Carmen Electra, a chow chow mix, taps on the window door leading to the deck and back yard of her home when she has to do her business. She sits by the cabinet and looks up when she wants a treat, and she also gives high-fives to celebrate her good behavior.

"She is so smart, and she is really special," said Dena Rucker. "Carmen can't talk, but she finds her very own little way to communicate, and you can't help but smile."

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Carmen is my dog, and while she is clever and the cutest dog in world to me, she is not considered an intelligent breed. A list developed by Stanley Coren says border collies and poodles are most intelligent, while basenjis and Afghan hounds are the least intelligent.

Chows rank 76 out of 79 breeds for intelligence and obedience.

Many dog owners believe that they have the smartest dog in the world no matter what that list says, but the Pooch IQ Test touts that it can "find out if your pooch is a brainiac or a dunce with 15 simple exercises."

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Stacy Stubblefield, co-creator of the IQ test, said the rankings are based on how long a dog takes to learn a trick and obey commands.

The Pooch IQ test is more standardized and is not biased against dogs that have personalities that are more likely to please, she said.

The American Kennel Club describes a chow chow as a dog with "keen intelligence, an independent spirit and innate dignity (that) give the chow an aura of aloofness."

Because it is a chow's nature to be reserved and discerning with strangers, Carmen is considered stubborn.

Pooch Fun

Besides telling you something about your pet, there are other perks to testing a pooch's IQ.

"The test is definitely fun and will help you bond with your dog," Stubblefield said.

She emphasized, however, that the test is not suggested for aggressive dogs.

The test uses toys and cups, as well as a face mask, to perform 15 exercises. They test traits such as reasoning, short-term memory, long-term memory, persistence and problem-solving skills.

Stubblefield said the test is best administered in a quiet room of a home. The dog should also be a little hungry, because treats will be given.

Pooch Exercises

One of the exercises that tests a pooch's reasoning skills and ability to pay attention involves putting three cups facedown on the floor with a treat hidden under one. They are rearranged after the dog sees which holds the treat.

The dog is rated according to its reactions. Some will sniff around without knocking cups other, others will show no interest or stare at the cups without moving, or randomly knock them over to find the treat.

The more intelligent dogs will immediately knock over the correct cup to get the treat.

Each of the reactions gets a score provided in a booklet that comes with the test.

My Carmen scored low because she would not go after the treat while I was paying attention.

Pooch's Score

For another exercise, the dog's owner is the only equipment. It tests a dog's ability to understand its owner's mood.

The owner is supposed to come into a room stomping, frowning and behaving angrily. The following descriptions are provided.

The animal might slowly approach with a lowered head, look confused with a tilted head, put her ears down and tuck her tail, pay no attention or not seem to notice at all. Walking up slowly with a lowered head, ears and tails is considered the most intelligent response.

In that one, Carmen scored high.

After all 15 exercises are administered, the score is tabulated. The Pooch IQ scale, which runs from 55 to 150, includes labels such as dazed and confused; not so bright; slightly dense; about average; pretty clever; smarty pants, top of the class; and absolute genius.

Dog owners can upload photos of their pooches along with a score at BrightPup.com.

As for Carmen, she did her breed proud -- she scored as a "smarty pants," with a Pooch IQ of 127.

No matter where your dog ranks on previous intelligence lists, the Pooch IQ test may provide new insight on a dog's true intelligence and, if nothing else, provide bonding time between a pooch and its owner.

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