The Hidden Intelligence of Animals
The intelligence of animals is something that isn’t thought about a lot. Animals look like clueless creatures to many, unable to think. However, recent studies have shown that this is far from the truth.
A recent study led by researchers at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) concluded that a rare group of dogs, known as “Gifted World Learners,” can understand human language, similar to that of an 18 month old toddler.
These dogs do this by eavesdropping on their owners. During the study, the researchers asked dog owners to say the names of toys while holding them when talking to another household member, but without directly addressing their dog. Then, they placed the same toys in a room with many other toys and asked the dog to retrieve them. To their surprise, the dogs were able to retrieve the toys.
This cognitive skill is known as label learning, a process that humans don’t typically develop until 18 months. Most dogs learn actions like “sit” or “fetch” through a process called operant conditioning, where behaviors are shaped by rewards, like giving treats. This skill is something we expect from dogs, but learning the names of objects by eavesdropping is something we never thought dogs were capable of.
When we think of dogs and many other animals, we think of organisms that are not the brightest, but that is far from the actual truth. Animals cannot understand the higher concepts that humans can, like math and science. For this reason, people downplay the intelligence of animals. However, many humans wouldn’t understand these concepts either without going to school.
“I don’t think my dog is very smart, all she does is just run around the entire neighborhood. She rarely even listens to us, she only listens to loud noises. I don’t even think she knows her own name,” said sophomore Dwayne Davis.
“I think animals are intelligent but nowhere near the level of intelligence humans possess. They can understand the social concepts of family, but they can’t understand higher concepts,” said sophomore Brandon Higgs.
Not saying humans aren’t smart, but natural intelligence shouldn’t be measured with school subjects. Instead, many researchers use cognitive skills like memorization as a way to determine intelligence.
And besides dogs, there are many animals that perform great memorization feats. For example, dolphins have the longest memory span of any animal that isn’t a human. Each dolphin has a signature whistle, and dolphins remember each individual whistle of all their companions. This is very similar to what humans do when we remember the names of other people.
Elephants also have a strong sense of memory, some even argue that they have a better memory than humans. Elephants are able to remember water sources and routes for many years. Similar to dolphins, they also remember individuals in their groups and can differentiate between friendly and hostile groups.
Many animals perform feats on intelligence, with memory only being one of them. Other feats of intelligence include the use of tools, such as chimps using sticks to fish for termites. Another feat is recognizing oneself in the mirror, which elephants, apes, and dolphins are capable of.
Next time you see an animal, whether it is a crow, a monkey, or even your dog, don’t doubt its intelligence, it could be smarter than you think. It’s a good chance they could do things that you can’t even do.
