Anthony’s sweet little Summer amazed me the other day. She opened two doors to get inside the house all by herself. But first, let me explain that Summer was not outside alone; no, we were all outside with her. Summer opened the door to the garage and then the door/entrance to the house. The doors were not left open or ajar, and no one had previously shown Summer the route from one door to the next to follow, but she figured it out in seconds. Furthermore, this was a repeatable behavior; Summer repeated this behavior the same day and two more times the next day.
Is this a standard ability for Golden Retrievers, or is our granddog, Summer, the world’s smartest dog?
The intelligence of Golden retrievers is well-known and documented. They’re often used as service dogs because they’re good at paying attention to their humans and following instructions. But two studies indicate that they are more intelligent than other breeds regarding problem-solving.
- The Genius of Goldens: Problem-solving ability in the dog breed
- The study, The Genius of Goldens: Problem-solving ability in the dog breed, was conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria.
- Canine Cognitive Abilities Test
- The Canine Cognitive Abilities Test study was conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the University of Salford in the United Kingdom.
Golden Retrievers can solve problems independently, as evidenced by Summer’s ability to open doors.
Golden Retrievers have always been known for their intelligence and problem-solving skills. But the studies I mentioned show they are particularly good at figuring things out independently. Golden retrievers are better than other breeds at completing tasks they weren’t specifically trained to do, such as figuring out how to open doors and latches. No kidding!
Because Golden retrievers are so smart and they can often solve problems quickly and easily. They are also highly trainable, so they are the preferred working dogs in various fields. For example, they work perfectly as service, therapy, and guide dogs.
Another thing that makes golden retrievers unique is their ability to read people. They are empathetic. As a result, they can understand the emotions of their human companions and will comfort them when they are upset. This makes them perfect for families with small children, as they can provide a sense of security and emotional support.
Thanks for reading! I hope you found this interesting, and I promise to continue sharing our adventures. All dogs are amazing creatures, and I believe they are far more intelligent than we have given them credit for, but my little family includes Golden Retrievers, which is where my focus is. So if you have a dog or cat or any other type of animal you share your life with that you feel deserves recognition for their intelligence, I hope you will share their story in the comments section below.
© 2019 I Don’t Know All The Answers, Nikki Mastro
All of my photographs and documents are Copyrighted.
Agree with you. Golden Retrievers are amazing dogs and we miss our Gracie and Millie so much. Ours were smarter than we were. Thanks for your posts.
Thank you for your comment, Karen; I am outsmarted daily by Teddy and Bear! Love them!