Clap your hands twice and then say “sit.” Give Rover a treat if he sits. Repeat 10 times. Now clap your hands twice and see what happens. If Rover picks up the idea that clapping twice is the same as the word “sit,” in only 10 repetitions, he is very bright indeed.

Feed your dog in front of a mirror for three days and pat his head each time so that he sees you. One the fourth day, place some baking powder on your hand and pat the dog’s head in the mirror as he watches. If he tries to remove the powder, congratulations he is very smart indeed!

Toss a towel over your dog’s head after letting him sniff it for a bit. If your dog gets out from under the towel in less than 15 seconds, he is a budding genius!

Take your pup for a walk and while he is out, have a friend move some furniture or put a few new chairs out. Does your dog notice within five seconds of entering the room a change? If so, he may be a genius!

—Amber Burckhalter, K-9 Coach