Are Dachshunds Smart?

by Marcel Dinkel

1. Dog Intelligence: What It Is and How It’s Measured

1.1. The Three Types of Dog Intelligence
1.2. How Dog Breeds Are Ranked by Intelligence
1.3. Why Dachshunds Are Average-Intelligent Dogs

2. Dachshunds’ Intelligence in Action

2.1. Hunting Instincts and Senses of Dachshunds
2.2. Problem-Solving Skills and Tricks of Dachshunds
2.3. Emotional Intelligence and Feelings of Dachshunds

3. Training a Dachshund Effectively and Boosting Their Intelligence

3.1. Challenges of Training a Stubborn and Independent Dachshund
3.2. Best Methods and Tips for Positive Reinforcement Training
3.3. Benefits of Mental Stimulation and Socialization for Brain Health

4. How Smart Is Your Dachshund? Take This Quiz!

4.1. A Fun and Interactive Quiz to Test Your Dachshund’s IQ
4.2. Interpret Your Dachshund’s Score and What It Means
4.3. Improve Your Dachshund’s Intelligence with Fun Games and Activities

5. Conclusion

Dachshunds are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. They are known for their long bodies, short legs, and floppy ears. They are also affectionate, loyal, and playful companions. But are dachshunds smart? How do they compare to other dog breeds in terms of intelligence? And how can you train them effectively and enhance their intelligence?

The answer to the question “Are dachshunds smart?” is not so simple. It depends on how you define and measure intelligence in dogs. There are different types of dog intelligence, such as instinctive, adaptive, and obedience intelligence. Each type reflects a different aspect of a dog’s mental abilities and skills.

In this article, we will explore the different types of dog intelligence and how dachshunds rank among them. We will also show you how dachshunds demonstrate their intelligence in different ways, and how you can train them effectively and boost their intelligence. In the end, we will give you a fun and interactive quiz to test your dachshund’s IQ and see how smart they really are.

So, are you ready to find out how smart your dachshund is? Let’s get started!

Dog Intelligence: What It Is and How It’s Measured

When we talk about dog intelligence, we often think of how well they can learn commands, perform tricks, or solve puzzles. But intelligence is not just about obedience or problem-solving. It is a complex and multifaceted concept that can be measured in different ways.

In this section, we will explore the different types of dog intelligence and how they are measured. We will also see how dog breeds are ranked by intelligence and where dachshunds stand among them. Finally, we will explain why dachshunds are considered average-intelligent dogs and what that means for their owners.

Intelligence is not just about obedience or problem-solving. It is a complex and multifaceted concept that can be measured in different ways.

The Three Types of Dog Intelligence

According to psychologist and dog expert Professor Stanley Coren, there are three types of dog intelligence:

Instinctive intelligence: This refers to the innate abilities and skills that a dog inherits from its ancestors. For example, some dogs are bred for hunting, herding, guarding, or retrieving. Instinctive intelligence is hard to measure objectively, but it can be observed by how well a dog performs its natural tasks.
Adaptive intelligence: This refers to the ability of a dog to learn from its environment and experience. For example, some dogs can figure out how to open doors, escape from crates, or find hidden treats. Adaptive intelligence is more variable than instinctive intelligence, as it depends on the individual dog and its opportunities to learn.
Obedience intelligence: This refers to the ability of a dog to learn from human instruction and communication. For example, some dogs can learn many commands, follow directions, or imitate gestures. Obedience intelligence is the most commonly measured type of intelligence, as it can be tested by standardized methods and criteria.

There are three types of dog intelligence: instinctive, adaptive, and obedience.

How Dog Breeds Are Ranked by Intelligence

In his book The Intelligence of Dogs, Professor Coren ranked 138 dog breeds by their obedience intelligence. He based his ranking on the results of a survey he conducted with more than 200 professional dog obedience judges from North America. He asked them to rate each breed by how quickly and accurately they can learn new commands.

