Take This Dog IQ Test!

If you’ve ever wondered how smart your dog is, this dog IQ test can let you know how fast your dog might learn commands. Each part of this test evaluates your pooch’s ability to think and find solutions to problems. Dogs who score well on this test might do well as service animals or working dogs. Here’s your dog IQ test!

Part 1: Line up three three empty cups or buckets in a row upside down. While your dog is watching, place a treat under one of the containers. Then distract your dog with another activity for a minute. Afterward, let your dog go look for the treat.

Scoring: Your dog gets three points if they get the treat in one try, two points if they get the treat in two tries and one point if they get the treat in three tries.

Part 2: Make a barrier with a cardboard box and piece of cardboard that is five feet wide and taller than your dog when they are standing on their hind legs. Cut a window into the piece of cardboard that is three inches wide and starts four inches from the top of the piece of cardboard and ends four inches above the bottom. This window should be wide enough that your dog can see through it but can’t walk through it. Now toss a treat behind the barrier. Your dog should be able to see the treat through the window.

Scoring: Give your dog three points if they go around the barrier to get the treat in thirty seconds or less. Give your dog two points if they attempt to knock down the barrier or climb through the window, or it takes them more than thirty seconds to go around to the other side of the barrier.

Part 3: Place a treat on the floor underneath a piece of furniture, like a chair or sofa, while your dog is watching. It needs to be low enough that only their paw, and not their snout, can reach it.

Scoring: Give your dog three points if they get the treat in under a minute using just their paw. If they attempt to get the treat with their snout and paws, give them 2 points. Your dog gets one point if they give up entirely.

Part 4: Place a large towel or sheet over your dog’s head.

Scoring: Give your dog three points for shaking the blanket off in under fifteen seconds, two points for shaking it off in fifteen to thirty seconds and one point if it takes longer than thirty seconds.

Part 5: While your dog is watching you, pick up their leash at a time when you don’t normally go for a walk.

Scoring: Give your dog three points if they immediately perk up and take the hint about going for a walk. Your dog gets two points if you have to walk to the door before they take the hint and your dog gets one point if they never catch on.

Part 6: Pick a room in your home where your dog has a favorite place to lounge and send your dog out. Then move all the furniture to different places and let your dog back in.

Scoring: Your dog gets three points if they immediately go to their favorite spot. Give your dog two points if it takes them some investigating before they find their favorite spot and one point if they pick a new spot to lounge.

Final Points:

• More than 15 points: Your dog is super smart! Wowza!
• 13–15 points: Your dog is still very smart and probably knows a few tricks.
• 9–12 points: Your dog is definitely trainable and probably could learn some tricks.
• 5–8 points: Your dog can learn basic commands with a little bit of work.
• 1–4 points: Your dog might not be the sharpest tool in the shed according to this test, but that’s okay! This test only measures a certain kind of intelligence — not how much they love you!