Trust your dog's intelligence!

Dogs can count to five and understand hundreds of words. The smartest dogs have the vocabulary of a toddler. Researchers tested dogs using controlled experiments with treats and toys. The dogs demonstrated the ability to count small numbers of objects and to distinguish between different quantities. A dog shown three treats and then two treats can identify which pile is larger without any training. The average dog understands 165 words and gestures. These include commands like sit, stay, and come, as well as the names of toys, family members, and favorite activities. The smartest dogs, including Border Collies and Poodles, can learn up to 250 words. A two-and-a-half-year-old child has roughly the same vocabulary size and counting ability as a gifted dog. The comparison is not an insult to the dog or the child. Both species are developing similar cognitive abilities at different rates and with different evolutionary purposes.