Your Dog Is Probably Dumber Than You Think, a New Study Says

Your dog may be a good boy—but he's not as smart as you think, a new research article suggests.

Dogs have a unique set of cognitive abilities, but they're not inherently smarter than other animals, says the new paper, which was published in the journal Learning & Behavior. "Dogs are special, but they're not exceptional," says co-author Britta Osthaus, a senior lecturer in psychology at Christ Church University in the UK. "They're smart, but they're not stand-out smart.