According to his ranking, the top 10 smartest dog breeds are:

Border Collie
Poodle
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Doberman Pinscher
Shetland Sheepdog
Labrador Retriever
Papillon
Rottweiler
Australian Cattle Dog

And the bottom 10 least intelligent dog breeds are:

Mastiff
Beagle
Pekingese
Bloodhound
Borzoi
Chow Chow
Bulldog
Basenji
Afghan Hound
Shih Tzu

Professor Coren also divided the breeds into six categories based on their average number of repetitions needed to learn a new command and their percentage of obeying a known command on the first try:

Brightest Dogs: They can learn a new command in less than 5 repetitions and obey a known command 95% of the time or better.
Excellent Working Dogs: They can learn a new command in 5 to 15 repetitions and obey a known command 85% of the time or better.
Above Average Working Dogs: They can learn a new command in 15 to 25 repetitions and obey a known command 70% of the time or better.
Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs: They can learn a new command in 25 to 40 repetitions and obey a known command 50% of the time or better.
Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs: They can learn a new command in 40 to 80 repetitions and obey a known command 30% of the time or better.
Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs: They can learn a new command in more than 80 repetitions and obey a known command less than 25% of the time.

Professor Coren ranked 138 dog breeds by their obedience intelligence based on a survey with professional dog obedience judges.

Why Dachshunds Are Average-Intelligent Dogs

So, where do dachshunds rank among these breeds? According to Professor Coren’s ranking, dachshunds are in the category of average working/obedience intelligence dogs. They are ranked at number 49, along with other breeds such as Keeshond, Pointer, Irish Setter, Brittany Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Schnauzer, English Springer Spaniel, and Australian Shepherd.

This means that dachshunds can learn a new command in 25 to 40 repetitions and obey a known command 50% of the time or better. They are not the smartest dogs, but they are not the dumbest either. They are somewhere in the middle of the pack.

But does this mean that dachshunds are not smart at all? Of course not! Remember, obedience intelligence is only one type of intelligence, and it is not the only or the best way to measure a dog’s intelligence. Dachshunds have other types of intelligence that make them unique and special.

Dachshunds are in the category of average working/obedience intelligence dogs, but they have other types of intelligence that make them unique and special.

In the next section, we will show you how dachshunds show their intelligence in different ways, such as their hunting instincts, their problem-solving skills, and their emotional intelligence. You will be amazed by how smart your dachshund really is!

Dachshunds’ Intelligence in Action

In the previous section, we learned that dachshunds are average-intelligent dogs when it comes to obedience intelligence. But that does not mean that they are not smart in other ways. In fact, dachshunds have many other types of intelligence that make them remarkable and fascinating.

In this section, we will show you how dachshunds demonstrate their intelligence in different ways, such as their hunting instincts, their problem-solving skills, and their emotional intelligence. You will see how your dachshund uses their senses, their brain, and their heart to navigate the world and interact with you.

Hunting Instincts and Senses of Dachshunds

Dachshunds were originally bred to hunt badgers and other small animals in Germany. They have a strong instinct to chase, dig, and bark at anything that moves or smells interesting. This instinct is part of their instinctive intelligence, which is inherited from their ancestors.

Dachshunds also have amazing senses that help them hunt. They have a keen sense of smell that can detect even the slightest scent of their prey. They have a sharp sense of hearing that can pick up the faintest sound of their quarry. And they have a good sense of vision that can spot movement and contrast in low-light conditions.

These senses are not only useful for hunting, but also for everyday life. Your dachshund can smell your mood, hear your footsteps, and see your expressions. They can use their senses to communicate with you, to alert you of danger, and to enjoy the world around them.

Dachshunds have a strong instinct to hunt and amazing senses that help them hunt and communicate.

Problem-Solving Skills and Tricks of Dachshunds

Dachshunds are not only good at hunting, but also at solving problems. They have a high level of adaptive intelligence, which is the ability to learn from experience and environment. They can figure out how to get what they want, how to escape from trouble, or how to entertain themselves.

Some examples of how dachshunds show their problem-solving skills are:

They can open doors, drawers, cabinets, or containers to get food or toys.
Dachshunds can climb on furniture, stairs, or fences to reach higher places or explore new areas.
A dachshund can hide under blankets, beds, or couches to avoid bath time or punishment.
They can use their paws, teeth, or nose to manipulate objects or devices such as switches, buttons, levers, or remotes.
Dachshunds can trick you into giving them more treats, attention, or playtime by pretending to be hungry, sad, or bored!

