Only Dogs (as in "only child') are smarter.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Sole (one only) dogs, when with the right master, are far smarter and have the potential of becoming so much more than dogs in multiple dog families. Just like the only child who doesnt turn out spoiled or neurotic often turns out to be intellectually advanced over his peers. It is the one-on-one time and focused stimulation that leads to this superior ability. I have seen street bums with the most amazing dogs. You would think the dog had an IQ of a human. It was all the one-on-one time. All the hobo had was his dog, all the dog had was his hobo; in the world. Also I have observed a neighbor lady with the most amazing dog, when I commented, one time, that she should get a friend for Bella she replied "I only want one dog - I dont believe in multiple dogs". Was she right? Maybe. I don think I ever have met a person with multiple dogs where one of the dogs truly "shine" I have only observed this on one-on-one dog to person relationships. Like Bocker for example. I think we may be setting our dogs up for failure, not allowing them to be all they can be with our childish notions of "Fido needs a friend" - "Suzy needs a sister". We are in essence making dumbass dogs.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Nope, he always marked, even when he was alone with my parents. Did it before Jack came when it was just him and Ginger, will always do it. He even does it right in front of me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I totally see the from these examples that Georgia & Sammie have "dog" intelligence with each other. But I would like to hear examples of how their living in a multiple dog household improves their ability to understand and relate to you and your husband.
I agree with your comment that ""intellegence" (for me) is the dog's ability to understand me and my husband, almost the ability to "read" us". For me, "reading" me means knowing what I need or want. I don't think Jack obeys the commands 'come" or "drop it" to make me happy; I think he does it because he's smart and he understands his role in our "partnership". He is very focused on me, so he understands what is required. I am wondering how having another dog in the household would improve that.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

.I don't think Jack obeys the commands 'come" or "drop it" to make me happy; I think he does it because he's smart and he understands his role in our "partnership". He is very focused on me, so he understands what is required. I am wondering how having another dog in the household would improve that.

I am thinking that another dog would actually detract from that.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Georgia and Sammie need one another for that intelligence to show through. Mom and dad aren't going to crouch in the grass to catch Sammie or hockey check Georgia to get the ball. We would just say "come" or "drop it". Those are commands that the girls do just to make us happy.

That is an interesting perspective. I have to agree with this. Maybe they do infact learn things from other dogs in the household that they dont learn from humans and could be lacking thereof.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Ah well..Everytime I have a foster poor Blakey looks at me with an expession on his face like " Mom....Does this mean I have to dumb down AGAIN?....You know how much I hate it when I have to pretend to be a dog...." lol

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Mom....Does this mean I have to dumb down AGAIN?....You know how much I hate it when I have to pretend to be a dog

LOL

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Blake just wants YOU all to himself. He like that with you and wouldn't be with anyone else. Like Ginger is like this with me but not anyone else. It is how we interact with them, Nurturing the Nature.

[GBK]

I have two, and they are both highly intelligent problem solving bundles of fun! When it was just Buddy for the first two years, he was challenging just because he was so smart. To get mom and dad's attention he stole things and would run around in front of us trying to get us to play chase. We taught him the trade game, and now he steals things for the treat we trade him for!!! He loves paper products and waits his time until we look away as he noses the napkin off the table.
He knows just where I put a treat he hasn't finished the day before and will sit and look up at it when he has my attention. He is a momma's boy, and will always be.

Enter little Kona Bear, she was easily trained and stuck like glue to Buddy. I thought, gee did I get a second dog just for him? But as I worked with her, trained with her, spent one on one time with her and let her make tons of doggy friends, she finally noticed that her humans were fun too. I would say it took a year before her reactions to us were the same as Buddy's. I would asked if they wanted to go to the park, Buddy was all over you, it took me a little while to notice Kona really didn't respond. I worked on asking her the questions till the light finally went on in her eyes :) She is the jealous one and has to be the first to greet, and get in the way if she is not. Buddy is a gentleman and doesn't hold anything against her. She is our cuddle bug and a daddy's girl.

