The physical differences between dogs of different breeds are obvious. Chihuahuas and Pomeranians are some of the smallest dog breeds, while Great Danes and Mastiffs are some of the largest. Dalmatians having spots, Chow Chows having thick fluffy fur, and Dachshunds having long bodies are all easily recognizable traits.
But there are other differences between different dog breeds that aren't so obvious: their cognitive abilities, which means how they think and how intelligent they are. A dog's cognitive abilities often determine their personality, and knowing a dog's personality is important when deciding what dog breed you want to get, or for understanding your current dog better.
For example, Border Collies and Poodles are known for being highly intelligent. Terriers and Dachshunds are known to dig. Dobermans, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers are known for being highly protective. These are all cognitive abilities.
But do dogs have these abilities as a result of how these breeds were bred, or is there something in their genetics that causes them to act the way they do? And how do dogs' cognitive abilities vary among the different breeds? That's what dog behaviorists and researchers from the University of Helsinki in Finland wanted to find out.
How were dogs' cognitive abilities tested?
To test a dogs' cognitive abilities and learn more about their behaviors, researchers first had to assemble a group of dogs. 1,002 dogs from 13 breeds were represented in the study, including:
- Australian Kelpies
- Australian Shepherds
- Belgian Malinois
- Border Collies
- English Cocker Spaniels
- Finnish Lapphunds
- German Shepherds
- Golden Retrievers
- Hovawarts
- Labrador Retrievers
- Mixed Breed Dogs
- Shetland Sheepdogs
- Spanish Water Dogs
With their owners present, each dog took tests related to their activity levels, how they interact with strangers, control impulses, respond to a new environment, solve problems, etc., for a total of 10 tests, each with a food reward involved.
The results showed several differences in different breeds' cognitive abilities
Analyzing the results from these tests showed some interesting information. Dogs' impulse control, persistence, social skills, and problem-solving abilities varied among the different breeds. Their activity levels, willingness to interact with a stranger, and how they responded to a new environment varied among breeds as well.
For example, Border Collies and Australian Shepherds had a high amount of impulse control. Considering that these breeds are commonly used as herding dogs, this is an important trait for these breeds to have so they don't get distracted easily by other animals.
Dog breeds such as the German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois were very confident in exploring new environments and being able to respond to situations without human direction, which are important skills for their role in police work.
Retrievers and Australian Kelpies responded well to human direction, which is why they make great companion dogs and guide dogs.
Dogs in the same AKC group responded to tasks differently
The American Kennel Club (AKC) divides dogs into seven different groups based on what their breed purpose is. For example, the Sporting Group consists of dogs that are used for hunting and sport, such as Retrievers and Poodles. The Herding Group consists of dogs that are used for herding, such as Collies and Australian Shepherds. The Working Group consists of dogs used to perform work-related tasks, such as German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois.
Another interesting thing that the study found was that dogs in the same group responded to tasks differently. For example, Australian Shepherds, Australian Kelpies, and Finnish Lapphunds are all part of the herding group. But the tests showed that Australian Kelpies were more attuned to human direction and gestures, while Finnish Lapphunds weren't. Another test showed that Australian Shepherds were least likely to give up on a task, while Kelpies were most likely to give up, despite being part of the same group.
The study confirmed that cognitive traits are breed-specific
The study showed that the behavioral traits in dogs are specific to different breeds, and not something that is bred into a group of dogs as a whole. It showed that not all herding breeds are as intelligent as the Border Collie, for example. It also showed that some breed traits are inherited, meaning there is a genetic factor that comes into play, which was confirmed by another study as well.
Examples of traits that dogs may inherit are trainability, aggression toward strangers, attention-seeking behaviors, and attachment to certain objects or people.
In other words, while a dog's appearance has a lot to do with human breeding, their behavior does not. Border Collies are naturally intelligent; they aren't bred to be intelligent. Huskies are naturally more hyperactive and vocal. They aren't bred to be that way.
While there are some behaviors that can be controlled with training, a lot dog behaviors can't be fixed because it's in their genes. That's why it's important to know about the dog breed you're getting before you bring them home, so you can make sure the dog's personality fits into your lifestyle.