Experts outline five tests to gauge dog intelligence, warn against viral trends

Five simple tests that researchers say can reveal a dog's cognitive profile are gaining attention as veterinarians caution that online trends may not reflect true intelligence. A panel of dog cognition experts, drawing on work from laboratories around the world, says the tests measure problem solving, memory and social understanding more reliably than viral clips. Leading voices include Dr Zazie Todd, who notes that how a dog responds to cues and communication often provides a clearer picture than how many tricks it can perform.

Experts describe five standardized tasks that reveal different strengths and weaknesses: the problem-solving test, the hidden treat test, the cup test, the trust test, and the barrier challenge. The tests are designed to be used in controlled settings and, where appropriate, at home to gauge cognitive function rather than simply the ability to follow commands.

The towel test remains one of the most popular online indicators, but scientists caution that it may not be the best single measure of intelligence. Dr Todd says a towel placed on a dog’s head can be a stressful experience for some dogs, which can skew results. For a simple at-home alternative, owners can try a muffin-pan setup: hide a treat in several cups, then cover the top with a tennis ball to see whether the dog figures out how to retrieve the reward through problem solving.

The hidden treat test uses repeated hiding in the same spot to assess memory and learning. Dr Todd explains that placing a treat out of sight, then returning the dog to search, tests the dog’s nose work and recall. If the treat is hidden in the same place across several trials, an intelligent dog will often head straight to that spot once the dog learns the pattern.

If you are testing with cups, the cup test is a variation of the shell game. Two identical cups hide a treat, then the cups are swapped or rearranged to test the dog’s ability to track the signal and locate the treat. Dr Juliane Kaminski, director of the Dog Cognition Centre at the University of Portsmouth, says that if a dog can pick the correct cup from cues or gaze, it shows advanced social understanding. She notes this task is particularly challenging because dogs often struggle to follow cup movements even when the food is hidden in view. Swapping the cups in full view of the dog tests the limits of their object-tracking abilities and highlights what researchers call object permanence gaps in some dogs.

The trust test, sometimes called the wall test, has attracted viral attention but researchers say it may not measure intelligence in a meaningful way. In the test, a dog is guided toward a wall to see whether it instinctively stops to avoid collision or continues forward. Dr Kaminski says the test is harsh and not aligned with standard cognitive measures. An alternative is an unsolvable task such as a clear box with a treat inside, which can reveal social responsiveness when a dog looks to a human for help. Dr Katriina Tiira of the University of Helsinki notes that what matters most is a dog’s willingness to seek human assistance in unsolvable tasks, not simply success at solving hard problems.

The barrier challenge, part of the standardized SmartDog Battery developed by University of Helsinki researchers, uses a V-shaped barrier that dogs can see through but cannot pass. The test measures spatial reasoning and impulse control as the dog tries to reach visible treats and learns to go around the barrier. Researchers use a stopwatch to time how long it takes for the dog to reach the reward. Dr Tiira has observed that, contrary to earlier assumptions, the fastest solvers tend to be more impulsive and may struggle with daily management at home.

Beyond tests, researchers note the context of dog domestication. A genetic analysis of the world’s oldest dog remains indicates domestication occurred in Eurasia at least 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. Dr Krishna Veeramah, an evolution specialist at Stony Brook University, says the process was likely gradual, driven by a population of wolves that became tamer and more integrated with human groups over many generations, rather than a single moment of domestication.

For dog owners, experts say these tests should be used to understand a dog’s cognitive profile rather than to label it as smart or dumb. Tests should be designed to be positive and not induce fear, and results should be interpreted in the context of temperament, environment and daily routines. Rather than chasing a single score, owners are encouraged to use these tasks alongside everyday cues, training and enrichment to gauge a dog’s problem-solving style and social responsiveness.

The takeaway for most pet guardians is that while online clips can be entertaining, a careful, science-informed approach provides a fuller picture of canine cognition and the unique strengths each dog brings to the relationship with its human family.