These skills are not only impressive, but also amusing. Your dachshund can make you laugh with their cleverness and creativity. They can also challenge you to keep up with their intelligence and curiosity.

Dachshunds have a high level of adaptive intelligence and can figure out how to solve problems and trick you.

Emotional Intelligence and Feelings of Dachshunds

Dachshunds are not only smart in the head, but also in the heart. They have a high degree of emotional intelligence, which is the ability to understand and express emotions. They can sense your feelings, empathize with you, and respond accordingly.

Here are some examples of how dachshunds show their emotional intelligence:

They can comfort you when you are sad, sick, or stressed by cuddling with you, licking your face, or bringing you their favorite toy.
Dachshunds can cheer you up when you are bored or depressed by playing with you, making funny noises, or doing silly things.
They can celebrate with you when you are happy or excited by wagging their tail, jumping around, or barking with joy.
A dachshund can apologize to you when they are guilty or ashamed by lowering their head, tucking their tail, or giving you the puppy eyes.
They can express their own feelings such as love, anger, fear, or jealousy by using different body language, vocalizations, or behaviors.

These feelings are not only genuine but also contagious. Your dachshund can make you feel what they feel and share a strong bond with you. They can also teach you how to be more compassionate and expressive.

Dachshunds have a high degree of emotional intelligence and can sense your feelings and express their own feelings.

As you can see from these examples, dachshunds are smart in many different ways. They use their hunting instincts and senses to explore the world and communicate with you. They use their problem-solving skills and tricks to get what they want and entertain you. And they use their emotional intelligence and feelings to connect with you and share a strong bond with you.

Dachshunds may not be the smartest dogs in terms of obedience intelligence, but they are certainly smart in their own unique and special ways. They are smart enough to make you happy, and that is what matters the most.

Dachshunds are smart in their own unique and special ways. They are smart enough to make you happy, and that is what matters the most.

Training a Dachshund Effectively and Boosting Their Intelligence

In this section, we will show you how to train a dachshund effectively and boost their intelligence. You will learn how to overcome the challenges of training a stubborn and independent dachshund, how to use the best methods and tips for positive reinforcement training, and how to benefit from mental stimulation and socialization for brain health.

How can you train a dachshund effectively and enhance their intelligence?

Challenges of Training a Stubborn and Independent Dachshund

Dachshunds are not the easiest dogs to train. They have a strong personality and a mind of their own. Dachshunds are often stubborn, independent, and selective in what they want to learn and do. They can also be easily distracted, bored, or frustrated by repetitive or boring tasks.

Some of the challenges of training a stubborn and independent dachshund are:

A dachshund may not listen to your commands or follow your directions, especially if they are more interested in something else.
They may not respond well to harsh or negative feedback, such as yelling, scolding, or punishing. Dachshunds may become fearful, aggressive, or defiant.
They may not be motivated by food or toys, especially if they are full or have access to them all the time.
Dachshunds can be inconsistent in their performance, especially if they are not in the mood or have other priorities.

These challenges can make training a dachshund frustrating and discouraging. But they can also be overcome with patience, persistence, and positivity.

Dachshunds are often stubborn, independent, and selective in what they want to learn and do.

Best Methods and Tips for Positive Reinforcement Training

The best way to train a dachshund effectively is to use positive reinforcement training. This is a method of training that rewards the dog for doing what you want them to do, rather than punishing them for doing what you don’t want them to do. Positive reinforcement training can make training fun, enjoyable, and rewarding for both you and your dachshund.

Some of the best methods and tips for positive reinforcement training are:

Use high-value rewards that your dachshund loves, such as tasty treats, favorite toys, or praise. Vary the rewards to keep your dachshund interested and excited.
Use clear and consistent cues that your dachshund can understand, such as words, gestures, or sounds. Avoid confusing or conflicting cues that may confuse your dachshund.
Use short and frequent sessions that your dachshund can focus on, such as 5 to 10 minutes several times a day. Avoid long or infrequent sessions that may bore or overwhelm your dachshund.
Use gradual and incremental steps that your dachshund can achieve, such as breaking down a complex task into simpler parts. Avoid jumping ahead or expecting too much from your dachshund.
Use positive feedback that your dachshund can appreciate, such as rewarding them immediately after they do something right. Avoid negative feedback that may hurt your dachshund’s feelings or confidence.

