Test Your Dog 2: Genius Edition: Confirm your dog’s undiscovered genius!. Rachel Federman

One

       DAILY ROUTINE

      Dogs love routine and they hold us to those we establish (as many a Sunday morning hungover dog owner will tell you). How they respond to routine – and changes in it – can help us interpret their self-awareness, understanding of their environment and capacity for learning.

      1. Does your dog have a sense of routine? Does she head to the door when it’s time for her walk, head to her bowl when you usually feed her, expect your car to pull in at a certain time every day, and so on?

       No NIL POINTS

       Yes, but she’s on holiday time (always two hours late, but ready to party) 1 POINT

       Yes 2 POINTS

      2. How likely is your dog to repeat behaviour that is met with a negative reaction, such as jumping up on your legs?

       No cues seem to help; pretty much every greeting pins me to the ground NIL POINTS

       A subtle reminder each time does the trick 1 POINT

       I snapped at her once and she’s never done it again 2 POINTS

      3. If you forget your bag as you leave a park bench, what will your dog do?

       Did somebody say squirrels? NIL POINTS

       Bark in a seemingly random way until you figure out what the bark means 1 POINT

       Grab the bag in his mouth and bring it along 2 POINTS

      4. Does your dog show less interest in your own dinner preparations when the meal is one of the following vs meat-and-potato-type fare?

      Vegetarian?

       No NIL POINTS

       Yes 1 POINT

      Vegan?

       No NIL POINTS

       Yes 1 POINT

      Organic, free-range, gluten-free, salt-free, antibiotic-free, wheat-free, soy-free, nut-free?

       No NIL POINTS

       Yes 1 POINT

      5. If you have a dog-friendly common space where you can let your pup off the lead, does she stay still while you unhook her (knowing that the payoff is worth it) or does she squirm and strain against the lead, meaning it will take longer to get it off?

       I can’t get her into the dog park to begin with NIL POINTS

       Flies off before I unhook her, trailing the lead behind 1 POINT

       Waits patiently 2 POINTS

      6. Which of the following games can your dog play? Tick all that apply.

       Chase (i.e. fetch without the return trip) 1 POINT

       Fetch 2 POINTS

       Catch 3 POINTS

       Football 4 POINTS

       Poker 5 POINTS

      7. Does your dog understand the difference between when you go out for a short trip (‘Be right back’) and saying goodbye for a full day or more?

       It’s a goodbye fit for Hollywood either way NIL POINTS

       The ‘Be right back’ trip barely gets a head nod 1 POINT

       He has my mobile number just in case 2 POINTS

      8. Is your dog a good judge of people? If she doesn’t like someone, does that person generally prove to be of weak moral character?

       No – she likes everyone NIL POINTS

       No – she’s suspicious of everyone NIL POINTS

       She’s kept me from going on several bad dates 2 POINTS

      9. When your dog is cold, does she:

       Shiver and wait