Study finds dogs may possess a key component of intelligence

At school there was always one pupil who seemed to excel in every subject, from maths to literature and music.

Scientists call this phenomenon 'general intelligence' or the 'g factor' – and for the first time they've found evidence that it exists in dogs too.

The researchers in Budapest, Hungary recruited over 100 dogs for various tasks, testing key skills like memory, learning and problem-solving.

Rather than just excelling in one area, the smartest dogs tended to score highly across the board, just like a top student at school, they found.

While the g factor in humans is linked with better academic and workplace performance in life, gifted dogs may be better able to fend for themselves or assist humans in a crisis.