Brilliantly Adaptive w/ Jennifer Holland

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The Intelligence of Dogs & Their Adaptability Should Not Be Underestimated

About The Episode

Since she was a child, Jennifer Holland had dreamed of working for National Geographic as a landing spot for her passions of photography and writing. It wasn’t long after getting her Master’s degree that this wish would come true, as Jennifer would became a staff writer for the magazine.

In 2011, she started to write books as well. This started with Unlikely Friendships, which covered true stories about odd animal pairings. It became quickly popular and led to several other follow-up editions. Dog Smart is Jennifer’s latest book, published in May 2024 by National Geographic Books.

In her research speaking to many experts, and participating in field work to have hands-on experience, Jennifer aimed to re-think about the ways we can think of canine intelligenece in a different way than we think of for humans.

Dog Smart looks at how this a mistake we often make, placing our own expectations on their behavior. The types of intelligence lenses we can rather view dogs through includes olfactory (with their ability to smell), social, and emotional.

One of the most important aspects to keep in mind, however, is adaptability. From the beginning of their relationship with humans centuries ago, Jennnifer mentions how dogs evolved in their own way to remain by our side and filling this niche of animal companions who we rely on for various types of mental or physical support. Since then, dogs have continued to prove they are adept at being able to adjust on a moment’s notice to a human-dominated world.

Dogs’ adaptability can be seen as a form of intelligence, Jennifer says. This can also come into play with working dogs, who may be trained very strictly to follow a set of instructions. Occasionally there may be an instance where they see something is off or unsafe, and they have to make the conscious decision to adapt from their rigorous training and make their own judgement call. This “intelligent disobedience” to not follow through on a typical command shows their discernment and ability to make a smart move on the spot.

Another area where the types of smartness come into play is with working dogs, who get satisfaction out of the task-based jobs they do. This includes guide dogs who, for example, can help detect seizures in advance for those at risk or help visually-impaired humans to navigate anywhere they are.

Through re-framing how we can better recognize, contextualize, and appreciate the cognitive abilities of dogs as a species, the more we can truly understand them. From there, the ways our connections with them can expand are endless.

About The Guest - Jennifer Holland

Jennifer Holland received her Master’s degree in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from the University of Maryland before becoming a longtime Senior Staff Writer for National Geographic. Her work over the years covered animal behavior, evolutionary biology, natural history, and more. She worked there full-time for a dozen years before shifting to being a contributor for the magazine while also writing books. This includes her Unlikely Friendships breakout series, which looks at unusual animal pairings and the context behind them. Jennifer continues to write new books and released Dog Smart in May 2024, published by National Geographic.

About The Contributing Host - Dr. Chris Blazina

Dr. Chris Blazina is a licensed psychologist and author based in New Mexico. Through his work, he came to recognize the importance of animal companions in the lives of men, especially dogs. Dr. Blazina has written several books on his studies, including his most recent One Unwavering Friend about historical male figures and the significance of dogs in their lives. He has recently started to host select episodes.

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