Lol..not a problem Sandy, now my head can stop hurting because I was looking so hard for the other lists. Lol.

This is not my picture but here is a bulldog competing in rally. It can be done with bulldogs. A friend of my family raises bullies and most of her dogs at least make it through CGC testing.

Alex and Sandy, I guess I owe you guys some aspirin.

Oh and for those who disbelieve here is a pug at the same event.

Oh and another bulldog

 Quote: steve strom

Alex and Sandy, I guess I owe you guys some aspirin.

LOL

This is good link from Animal Planet that kind of explains the methods behind the testing and ranking.

http://www.exn.ca/dogs/intelligence.cfm

Good link Melissa. Thanks. I like how they compare instinctive intelligence vs adaptive. Also, it says Stanley Coren surveyed 199 obedience judges for their opinion on smartest to least intelligent breeds.

It says his IQ test involves 12 steps, including tossing a towel on the dog's head to see how quickly it frees itself. I don't know but imagining a dog walking all over the place with a towel over it's head cracked me up. Good read. I'd like to know what other steps are involved?

 Quote: Mike J Schoonbrood

I dont really see poor obedience as being dumb. I see it as being stubborn and lacking in drive.
...
Are there dumb dogs out there? Seen a few of those too :p But usually its the former, coupled with a handler that doesnt have a clue.

Yah, this is probably true of my old Max. I guess he wasn't really dumb, just kind of a bonehead. I had taught other dogs their basic obedience with little or no trouble with treats and praise, but poor Max took a lot longer to catch on to stuff. He didn't pay attention well. I did finally get him to obey the basics consistently, as long as we did refreshers frequently. He stopped leaping up on everyone and everything and would walk on a leash nicely and sit, down, and stay. It just took a lot longer with him.

Kind of OT, but since it was brought up:

 Quote: steve strom

The guy who wrote it is Stanley Coren. He's a neuropsychologist and professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. I don't know if he has ever even owned a dog. I just remembered the title of the book and did a search. I guess I should read his list, LOL.

For the record, he has 3 dogs (Flat Coated Retriever, "Odin", a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, "Dancer" and an old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel). He has published several books on dog behaviour and also has a TV show called "Good Dog" which is kind of similar to the Dog Whisperer in format.

I really like him because he has an ability to explain basic dog behaviour and how to solve common dog "problems" to "regular" pet dog owners. (He doesn't, as far as I know, deal with issues like serious aggression or with working dogs).

As far as doggie intelligence, I kind of see the doggie world like the people world. We were all made different for a reason. The world needs people to fill different roles (a computer programmer and a long-term care nurse have totally different personalities, and therefore, roles inthe world). Same with dogs, except they were created for different purposes specifically by humans. Different roles. If they were all the same, the world would be a much grayer place.

 Quote: Mike J Schoonbrood

“I dont really see poor obedience as being dumb. I see it as being stubborn and lacking in drive.”

Mike:
Ya know I resemble those remarks!

Actually in defense of my co-breed (Malamutes); I have to say that I don’t believe Mals to be as “average” as that “list” purports (#50). Nor are they lacking drive; it’s just channeled differently than say GSDs, Belgians, Dobbies, Rotts, etc. And they’re stubbornness, I attribute to intelligence. (Now would you REALLY expect anything less than the latter, from a Malamute lover???)

Of course having said that it should be noted; my oldest Mal and now the baby are constantly around me, as I work from home and only leave our spread periodically. And even during most of those times, one or both of them are near/with me.

Point being is that I don’t find Malamutes all that hard to train, and the reason most likely is because I’m generally around to correct their misdeeds (and there are always those, mischievously so).

Maybe it’s just me, but...

The thing about Mals I have found, is that once they learn a command they’ll perform ten (10) times flawlessly; then on the eleventh (11th), if one doesn’t address a misstep immediately? The Malamute perceives the rules as having changed, and presumes its ok to do what it did out of line from then on!

That doesn’t bother me so much; I am aware of the trait and handle it accordingly. It’s when they refuse then look at me with tongue hanging; brows raised, head cocked, and tail wagging; as if to say... ’WHAT??? My way is just as good as yours!’

(All in fun of course, Mike. I don’t necessarily disagree with your take.)