Who’s Smarter, Male or Female Dogs?

University of Vienna researchers recently added fuel to the longstanding battle of the sexes by extending the debate to our cuddly canines. The researchers set out to determine if gender plays a role in dogs’ cognitive abilities. Fifty dogs were studied, including golden retrievers, poodles, Australian shepherds and mixed breeds. They were divided into two groups: 25 males and 25 females.

Using blue tennis balls attached to a board with strings, four different scenarios were presented to both groups of dogs:

1. A small tennis ball disappears behind the board and then reappears.
2. A large tennis ball disappears behind the board and then reappears.
3. A small tennis ball disappears behind the board but a large ball appears.
4. A large tennis ball disappears behind the board but a small ball appears.

Consistently, a different response emerged between sexes and across all breed types. While male dogs appeared oblivious to any change in the disappearing blue tennis balls, female dogs immediately noticed a difference.

In scenarios 3 and 4, female dogs stared at the different sized balls that appeared for an average of 30 seconds—three times longer than they did when the same sized ball reappeared from behind the wooden board.

Researchers concluded that the female dogs noticed the change and therefore had superior cognitive abilities. So, why does Bella have a leg up on Max when it comes to detecting the unexpected? It turns out, just like us humans; it all comes down to behavioral characteristics.

One possible explanation for the cognitive differences in male and female dogs is that male canines tend to be genetically wired to be hunters, while female dogs are nesters.

Judging by this study, dogs and their human counterparts may be more similar than we may have realized.