These methods and tips can help you train your dachshund effectively and enhance their intelligence. They can also help you build a strong relationship and trust with your dachshund.

Positive reinforcement training can make training fun, enjoyable, and rewarding for both you and your dachshund.

Benefits of Mental Stimulation and Socialization for Brain Health

Training is not only good for teaching your dachshund new things but also for keeping their brain healthy and active. Training provides mental stimulation and socialization for your dachshund, which are essential for their brain health.

Mental stimulation is the process of challenging your dachshund’s mind with new experiences, information, or tasks. Mental stimulation can improve your dachshund’s memory, learning ability, attention span, problem-solving skills, creativity, and mood.

Here are some examples of how to provide mental stimulation for your dachshund:

Playing interactive games with them, such as fetch, tug-of-war, hide-and-seek, or puzzle toys.
Teaching your dachshund new tricks or commands, such as roll over, shake hands, speak, or play dead.
Exposing them to new environments or situations, such as different places, people, animals, sounds, smells, or objects.
Giving your dachshund choices or options, such as letting them choose their toy, treat, or route.

Socialization is the process of introducing your dachshund to other dogs and people in a positive and safe way. Socialization can improve your dachshund’s communication skills, confidence, behavior, and temperament.

Some examples of how to provide socialization for your dachshund are:

Taking them to dog-friendly places, such as parks, cafes, or shops.
Enrolling your dachshund in dog classes, such as obedience, agility, or therapy.
Inviting other dogs or people to your home, such as friends, family, or neighbors.
Joining a dog club or group, such as a dachshund club or a dog-walking group.

These examples can help you provide mental stimulation and socialization for your dachshund, which can benefit their brain health and intelligence. They can also help you prevent or reduce boredom, anxiety, depression, or dementia in your dachshund.

Training provides mental stimulation and socialization for your dachshund, which are essential for their brain health and intelligence.

As you can see from these examples, training a dachshund effectively and boosting their intelligence is not impossible. It is possible and rewarding with the right methods and tips. You can train your dachshund to be smarter, happier, and healthier with positive reinforcement training, mental stimulation, and socialization.

In the next section, we will give you a fun and interactive quiz to test your dachshund’s IQ and see how smart they really are. You will also learn how to interpret your dachshund’s score and what it means. And you will discover how to improve your dachshund’s intelligence with fun games and activities.

Are you ready to test your dachshund’s IQ? Let’s go!

How Smart Is Your Dachshund? Take This Quiz!

In the previous sections, we learned that dachshunds are smart in many different ways, such as their hunting instincts, their problem-solving skills, and their emotional intelligence. We also learned how to train a dachshund effectively and boost their intelligence with positive reinforcement training, mental stimulation, and socialization. But how smart is your dachshund really? How do they compare to other dogs or even humans in terms of intelligence?

In this section, we will give you a fun and interactive quiz to test your dachshund’s IQ and see how smart they really are. You will also learn how to interpret your dachshund’s score and what it means. And you will discover how to improve your dachshund’s intelligence with fun games and activities.

How smart is your dachshund really?

A Fun and Interactive Quiz to Test Your Dachshund’s IQ

Do you want to know how smart your dachshund is? Then take this quiz and find out! This quiz is based on the famous Dog IQ Test developed by Professor Stanley Coren, the author of The Intelligence of Dogs. The quiz consists of 10 simple tasks that measure your dachshund’s instinctive, adaptive, and obedience intelligence. You will need some basic items such as a towel, a treat, a cup, a string, and a stopwatch.

The quiz is easy to follow and fun to do. You can do it at home with your dachshund in about 15 minutes. You can also invite your friends or family to join you and compare your results. Just remember to be fair and honest when scoring your dachshund’s performance.

