Posted on November 15, 2009 by: WayCoolDogs

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This guest post is brought especially to you be Dog Fence DIY‘s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY has a variety of different small dog fence systems for you to choose from. They will help find you find the system that will benefit you and your pet the most. Visit Dog Fence DIY for all your pet containment needs at the best available prices.

There is no doubt that in dogs, as with people, there are degrees of intelligence. Consider the working breeds such as German Shepherds or Border Collies, who were bred to not only be a companion to their owners, but to help them work on their farms. These dogs are very smart, and very quick to learn.

There are other breeds who are less well recognized for their brain power, but are loving and loyal nonetheless.

How do you measure intelligence in dogs? If you compare it to academic success in people, you could argue that an intelligent dog is successful in obedience training and competition. That’s not necessarily so. Again, just like people, different dogs and dog breeds have different strengths. You may own a breed that is very challenging to train in standard obedience exercises, but has an amazing sense of smell. Isn’t he just as clever at doing what he was bred for as any dog who scores top marks in an obedience ring?

Keep in mind also that even the cleverest dog will get it wrong if you don’t communicate with him very well.

When you bring home your new puppy, there are several things you can to to allow him to reach his full potential.

Firstly, you must socialize him by taking him to puppy preschool, and introducing him to carefully selected adults, children and other dogs. This will help him learn to be open and adaptable to changes in his environment, which is an indication of intelligence.

Continue to take him to obedience classes. This will help him “learn how to learn”, and will also show you how to communicate with him. Success in obedience training often isn’t related to intelligence as such, but instead to your dog’s attitude to learning, and how willing he is.

To make sure your dog remains keen to learn, choose a training class that uses food rewards or positive methods of training. Both dogs and people don’t learn well when they’re under duress, or afraid. As he gets older, introduce agility training, as he’ll have to concentrate harder to correctly clear a hurdle, or place his foot on the A frame. This also stimulates his mind.

Nutrition is important in raising an intelligent dog. A dog can’t learn well if his diet is lacking in vital nutrients. There has been research to indicate that Omega 3 fatty acids may enhance brain function. These fatty acids are found in fish, so you may want to add a tin of tuna to your dog’s meal once or twice a week.

Although you may be focussed on success in dog competitions, don’t let your efforts to raise the smartest dog possible get in the way of enjoying your dog. Make sure you take the time to play with him and take him for a walk in the park or at the beach. This relationship building is critical in having a dog who will work for you.

When you think about it, your dog’s intelligence isn’t his most important characteristic. He is loyal to you, wants to be with you, and is overjoyed to see you when you come home from work. Certainly, do whatever you can to allow him to meet his potential, but don’t forget to just enjoy him.

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