Dog 360

This IQ Test measures five things:
1. Learning ability. How quickly your dog learns new words and behaviors.
2.Problem-solving. How clever or persistent your dog is in figuring out the solution to a problem, in order to gain a reward.
3.Observation skills. How attentive your dog is to your facial expressions and your moods, and to changes in his environment.
4.Memory. How long your dog remembers what he has seen, heard, or
learned.
5. Curiosity. How interested your dog is in trying something new.

Follow these rules for testing:
Do only a few tests at a time.
There are 25 tests. Don't do them all at once! You'll only overwhelm your dog and his scores will gradually become lower due to fatigue. He will also be less motivated because his stomach will be full of treats!
Instead, do a few in the morning, a few in the afternoon, a few in the evening. Take two or three days to administer the full IQ test. You'll be giving your dog his best chance at the highest possible scores. For each group of tests, he will be well-rested and mentally sharp, also a bit hungry and thus well-motivated!

Use soft treats as rewards.
I recommend soft yummy treats with a strong smell -- for example, small pieces of cheddar cheese or cooked chicken. If your dog is not food-oriented, use a favorite toy or ball instead.

Plan ahead for each group of tests.
If you'll need to build anything, do so ahead of time. If you'll need materials -- a towel, a soup can, whatever -- gather them beforehand. Cut your treats into small squares. If you'll need a helper, make sure he's available. Have everything ready so that when you get your dog and start your tests, you can run through several without pause, while you still have his full attention and enthusiasm.

For scoring purposes, don't repeat a test.
Only the first time truly reflects your dog's innate abilities. However, if something truly unusual happens -- the doorbell rings, your kids burst in on the test, a picture frame falls off the
wall and frightens your dog -- you should abandon the test until everyone has had time to calm down and regroup. Then repeat the test. Notice that I said for scoring purposes. I strongly encourage you to repeat the tests for fun. In fact, if your dog does poorly on a test or can't
do it at all, help him succeed before you go on to the next test. He will benefit greatly from the new skills he learns in accomplishing each test!

Make the tests a game.
This one I can't emphasize enough. Encourage your dog to do his best. But no matter how he does, give him a smile, a hug, a cheerful pat. Treat the tests as an enjoyable game.

TEST 1
The goal of this test:
To measure how observant your dog is. Does he recognize a common household routine and associate it with going for a walk?
You'll need:
l your jacket
l your keys
l your dog's leash
l a relaxed, lying-down dog
Do the test:
1. Choose a room where your dog likes to lie down AND where he can clearly see the door you usually use when you take him for a walk.
2. Put your dog outside or in another room, so he can't see what you're doing. Take your three "props" (jacket, keys, and leash) and group them together somewhere in the room a good distance from the door AND a good distance from where your dog likes to lie down. In other words, form a triangle, with three points about the same distance apart -- the door, your dog's usual resting place, and the place where you set the props.
3. After you've let your dog back in the room, sit and find something casual to do, such as reading a book. You want to give your dog time to settle and lie down. Ideally, he will lie across the room from the door, and also across the room from your props.
4. Once your dog is settled, watch him from the corner of your eye. When he happens to glance in your direction, stand up. Without looking at your dog, walk to your props. Lift your coat and slip it on. Pick up your keys. Pick up the leash.
Remember, don't look at your dog. Eye contact might encourage him to come to you and will spoil the true meaning of the test.
5. Now STOP where you are. Stand still. Don't move toward the door.
SCORING
If your dog comes to you (some dogs will practically fly off the sofa as soon as you reach for your jacket!), OR if he goes to the door, or both...
Score 4
Otherwise, walk to the door -- still not looking at your dog. STOP in front of the door. If he comes to you now...
Score 3
Otherwise, place your hand on the doorknob and rattle it. If he comes to you now...
Score 2
If he still hasn't come to you, but is looking alert and interested...
Score 1
If he is paying virtually no attention to you...
Score 0

TEST 2
The goal of this test:
To measure your dog's problem-solving skills. Does he notice you placing a treat under a soup can? Does he remember the treat is there, even when he can no longer see it? And can he figure out how to tip the can over to get the treat?
You'll need:
l one treat
l a clean, empty soup can
l a stopwatch, or a watch with a second hand
l perhaps a helper
Do the test:
1. Show your dog the treat. Tuck it into your closed fist and let him sniff it for a good 5 seconds so he gets excited about it.
2. With a melodramatic flourish, place the treat on the floor. (You may need a helper to hold your dog while you do this!) Invert the empty soup can over it. Step back from the can.
3. Start your timer and encourage your dog to get the treat. "Where is it? Where's the treat?" (or biscuit or cheese, or whatever word your dog knows). "Find it! Get it!"
Don't touch your dog or "point" him in the right direction.
Don't touch the can or tap the floor near the can. He was
supposed to notice where you put the treat on his own!
SCORING
If he tips the can and gets the treat within 5 seconds...
Score 5
In 5-15 seconds...
Score 4
In 15-30 seconds...
Score 3
In 30-60 seconds...
Score 2
If he tries at least a couple of times to get the treat, by nosing pawing at the can, but doesn't succeed within 60 seconds...
Score 1
If he makes no effort to get the treat within 60 seconds...
Score 0