Here are the 10 tasks and how to score them:

Task 1: Problem Solving. Show your dachshund a treat and then place it under a cup. Let your dachshund try to get the treat. Score 3 points if they get the treat in less than 5 seconds, 2 points if they get it in 5 to 15 seconds, 1 point if they get it in 15 to 30 seconds, and 0 points if they give up or take more than 30 seconds.
Task 2: Memory. Show your dachshund a treat and then place it under a towel. Wait for 15 seconds and then let your dachshund try to find the treat. Score 3 points if they go straight to the towel and get the treat, 2 points if they search around the towel and get the treat, 1 point if they search around the room and eventually get the treat, and 0 points if they forget about the treat or give up.
Task 3: Learning. Teach your dachshund a new command, such as sit, stay, or come. Use positive reinforcement and repeat the command until your dachshund responds correctly. Score 3 points if they learn the command in less than 5 repetitions, 2 points if they learn it in 5 to 15 repetitions, 1 point if they learn it in 15 to 25 repetitions, and 0 points if they fail to learn it in more than 25 repetitions.
Task 4: Communication. Place a treat on the floor in front of your dachshund and then point at it with your finger or hand. See if your dachshund follows your gesture and gets the treat. Score 3 points if they get the treat on the first try, 2 points if they get it on the second try, 1 point if they get it on the third try, and 0 points if they ignore your gesture or fail to get the treat.
Task 5: Social Skills. Have a friend or family member hold your dachshund while you hide in another room. Call your dachshund’s name and see how long it takes for them to find you. Score 3 points if they find you in less than 10 seconds, 2 points if they find you in 10 to 30 seconds, 1 point if they find you in more than 30 seconds, and 0 points if they don’t find you or go to someone else.
Task 6: Agility. Set up an obstacle course for your dachshund using items such as chairs, boxes, pillows, or toys. Lead your dachshund through the course once and then let them try it on their own. Score 3 points if they complete the course without any mistakes or help, 2 points if they complete it with one or two mistakes or help, 1 point if they complete it with more than two mistakes or help, and 0 points if they refuse to do the course or give up.
Task 7: Adaptability. Change something in your dachshund’s environment, such as moving their bed, bowl, or toy to a different place. See how long it takes for them to notice and react to the change. Score 3 points if they notice and react to the change in less than 10 seconds, 2 points if they notice and react to the change in 10 to 30 seconds, 1 point if they notice and react to the change in more than 30 seconds, and 0 points if they don’t notice or react to the change at all.
Task 8: Self-Control. Place a treat on your dachshund’s nose or paw and tell them to wait. See how long they can resist eating the treat. Score 3 points if they wait for more than 10 seconds, 2 points if they wait for 5 to 10 seconds, 1 point if they wait for less than 5 seconds, and 0 points if they eat the treat right away or drop it.
Task 9: Imitation. Perform an action in front of your dachshund, such as clapping your hands, spinning around, or lying down. See if your dachshund imitates your action. Score 3 points if they imitate your action on the first try, 2 points if they imitate your action on the second try, 1 point if they imitate your action on the third try, and 0 points if they don’t imitate your action at all.
Task 10: Creativity. Give your dachshund a toy or an object that they have never seen before, such as a ball, a sock, or a bottle. See what they do with it. Score 3 points if they do something creative or unusual with it, such as playing with it, hiding it, or destroying it. Score 2 points if they do something normal or expected with it, such as sniffing it, chewing it, or ignoring it. Score 1 point if they do something negative or fearful with it, such as barking at it, running away from it, or attacking it. Score 0 points if they don’t do anything with it.

This quiz is based on the famous Dog IQ Test developed by Professor Stanley Coren.

Interpret Your Dachshund’s Score and What It Means

After you finish the quiz, add up your dachshund’s score from each task. The maximum score is 30 and the minimum score is 0. The higher the score, the smarter your dachshund is.

