog was searching around the livingroom for one of her toys. Taking a guess at what she was looking for, I got her attention and said "Your squeaky deer is in the bedroom." And to my shock, she immediately stopped looking, and trotted off to the bedroom, returning moments later with her toy.
Ever since she was a puppy I would say "it's bed time, time to go to bed!" before turning in for the night, so I see where the association comes from, but I was shocked that she could attach the two ideas.

[springbok]

“How intelligent are dogs, really?”

Written by: Dog

[seanivanhernandez]

Every time I watch things like this, even if I'm already in bed getting ready to sleep, I always have the urge to get up, go to my dogs and pet them.

[somedude]

Socially speaking, horses are also extremely intelligent. They, too, can pick up on human facial expressions.

[RagaarAshnod]

This needs to be a thing. Literally every creature would be interesting! Cats, rats, otters, crows

[NovaSaber]

Bees; they're among the most social of all animals, and at the very least their memory and ability to communicate information to each other is pretty impressive.

[jessicaclakley]

African grey parrots would be an awesome episode in my humble opinion

[CocktailsAndCards]

I'd vote for Elephants. Matriarchs have to teach the herd where to go when conditions change like a drought. Not only do they store that info but they are able to pass it along.

[Zpajro]

Do a video(s) on the crows/raven family

[majoroldladyakamom]

Rats?

My son wanted a dog when he was 6. I was flipping a former drug house and working/commuting 57 hours per week.

We all know who (this single mom) would have all the work, right?

Got him a Domesticated Fancy Rat. Then 3 more, consecutively. They are smart as all get out!

Cage? This is where I sleep, this is where I eat/drink, this is where I play, this is where I tee-tee, etc. We'd use cardboard and books to set up mazes around his room.

The tail is used to regulate heat, their hearing is amazing, and they always give themselves a bath after handling. (Removing the oils of our skin after handling.)

Taught my son about great nutrition with small paper plates every day.

Yogurt (a dairy and a protein), a few grains of rice, tiny piece of cheese, celery, a few healthy Cheerios, some veges, some meat, fish... all the while teaching him about caring for a living pet, the responsibility, etc., and I didn't have to clean up the calling cards all over the newly installed white carpet.

Points? One for mom, lol.

10, 000 points for my son, as he learned so much about pet care, handling gently, and life...

We'd go out on Worm Patrol. A protein, and they loved it.

Raw chicken or beef?

Their natural diet, in the wild, right?

Anomaly? They will eat tomatoes and grapes, but not the skins.

Maybe the daily buffet was too good... ? 👍 😎 👍

[zachj]

Can we get a penguin episode? or an owl episode?

[falcaofan]

Yes please cover whales and/or dolphins if possible

[TheHydrohiker]

Would be cool to see a show on octopus/cephalopods and another episode on whales and/or dolphins.

[stanleydenning]

To know what is going through an animal's head is like me knowing what is going on in your head. Humans, Dods, cats, etc., etc... All the same. Each an individual. One into itself. Communication is the key. When we learn to clearly communicate with other animals then we will know what is going on on the inside. Only then will we know. I have always been curious about communication across species. So when I adopted a puppy, my goal was communication. My dog is now 16 years old and we communicate like two people. But with complications... My dog understands 95% of my verbal communication and I understand 85% of his communication. Dogs communicate with sound and body language. And it gets complicated from there. My relationship with my dog is very rewarding and honest. I only wish I had this relationship with one of my own.

[Vmingram]

We've heard from the dog crowd, now let's hear from the cats!

[fatherofkayos]

Squirrels. They keep outwitting me in my own backyard.

[crazylikeafox]

My dog doesn't understand when you point at something to try to help him. He looks at my finger and if I'm insistent with my pointing, he maybe sniffs or licks my hand. He's a smart dog. He just doesn't understand some things like pointing or not following the exact path of an animal he's chasing trying to catch.

[maureenwojewodzki]

How about goats? They're incredibly good at problem solving.