I would never have only one dog again if I could help it. I do not have to worry about if there is another dog at the park, beach, or lake for mine to play with, they have each other. If Kona weren't there, Buddy would be a lump on the couch after we sit down at night, whereas now they play fetch, run around and restle, play games. They love our obedience classes and competitions, when I ask if they want to go train they light up. If I only take one, the other is disappointed, not because they will miss the other dog, but the experience, the dogs in class, being with me.

I believe if you take the time to cultivate your relationships with your dogs, they grow into being individuals with their own relationships to us and each other. I would not do littermates and my first dog would have to be trained and well behaved before I would add another to the family.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I believe if you take the time to cultivate your relationships with your dogs, they grow into being individuals with their own relationships to us and each other. I would not do littermates and my first dog would have to be trained and well behaved before I would add another to the family.

This statement really summarizes the whole issue, IMO. Well said.

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas is an only dog, and I think we're both happy with that. He likes running around with his friends at the doggy park, but, at the end of the day, I think he likes that it's just us at home. Actually, I'm probably the one that likes it that way. I'd be the jealous one if a puppy came into the mix and took Halas' attention away from me. But I'm an only child, too, and not that fond of sharing, so it probably makes sense that I don't want to share my dog, even if it is just sharing him with another dog. I think I've devoted a lot of time to training and bonding with Halas, and I like to think that's why he's generally well-behaved and seems really smart. I doubt that I would be as diligent with a new puppy. In fact, I'd probably be like, "Hey, Halas! Teach the new guy how to sit, stay, down, and pee outside. I'm going to take a nap. Thanks. Good boy." Intelligence can take many forms, like others have said, and I agree with that. But no matter what definition of intelligence you use, if you want to get the best out of your dog, whether it's doing tricks, walking nicely on a leash, or just being really in tune with you and your family (including other pets), I think you still have to spend a lot of time with your dog. Some people can devote that kind of time to multiple dogs, and some people cannot. Right now, I think that I'm one of the people that cannot. So, for me, a second dog probably wouldn't live up to what Halas is. It would very likely have the potential, but I just probably wouldn't be as dedicated to bringing out the best in him. But that's just me. I think with the right people, multiple dogs can thrive in the same household. We see/hear about it often here on DK. I think it hurts the multiple dogs only if the people got the multiple dogs just to avoid spending one-on-one time with the dogs. Sure, most people here on DK with multiple dogs will say it's great to watch them play and run, and the dogs get way more exercise with a playmate. But I'm sure most of these people still play and interact with all of the dogs. They didn't get the additional dogs just so they could avoid playing and interacting with the dogs themselves.

[Lake Girl, Lizette]

I felt inclined to respond to this analogy. I totally disagree. If I review my years as a teacher and note the intelligence quotient of my students as compared to ? lineage, siblings, gender, etc. I know that intelligence is sometimes determined by your inherit intelligence and also reflective of surroundings. A dog's innate intelligence is (I believe) enhanced by its owner, surroundings, and training...but, ultimately, the lineage plays a huge part in a dog's smarts. How do you determine a dog's intelligence...by the number of tricks....behavior.....the length of time it takes to teach a command...??? I think with pets our love makes our dogs shine. I have observed owners and no matter the number of dogs in the family...one or multiple...there is always going to be one smarter (? I use that term loosely) than another...easier to train....seemingly more astute. For what it's worth.....dogs that really "shine" are usually reflective of the owner's personal dog time more than the number of dog's one owns. Look at circus show dogs....they can do almost anything but cook a meal.

[GBK]

there is always going to be one smarter (? I use that term loosely) than another...easier to train....seemingly more astute

What makes one smarter than another? My little one is smart enough to know if she pushes in front of her brother she will get the attention first and that is her aim. Buddy is smart in his way because he really doesn't care that he is not first, because he get's the hugs and lovin longer when he waits. When we play ball, Kona tugs on Buddy's ears until he drops it, now he won't retrieve anthing if she is playing because she always wants the retrieve toy, score one for Kona. When we play ball with our doodle friends without Kona involved he is the first one to retrieve the ball and bring it all the way back.