Almost half of owners think their dog is smarter than their friends
40 percent of pet owners think their dog is more intelligent than some of their friends, according to a new study.
It also highlighted that a healthy diet of foods such as salmon, peas and sweet potato can provide the nutrients to improve a pet’s IQ, memory and response to commands.
The data shows that a canine’s long-term memory does not decrease with age, and its ability to continue learning can be traced back to its diet.
Much like their human companions, dogs can benefit from ‘superfoods’ to give their brains a boost. ‘DHA’ – an ingredient found in salmon oil – is the number one superfood proven to improve brain function and mental development
As part of the study, research with 2,000 ‘pet parents’ revealed that nearly half of owners (48 percent) believe their dog has a higher-than-average IQ.
More than half of dog owners (55 percent) believe their dog gets brainier with age, with two-thirds (67 percent) believing their dog understands them more than anyone.
One in six pet parents (17 percent) say they feed their dogs specific foods to help make them more intelligent.
Dr. Samantha Ware, lead nutritionist at ‘tailor-made dog food company tails.com, comments: “Feeding your dog a healthy diet made up of foods such as salmon, peas and sweet potato will ensure they are getting good levels of nutrients like vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants, which have been shown to improve intelligence, memory and cognitive abilities.
“It’s important to remember that all dogs are individual and their diet should be tailored to meet all of their needs. In addition to their diet, giving your dog behavioural enrichment including a combination of attention, regular outings, toy time and socialising with other dogs will help improve their overall brain function.”
