…as defined by Stanley Coren in The Intelligence of Dogs. 

Adaptive intelligence refers to a dog’s ability to solve problems on its own.

Adaptive intelligence is what a dog can learn to do for himself. These are things the dog must be taught, or must learn from his environment. This type of intelligence can vary within the same breed. For example, Border Collies are herders, and all Border Collies have the instinctive intelligence to herd. You will find some variation, however, between Border Collies in their ability to learn and remember new skills.