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Originally Posted by gemy  First I think that easy trainability is a sign of intelligence, particularly when coupled with a fast uptake and a necessity to vary the skills to avoid boredom in the dog.
Inborn or innate intelligence needs to be exercised to flourish! In dogs as in humans.
Overall I think my Razzle is of moderate intelligence, and I have no idea how he would compare to all other Yorkies.
He certainly on his own figured out how to get to my high china/crystal cabinet through a series of jumps.... a beloved toy was put there. That cabinet is about 5 ft off the ground. He used a stool to a chair to a chair back to a leap to the top of said cabinet. Needless to say we never store anything up there now. He also figured out how to sidestep the various blocks we put to keep him on our cottage deck, we finally resorted to having him on a long lead when we all sat out to enjoy a BBQ or a sunset.
He sights to *find the toy* and is very good at that game. But not to pick this toy or that toy.
He is *sneaky* again I find this a bit of an indicator for intelligence. He has learnt to quickly and quietly get up on the kitchen table to snatch a bit of food. He does this when my back is turned for one moment.
Razzle is hard to train in obedience. Took him 3x or 4x as long to master basic obedience commands. Now this may have something to do with his innate personality and desire to please and his focus, that being not as focussed naturally on his owner as my other breed.
What makes my Yorkie stand out from the crowd? Easy, his enthusiasm, and joie de vive! He is an excellent athlete and is scared of little. At about 2yrs old he backed up a GSD and chased him up to his front porch!
I about had a heart attack, but he wasn't phased at all! He is also well socialized to ppl and dogs as well.
He is a rugged little boy, and I believe his temperament to be true to the terrier breed. |
I certainly agree. I think Troy was very smart. I mean I did absolutely no training at all. I said sit, he did without enticing treats and repeating. He just did it. Every command I gave he did. So I think he was very intelligent and easy on my nerves.
Whereas Emma, is smart by way of sneaky. She's easily trainable but she needs incentive to listen. Treats more so than love. She has figured out how to do many things around the house or "steal" things. Example: dirty clothes basket. She has figured that if she moves the clothes with her paw in the holes in the basket she can get to the underwear and pull them through the holes.