These dogs can actually think like humans — surprisingly smarter than children

A recent study highlights how the smartest dogs demonstrate cognitive abilities comparable to young human children. Conducted by a team of canine cognition researchers, including Zachary Silver from Yale University and Claudia Fugazza from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, the study shows that dogs display advanced social intelligence, such as interpreting human gestures, understanding words, and considering human perspectives.

Certain breeds, particularly Border Collies, were observed exhibiting problem-solving skills and social reasoning akin to toddlers. This research underscores how domestication and evolutionary pressures have shaped canine cognition and offers insights into human social development and conditions like autism.

Social intelligence in dogs mirrors that of humans

Dogs have evolved social intelligence that allows them to understand humans deeply, a trait shaped by thousands of years of domestication.

They can follow human cues such as pointing and gaze direction and assess human interactions, showing preferences for helpful over unhelpful individuals. This demonstrates their ability to “read” humans in ways previously thought exclusive to primates or young children. The study revealed that the smartest dogs excel in problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and even simple arithmetic tasks. Some dogs were observed using intentional deception to obtain rewards, highlighting sophisticated cognitive strategies.

Their abilities in these areas often rival those of young children, indicating a high degree of mental flexibility and learning capacity.

Understanding human perspectives

Research led by Silver and Fugazza found that dogs can consider what humans know or see, effectively demonstrating perspective-taking. This capacity for understanding human intentions and beliefs underpins their cooperative behavior and strengthens the unique bond between humans and dogs. Certain breeds, particularly Border Collies, consistently scored higher in measures of intelligence and social reasoning. These dogs displayed exceptional memory, learning speed, and responsiveness to human cues, aligning their cognitive abilities more closely with a young child’s mental capacity than previously recognized. Studying canine cognition offers insights into human evolution and social behavior. By understanding how dogs process information and interpret social cues, researchers hope to shed light on developmental conditions like autism and the evolution of social intelligence. Dogs’ cognitive abilities also emphasize the importance of social interaction and environmental enrichment in promoting mental growth. The smartest dogs are capable of processing and responding to information much like young children. Their advanced social intelligence, problem-solving skills, and understanding of human perspectives make them uniquely attuned to our behavior. This study demonstrates that dogs do more than follow commands—they actively interpret and engage with the world around them, thinking in ways that are surprisingly human-like.