TEST 3
The goal of this test:
To measure how observant and curious your dog is. Does he notice when you drastically rearrange the furniture in a familiar room? Is he willing to explore the changes?
You'll need:
l a rearranged room
l a stopwatch, or a watch with a second hand
Do the test:
1. Put your dog outside.
2. Choose a room that's familiar to him. Now rearrange the furniture. Make at least five things different. And I don't mean just switching a few picture frames or adding a plant. Make the differences dramatic! Move the sofa to another wall. Turn the TV sideways. Turn a chair upside down. Slide the center coffee table into a far corner. Bring a new chair into the room.
3. Now bring your dog into the room and start your timer. Stand quietly. Don't say a word. Don't reassure your dog, or touch your dog, or even look at your dog. Just watch him out of the corner of your

SCORING
If within 5 seconds he notices something is different and goes over to "check out" at least one of the changes, by extending his neck and sniffing curiously or cautiously at it...
Score 5
If in 5-15 seconds he notices and checks out at least one of the changes...
Score 4
If in 15-30 seconds he notices and checks out at least one of the changes...
Score 3
If he appears cautious, as though he notices the changes but is unwilling to approach them within 30 seconds...
Score 2
If he is so suspicious of the changed room that he backs away or runs away and won't come back into the room on his own (don't coax him!) within 30 seconds...
Score 1. At least he noticed!
If 30 seconds passes and he doesn't appear to even notice any changes...
Score 0

TEST 4
The goal of this test:
To measure how observant your dog is, and how correctly he responds to human social signals. Does he notice when you smile at him? Does he interpret the smile as meaning you're
happy?
You'll need:
l nothing but a relaxed, lying-down dog
Do the test:
1. Watch for a time when your dog is sitting or lying down, comfortable and relaxed, about eight feet away from you. You might be reading, or washing dishes, or working on your computer.
2. Don't say or do anything to attract his attention. Just watch him from the corner of your eye. When he happens to look directly at you, look back at him and smile broadly -- a huge exaggerated smile.

SCORING
If he comes to you happily...
Score 5
If he stays where he is, but wags his tail or barks at you...
Score 4
If he comes partway toward you, as though uncertain...
Score 3
If he stays where he is and looks alertly at you, clearly focused on your face, but not wagging his tail or making any sound...
Score 2
If he gets up and moves AWAY from you, as though he saw your facial expression but didn't interpret it correctly...
Score 1. At least he noticed it.
If he pays no attention to your smile...
Score 0

TEST 5
The goal of this test:
To measure your dog's problem-solving skills. Does he notice you placing a treat under a towel? Does he remember the treat is there, even when he can no longer see it? And can he
manipulate the towel to get the treat?
You'll need:
l one treat
l a hand towel or dish towel (not a big bath towel)
l a stopwatch, or a watch with a second hand
l perhaps a helper
Do the test:
1. Show your dog the treat. Tuck it into your closed fist and let him sniff it for a good 5 seconds so he gets excited about it.
2. With a melodramatic flourish, place the treat on the floor. (You may need a helper to hold your dog while you do this.) Lay the hand towel or dish towel over it. Step back from the towel.
3. Now start your timer and encourage your dog to get the treat. "Where's the treat (biscuit) (food)? Find it! Get it!"
Don't touch your dog or "point" him in the right direction.
Don't touch the towel or tap the floor near the towel. He was
supposed to notice where you put the treat on his own!

SCORING
If he works on the towel and gets the treat within 15 seconds...
Score 5
In 15-30 seconds...
Score 4
In 30-60 seconds...
Score 3
In 1-2 minutes...
Score 2
If he tries at least a couple of times to get the treat, by nosing or pawing at the towel, but doesn't succeed within 2 minutes...
Score 1
If he makes no effort to get the treat within 2 minutes...
Score 0

TEST 6
The goal of this test:
To measure your dog's memory. Does he remember where you've placed a treat, even when he is removed from the room for 10 seconds?
You'll need:
l TWO treats
l your dog's leash
l a stopwatch, or a watch with a second hand
l a helper
Do the test:
1. Choose an average-sized room that doesn't have too much furniture
cluttering it.
2. Have a helper hold your dog in the center of the room. Show your dog
a treat. Tuck it into your closed fist and let him sniff it for a good 5 seconds so he gets excited about it.
3. Walk to the corner of the room furthest from the door you used to come in. Call your dog's attention to the treat, and with a melodramatic flourish, place the treat on the floor. Make sure your dog sees you do this. "Look, Jake! A yummy treat! Here it is!"
4. Take your dog from your helper. Lead your dog out of the room and into a different room. Walk around with him in a small circle for 10 seconds. Then bring him back to the door of the room.
5. Start your timer, release your dog, and encourage him to get the treat. But don't point toward the treat.

SCORING
If he goes directly to the treat...
Score 4
If he sniffs determinedly around the room, clearly looking for the treat and finding it within 30 seconds...
Score 3
If he is clearly looking for it, but hasn't found it within 30 seconds...
Score 2
If he wanders vaguely around and stumbles upon the treat by accident...
Score 1 -- and consider it a gift!
If he makes no effort to get the treat within 30 seconds...
Score 0