Here is what your dachshund’s score means:

25 to 30: Your dachshund is a genius! They have a very high level of intelligence and can learn new things quickly and easily. Your dachshund is also very creative and adaptable. They can impress you with their skills and tricks. You have a very smart and special dachshund!
20 to 24: Your dachshund is very smart! They have a high level of intelligence and can learn new things well and fast. Your dachshund is also very curious and playful. They can surprise you with their abilities and behaviors. You have a very clever and fun dachshund!
15 to 19: Your dachshund is smart! They have an average level of intelligence and can learn new things fairly well and fast. Your dachshund is also very loyal and affectionate. They can delight you with their personality and charm. You have a very lovely and enjoyable dachshund!
10 to 14: Your dachshund is not so smart! They have a low level of intelligence and can learn new things slowly and poorly. They are also very stubborn and independent. Your dachshund can frustrate you with their attitude and actions. You have a very challenging and demanding dachshund!
5 to 9: Your dachshund is not smart at all! They have a very low level of intelligence and can hardly learn new things at all. Your dachshund is also very lazy and bored. They can disappoint you with their lack of interest and motivation. You have a very dull and boring dachshund!
0 to 4: Your dachshund is not a dog! They have no intelligence whatsoever and cannot learn anything at all. They are also very weird and strange. They can scare you with their weirdness and strangeness. You have a very alien and creepy dachshund!

The higher the score, the smarter your dachshund is.

Improve Your Dachshund’s Intelligence with Fun Games and Activities

No matter what your dachshund’s IQ score is, you can always improve their intelligence with fun games and activities. These games and activities can provide mental stimulation, socialization, exercise, and bonding for your dachshund. They can also make your dachshund happier, healthier, and smarter.

Some examples of fun games and activities that can improve your dachshund’s intelligence are:

Hide and Seek: This game can test your dachshund’s memory, learning, and communication skills. You can hide yourself or a treat in different places and let your dachshund find you or it. You can also use cues such as calling their name, clapping your hands, or whistling to help them locate you or the treat. Reward your dachshund with praise, treats, or playtime when they find you or the treat.
Fetch and Retrieve: This game can test your dachshund’s agility, obedience, and adaptability skills. You can throw a ball, a toy, or an object and ask your dachshund to fetch and bring it back to you. You can also vary the distance, direction, or height of the throw to make it more challenging. Reward your dachshund with praise, treats, or playtime when they fetch and return the item.
Puzzle Toys: These toys can test your dachshund’s problem-solving, creativity, and self-control skills. You can give your dachshund a toy that has hidden compartments, movable parts, or interactive features that require them to figure out how to get the treat or toy inside. You can also change the difficulty level or the type of toy to keep them interested. Reward your dachshund with praise, treats, or playtime when they solve the puzzle.
Trick Training: This activity can test your dachshund’s obedience, learning, and imitation skills. You can teach your dachshund new tricks or commands, such as roll over, shake hands, speak, or play dead. You can use positive reinforcement and repetition to help them learn. Reward your dachshund with praise, treats, or playtime when they perform the trick correctly.
Brain Games: These games can test your dachshund’s memory, attention, and logic skills. You can play games with your dachshund that involve remembering sequences, matching pairs, finding differences, or solving riddles. You can use cards, pictures, objects, or words to create the games. Reward your dachshund with praise, treats, or playtime when they complete the game successfully.

These games and activities can provide mental stimulation, socialization, exercise, and bonding for your dachshund.

These are just some of the fun games and activities that you can do with your dachshund to improve their intelligence. You can also create your own games and activities based on your dachshund’s preferences and personality. The key is to make it fun and rewarding for both of you.

By playing these games and activities with your dachshund regularly, you can not only improve their intelligence but also strengthen your relationship and trust with them. You can also prevent or reduce boredom, anxiety, depression, or dementia in your dachshund.

We hope you enjoyed this quiz and learned more about your dachshund’s intelligence. Remember that intelligence is not everything. What matters more is how much you love and care for your dachshund.

Conclusion

You have reached the end of this article. We hope you enjoyed reading it and learned more about your dachshund’s intelligence. In this article, we covered the following topics:

What is dog intelligence and how is it measured?
How dachshunds show their intelligence in different ways, such as their hunting instincts, their problem-solving skills, and their emotional intelligence.
How to train a dachshund effectively and boost their intelligence with positive reinforcement training, mental stimulation, and socialization.
How to test your dachshund’s IQ and see how smart they really are.

We also gave you some fun games and activities that you can do with your dachshund to improve their intelligence and strengthen your relationship with them. Remember that intelligence is not everything. What matters more is how much you love and care for your dachshund.