Seals are smarter than dogs?

According to the media release from Seals Unlimited, that is. No, but seriously:

Dog lovers may be surprised (and displeased!) by a recent study of animal intelligence that dismisses the intelligence of dogs, compared to that of marine mammals:

… systematically reviewing the animal cognition literature, British psychologists Stephen Lea and Britta Osthaus found dogs to be unremarkable in their cognitive capabilities compared to wolves, cats, dolphins, chimpanzees, pigeons, and several other species. For example, dogs seem no better at learning associations—such as between a behavior and a reward—than other species. Similarly, dogs can spatially navigate within small spaces, but other species can, too. And while dogs have an excellent sense of smell, the “pig’s olfactory abilities are outstanding and might even be better than the dog’s.” DAVID Z. HAMBRICK, “Your Dog May Not Be a Genius, after All” at Scientific American

Hambrick, a cognitive psychologist, also notes that bottlenose dolphins and the grey seals were better able to follow human hand signals, even though dogs are bred to be sensitive to human communications. News, “Dogs are not as intelligent as seals? ” at Mind Matters

But it raises the question of how we assess intelligence.

See also: Crows can be as smart as apes

Yes, Even Lizards can be smart

Is the octopus a “second genesis” of intelligence?

and

Furry, feathery, and finny animals speak their minds. Listen.

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