What's the main difference between instinctive and adaptive intelligence?

Instinctive intelligence is the innate, hardwired ability to perform breed-specific tasks, such as a Border Collie's herding drive or a Labrador's retrieving instinct. This is largely genetic and inherited. Adaptive intelligence, conversely, is the capacity to learn and problem-solve in new situations, like figuring out how to open a gate or responding to novel commands. While instinctive intelligence is fixed, adaptive intelligence can be developed through experience and training. Explore our full article to see how your pet's breed influences these fascinating forms of intelligence!