Is Your Dog a Maverick or an Einstein? Take the Dog Intelligence Test That Changes How You Train.
- May 31, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 26
At The Dog Behaviour Academy, we believe the more you understand your dog, the
better your shared life will be. That applies to training, behaviour — and increasingly, to science.
Dognition is the dog intelligence test that reveals how your individual dog thinks, learns, and solves problems. Not dogs in general. Your dog.
What is a dog intelligence test?
A dog intelligence test measures how a dog processes information, solves problems, and communicates — across multiple cognitive dimensions, not just obedience or trick-learning.
Traditional training assessments tell you what a dog can do. A cognitive dog intelligence test tells you how they think — and that distinction changes everything about how you work with them.
Dognition is the most research-backed dog intelligence test available to pet owners today. Developed in collaboration with Dr Brian Hare and the Duke Canine Cognition Center, it maps your dog's unique cognitive profile across five dimensions: memory, empathy, communication, cunning, and reasoning.
What does the Dognition dog intelligence test measure?
Each game in the Dognition assessment is designed to answer a specific question about how your dog processes the world:
Memory — How well does your dog retain information between sessions?
Empathy — How attuned is your dog to your emotions and social cues?
Communication — Does your dog rely on your gestures and signals, or work independently?
Cunning — Is your dog straightforward and transparent, or strategic and crafty?
Reasoning — How does your dog approach a novel problem they haven't seen before?
Together, these dimensions produce a cognitive profile that no standard training assessment can provide.
What are the Dognition profile types?
The dog intelligence test places your dog into one of nine cognitive profiles, each reflecting a distinct combination of strengths and learning strategies:
Maverick, Einstein, Stargazer, Socialite, Protodog, Renaissance Dog, Expert, Ace, and Charmer.
Is your dog an independent thinker who trusts their own judgment over yours? That's a Maverick. Does your dog read your social cues with exceptional accuracy and learn quickly from your signals? That's an Einstein. Most dogs sit somewhere surprising — and the result rarely matches what owners expect.
How does the Dognition dog intelligence test work?
Access the Dognition platform through your profile.
Play a series of short, guided games with your dog at home — no special equipment required.
Submit your results. Dognition analyses your data alongside thousands of other dogs in their global research database.
Receive your dog's full cognitive profile, including their profile type, cognitive strengths, and tailored insights.
The games are low-pressure, reward-based, and enjoyable for both dog and owner. Most people find them as revealing about themselves as about their dog.
Why does your dog's intelligence profile matter for training?
Every dog learns differently. Knowing your dog's cognitive style means you stop working against their nature and start working with it — with direct implications for training methods, enrichment planning, and understanding behaviours that might otherwise seem confusing.
A Maverick may disengage from repetitive instruction but thrive with independent problem-solving games. An Einstein responds exceptionally well to gesture-based communication. The dog intelligence test tells you which approach fits your dog — and why.
Your dog contributes to something bigger
When you complete the Dognition assessment, your results contribute to one of the largest ongoing studies of canine cognition in the world. You and your dog become citizen scientists — helping researchers at the Duke Canine Cognition Center better understand how all dogs think, across breeds, ages, and backgrounds.
Frequently asked questions about dog intelligence tests
What is the best dog intelligence test? Dognition is the most scientifically validated dog intelligence test available to pet owners. Developed with Dr Brian Hare at the Duke Canine Cognition Center, it measures five cognitive dimensions and produces a detailed individual profile rather than a single score.
What does a dog intelligence test measure? A well-designed dog intelligence test measures multiple cognitive dimensions — memory, empathy, communication, cunning, and reasoning — rather than simple obedience. Dognition covers all five.
What are the Dognition profile types? Dognition identifies nine cognitive profiles: Maverick, Einstein, Stargazer, Socialite, Protodog, Renaissance Dog, Expert, Ace, and Charmer. Each reflects a distinct combination of cognitive strengths and learning strategies.
Is a dog intelligence test suitable for all dogs? Yes. Dognition is designed for dogs of all breeds, ages, and backgrounds. The games are reward-based and low-pressure, making them accessible for puppies, seniors, and any temperament.
How long does the Dognition assessment take? Most owners complete the full assessment across two to three sessions of around 20–30 minutes each, spread across days to suit your schedule.
Try the dog intelligence test with an exclusive discount
Dognition is available through The Dog Behaviour Academy with a 10% discount using our referral link.
Discover whether your dog is a Maverick, an Einstein, or something entirely their own.
The Dog Behaviour Academy | Auckland, New Zealand Certified dog behaviour specialists — hello@thedogbehaviouracademy.co.nz
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