How Cognitive Traits Vary by Breed

When an American Hairless Terrier stands next to a Newfoundland, the physical contrast is striking. It’s hard to believe the wide range of dog sizes and shapes all belong to one species (Canis familiaris). Yet genetically, most dog breeds are quite similar. So why do their cognitive traits, like sociability, impulse control, and problem-solving, vary so much?

While training and environment matter, breed history can also influence how dogs think and behave. For example, are Border Collies skilled at reading human cues simply because they’re trained for it, or are they naturally predisposed to it? Researchers from the University of Helsinki and other Finnish institutions set out to explore whether cognitive differences between breeds could be linked to genetics and selective breeding.

How the Study Measured Canine Cognition

The researchers analyzed data from 1,002 dogs across 13 breeds, using a standardized set of cognitive tests developed by Katriina Tiira and administered by SmartDOG between 2016 and 2022. Dogs were 1 to 8 years old, and each breed had at least 40 participants. Most were privately owned companion animals, and all dogs had to be food-motivated and safe around people.

The dogs completed 10 tests evaluating 7 cognitive traits and 3 behavioral measures. All tests involved working toward a food reward while the dog was off-leash with the owner nearby. The tests assessed things such as:

• Response to strangers
• Activity level and exploration
• Persistence
• Impulse control (inhibitory control)
• Understanding human gestures
• Spatial problem-solving
• Social cognition
• Short-term memory and logical reasoning

What the Researchers Found

The results showed clear breed differences in several important cognitive areas, especially:

• Social cognition
• Persistence
• Inhibitory control
• Spatial problem-solving ability

Breeds also differed in behavior, such as activity level, friendliness toward strangers, and curiosity in new environments. However, short-term memory and logical reasoning were similar across breeds, suggesting these may be less influenced by selective breeding, or more dependent on life experience and training.

Why These Differences Matter

Many of these traits are directly connected to what humans’ value in working and companion dogs:

• Border Collies and Australian Shepherds performed especially well in impulse control; a skill herding dogs need to manage their chase instinct.
• Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds tended to show lower inhibitory control and were more likely to work independently, a trait that fits police and military work, where fast reactions and self-directed behavior can be essential.
• In tests involving an impossible task, some breeds focused heavily on human guidance, suggesting stronger human-directed problem-solving, a helpful trait for companion animals or dogs that must collaborate closely with handlers.

The researchers also found surprising differences even among breeds with similar jobs or in the same group, showing that breed labels alone don’t fully explain cognitive strengths.

The Big Takeaway

The study supports the idea that breeds often differ in specific cognitive and behavioral traits, likely shaped by generations of selective breeding for different roles. Still, the researchers emphasized an important point: breed trends don’t determine an individual dog’s abilities, and every dog remains its own unique combination of genetics, training, and experience.

Source: 

Junttila S, Valros A, Mäki K, Väätäjä H, Reunanen E, Tiira K (2022). Breed differences in social cognition, inhibitory control, and spatial problem-solving ability in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Scientific Reports. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-26991-5

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