Testing Your Havanese IQ

Here's Yvonne's Flora and Abigail. I do think that Abigail can fly. This pool cover is something they literally adore as it bounces like a trampoline but its safe. If you have a pool, consider getting one.

Now to have some fun...

How do you find out your Havanese's strengths and weaknesses? How can you assess what they need to work on? And where does your Havanese stand on the overall intelligence spectrum?
Here are some simple tests, suggested by various experts, that you can give your furry friend to find out if its brain is sharper than its bark:

1. Problem Solving
Donaldson suggests that you hide something your Havanese loves -- a toy or ball or treat -- underneath a sofa, and see if it can figure out how to retrieve the object. She says Havanese may go through several strategies, including digging with paws or using snouts.

Score Five points for getting the item with its paws in less than 30 seconds; four points if it uses paws and takes more than 30 seconds; three if it uses paws but fails; two if it uses its head but doesn’t try paws, and one point for dogs that try to use their head but then give up. It gets no points if it does nothing.

2. Learning Rate
How many times do you have to repeat a task with your Havanese before your Havanese masters it? Donaldson recommends a test involving detour taking. You need a fence that your Havanese can see through with a gate open at one end. With you on the other side of the fence, call your Havanese and see whether it can figure out how to get around to the other side.

Score Five points if it goes around the fence in a minute or less; four points if it succeeds right away after you take a few steps in that direction and gesture; three if it succeeds in 30 seconds after the prompts; two if it succeeds between 30-60 seconds after prompts, and one if it succeeds but requires even more prompting and time than that.

3. Social Cues
Coren developed the "smile" test for an Australian TV program to see how smart your dog is at picking up social cues from humans. Start with your Havanese sitting a few yards away from you. Stare at your Havanese's face. Once you make eye contact, count to three and then smile very broadly.

Score Five points for coming to you with its tail wagging; four points for coming part way; three points for standing or rising; two points for moving, and one if your Havanese pays no attention at all.

4. Inference Challenge
A canine version of the shell game. With your Havanese on a leash or in the stay position, use treats and two different bowls set a few feet apart, Donaldson says. Smear the treat on both bowls. Then very dramatically put the treat underneath one bowl. Release your Havanese and see what happens. Repeat this 10 times changing which bowl you put the treat under. Repeat another 10 times without letting your dog see where you're stashing the treat, but DO let the pup see you enthusiastically lift the other bowl up each time.

Score Five points if the dog goes to the correct bowl and gets the treat each time; four points if it masters the first 10 and improves over the course of the second 10; three if the first set is perfect but not the second set; two if the dog improves during the first and second rounds, and one if the dog is initially not very good but improves over the first round and completes the second round by going to the bowl you lifted.

5. Language Comprehension
Coren developed this test to determine how well your dog understands what you are saying. Start with your dog sitting in front of you. Using the tone of voice you use to call your dog's name, call "refrigerator." Try this again, calling "movies."Score Five points if the dog doesn't respond to those words but comes after you call its name; four points if the dog comes the second time you call its name; three if the dog starts to come; two if the dog comes to "movies" but not "refrigerator,” and one if the dog simply doesn't come to any of the calls.

Your Dog's Score
Gifted and Talented (25-31) Consider your Havanese brilliant and then...watch out! Smarter Havanese are often harder to live with because as soon as you teach them new skills, they try to get around following your orders. You may also inadvertently teach them bad behaviors.

Clever Canine (18-25) On the higher end of the intellectual spectrum, these are good listeners who will likely perform tricks well at parties or in obedience class.

Sharp, But Slow (10-18) You will find them trainable -- even if it takes numerous repetitions to master a skill.

Doggie Dropout (Less than 10) Let's hope that you selected your Havanese for its beauty as opposed to its brains, but since anyone can have an off day, give your furry pal a good pat on the head, and maybe try the tests again at a later date.

This test is for fun and your Havanese could be simply bored with it all!