Are there really huge differences in IQ between different dog breeds?

Although they are both "domestic pet stars", dogs are very different from cats in that they have a high level of emotional interaction with humans. There are many varieties of dogs, and the differences between different varieties are not only in their coat color, appearance, and size, but also in their personality traits and living habits.

Many common dogs even have their own distinct “dog labels”. For example, the “hands-off” Husky is not only good at destroying the house, but also stupid enough to help thieves steal things. However, Golden Retrievers and Labradors are the best choices for guide dogs because they are smart and focused. And the seemingly silly Shiba Inu is often found by netizens to have its head stuck in the wall and unable to get out.

Of course, there are occasionally breeds like the following that break the boundaries of dog-like cross-disciplinary...

Border Collie Rhine was caught to guest-star as a Husky during the quarantine period (authorized)

In addition to temperament and appearance, are there really clear differences in IQ between different breeds of dogs?

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01

Genetics show dogs' ancestors are wolves

Rich in variety due to wide distribution area

Taxonomy now believes that dogs are a subspecies of wolves. Yes, you heard it right, all the dogs we keep are actually the same species as wolves. People used to think that dogs and wolves were two different species because they have great differences in appearance and behavior, and even wolves howl while dogs bark. But later, through comparative analysis of the genes of wolves and dogs, it was found that dogs are actually just wolves that have been domesticated by humans, and the genetic differences between them are not enough to be considered two independent species.

The wolf is a highly adaptable species. In nature, wolves live in a wide range of areas, and wolves living in different environments are very different. For example, the gray wolf living in North America can be close to 2 meters in length and weigh nearly 100 kilograms; while the Japanese wolf that once lived in the Japanese archipelago and is now extinct is only about one meter in length and weighs just over 20 kilograms.

The wolf species is already very diverse. After being domesticated by humans, more than 800 breeds of various sizes and shapes have been produced through breeding. For example, the well-known Scottish shepherd dog and Siberian husky are dog breeds bred according to different human needs.

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02

Specific content that helps humans work

Determines the skill points of different dog breeds

There are many jokes on the Internet about the difference in IQ between different types of dogs, such as "Husky has a very high IQ, and Husky is the top of the three stupid sled dogs", which is not nonsense. So what is the reason for this difference?

First of all, this is the result of human selection of dog breeds. Both the Scottish Husky and the Siberian Husky are actually working dogs, but the content of their work is very different. As we can see from the name, the main job of the Scottish Husky is to assist shepherds in herding sheep, while the main job of the Husky is to pull sleds for the Inuit.

The Scottish Shepherd needs to guide the flock forward, drive the flock back to the fence, find the sheep that have strayed and drive them back to the flock. These are all very detailed and require careful judgment, which requires a very strong ability to "adapt to changing circumstances". Therefore, in the process of breeding the Scottish Shepherd, people will keep those puppies that look very "smart". Over time, the thinking ability of the Scottish Shepherd breed has become stronger and the brains have become more flexible.

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As sled dogs, the main role of Huskies is to replace livestock such as mules and horses. They need strength and obedience, so people will keep the stronger Huskies. After generations of accumulation, the Huskies are more inclined to be strong. One does mental work, and the other does physical work. After a long period of continuous selection, the difference in "IQ" between the two dog breeds has been caused.

03

The Son of the Wilderness is Confined to a Small Space

What's wrong with having energy that has nowhere to go?

As long as the owner loosens the leash, the dog will run away in the blink of an eye. The reason why Huskies have the reputation of "disappearing when you let go" has a lot to do with their endless energy.

Husky Xiaoxiao is so happy (authorized)

As a large dog, Huskies need a lot of exercise to release their energy, and they also need a relatively large exercise space. However, people who keep dogs in cities often live in buildings, and few families can provide hundreds of square meters of space for dogs to use as exercise grounds. In addition, urban workers basically have to go out to work during the day, and dogs often feel very "depressed" when they are alone at home. When it is finally time to go out, they will naturally be very happy, and it is normal for "dogs" to want to run and jump.

The Husky that was just released after being locked up for dozens of days feels it (authorized)

Huskies are large dogs with great strength, and it is difficult for ordinary people to control their actions. Unlike small dogs, they are easier to control even if they want to do something "stupid". For example, a dog pounces on its owner just to interact closely with him, but it is too strong and can knock the person to the ground in one fell swoop. At this time, we will also think that Huskies are "ignorant" and "too stupid".

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In addition, most dog owners in my country do not pay attention to dog training, and obedience and pointing are not innate abilities of dogs, but require a lot of acquired training. If you do not spend time training it, you will say it is "disobedient", but in fact it is not the dog that is disobedient, but the owner who did not teach it to be obedient.

So, are dogs of the same breed at the same IQ level? Theoretically, the answer is yes. However, some breeds of dogs now adopt inbreeding to pursue the "purity" of their breeds, which may result in deformities and intellectual decline in the puppies they give birth to. Compared with other dogs, these purebred dogs appear to have lower IQs. This is why many "small mixed breeds" and local dogs, also known as "Chinese rural dogs", appear to have higher IQs.

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04

Genes and training

These are the two main factors that determine a dog's IQ.

There are two main factors that determine a dog's IQ: the first is the innate factor, or genes. For example, in the breeding process of sheepdogs such as the Scottish Shepherd, people will deliberately keep the "smart" individuals, and the genes that can show smart performance will also be passed on to their offspring. Genes are the primary factor that determines a dog's intelligence.

In addition, acquired learning is also very important! Many working dog behaviors actually require long-term and extensive training to achieve. For example, sled dogs need to learn to cooperate with their companions when pulling a sled, and shepherd dogs need to learn how to control a flock of sheep. Search and rescue dogs need to learn to distinguish the smell of the rescued object and make indication marks. Guide dogs need to learn to recognize road signs such as traffic lights and guide the blind to walk, etc. This is a very complicated process.

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If there is no special work requirement, from the perspective of family pets, "smarter" dogs will be more popular. This is because the purpose of keeping pets in our daily life is to hope that they can bring us more happiness, and smarter dogs will interact better with people, have richer behaviors, and can better integrate into family life, allowing people to treat them as members of the family.

But for some working dogs, especially those with higher requirements for obedience, such as guard dogs or sled dogs, we tend to choose "not so smart" individuals, such as Rottweilers, terriers, Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, etc. When performing tasks, they need to unconditionally execute the orders of their owners, and move forward without hesitation even if they may lose their lives. At this time, if the dog is too "smart", it will hesitate in the face of danger and will not be able to execute orders well.

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So, whether it is from the perspective of pet dogs accompanying humans in their daily lives and adding to their fun, or from the perspective of working dogs risking their lives, completing difficult tasks, and even sacrificing their lives, dogs are humans' best friends. Regardless of breed, whether they are smart or stupid, you may not like them, but please don't hurt them.

Author | Li Weiyang, a popular science writer, has published works on Guokr.com, State Forestry Administration, China National Geographic, "Bowu" magazine, Juvenile Science Magazine, etc.

Review | Huang Chengming, Researcher, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

This article is produced by the "Science Rumor Refutation Platform" (ID: Science_Facts). Please indicate the source when reprinting.

The pictures in this article are from the copyright gallery and are not authorized for reproduction.

Remember to put your dog on a leash when you walk it