Are Chihuahuas smart? Well, according to canine psychologist Stanley Coren, Chihuahuas ranked 125th out of 138 dog breeds where “being smart” is concerned. However, Chihuahuas are one of the most intelligent dogs there is! How? Well, there are several factors that indicate intelligence. Let’s take a look at just how smart a Chihuahua really is.
Dr. Coren tested Chihuahuas on “working and obedience intelligence.” Of course, anyone who has ever had the delight of owning a Chihuahua knows they can be a little (or a lot) headstrong! The key intelligence factor for Chihuahuas is their very high adaptive intelligence.
Dr. Coren’s test measured how quickly Chihuahuas were able to learn a new command. The Chihuahuas were able to learn a new command within a few hours, but he needed between 40 and 80 repetitions of the command. The Chihuahuas were also in competition with other dog breeds that are known for their ease in training.
You could say that in Dr. Coren’s trials, Chihuahuas weren’t equally matched.
So, just how smart is a Chihuahua? Let’s take a look at one of the most intelligent dog breeds today.
Did you know a Chihuahua has the largest brain to body ratio of any dog breed? It’s true! Is bigger better when it comes to brain size? Yes and no. While the dogs in Dr. Coren’s trial didn’t fare too well because he based the dog’s intelligence on its ability and willingness to obey a command, he gave Chihuahuas a distinct disadvantage.
Chihuahuas are highly independent. They tend to bond to one human, and they may or may not accept other members of its human family. They are highly alert, and they can be downright sassy at times. Some Chihuahua owners state that Chihuahuas have no problem obeying commands – it just depends on who the person is giving the command. Then you should add the fact that some Chihuahuas will only carry out a command simply if they want to do so.
A Chihuahua’s brain is relatively the size of a tangerine. This is about 2 1/4 inches to 2 1/2 inches in diameter!
So, what are some other ways that canine intelligence is measured? Do Chihuahuas meet and exceed expectations there?
Dogs’ intelligence can be measure in three ways: instinctive intelligence, adaptive intelligence, and working/obedience intelligence. Dr. Coren’s study mainly measured working and obedience intelligence. Yes, Chihuahuas excels in both adaptive and instinctive intelligence! In fact, instinctive intelligence is a Chihuahua’s natural strength!
Instinctive intelligence is a dog’s natural instinct. Chihuahuas were originally bred to be a “ratter” dog, but, over time, the breed has developed the instinct to guard – his territory and his human. Boy oh boy, do Chihuahuas do this well! Therefore, when measuring a Chihuahua’s intelligence based on this form of “smarts,” Chihuahuas rank quite high on the list of smart dogs.
Another way to measure a dog’s intelligence is by their adaptability. This means the dog observes and learns how to do things without being taught. Now, one must remember that adaptive intelligence can vary even among dogs of the same breed!
Think about Chihuahuas you’ve been around. Have you ever observed them seem to pick up on things all by themselves? This is known as adaptive intelligence, and most Chihuahuas are very good at picking up on actions as a means of learning.
One should also mention that smaller dogs tend to have less short-term memory than larger dogs. This does not mean Chihuahuas are lacking in any way intelligence wise! It simply means they more likely to need repetition to learn a new command when compared with, say, a Collie or a German Shepherd.
Like other dog breeds, they are very good at picking up on human emotions. This is called empathy, and Chihuahuas are especially intuitive about their humans’ feelings. They are very good at reading your body language as well as measuring the tone of your voice. They know when they have done something to displease their owners, and they may even seem as if they are “sorry” when they exhibit negative behavior.
This type of intelligence goes back to the fact that Chihuahuas were not only ratters, but they were also companion dogs who were often tasked with caring for sick individuals. The Aztecs would put Chihuahuas in the beds of the sick and the elderly with the charge of keeping the ailing individual warm. Chihuahuas were also lap dogs, a job they still hold down quite well today!
So, no, Chihuahua are not going to readily obey commands, particularly if those commands come from someone other than their “person.” They can adapt well (learning by observing and/or coming up with a solution to a problem on their own – learning how to push a door open, for instance).
Chihuahuas are also keenly aware of their human’s emotions. This is also a form of intelligence that cannot be taught. Yes, they are very smart; however, they are not going to obey a command from someone they doesn’t know well. They are also extremely protective; this is a measure of instinctive intelligence – and we can’t argue that Chihuahuas are brilliant in this regard.
So yes, the Chihuahua is a highly intelligent dog. This goes for Chihuahuas of any size, including teacups (who may be the least likely of all to take commands, with the exception of commands from her “person”).