The smartest dog breeds – What makes a dog smart?

A dog with a high level of intelligence would be ideal for someone who wants to show off their pet’s outstanding feats.

All dog breeds were originally developed to assist people in some capacity, whether it protection, hunting, herding, racing, retrieving, and so on. This implies that no matter what breed of dog you have, you’ll be able to coax out a certain talent via training.

One common stereotype about a dog’s intelligence is that it is completely subservient to its human masters, never questions authority, and never does anything wrong. Nonetheless, there are several types of intelligence.

Every dog has unique and fascinating characteristics, but the dogs that know the most tricks are often regarded as the brightest. We’ll lay out the criteria for what makes a dog intelligent, then run down the list of breeds that everyone agrees are the best.

What makes a dog smart?

Determining what makes a dog intelligent may be tricky because dogs’ intellect often mirrors that of humans. It’s commonly believed that the smartest people are those that excel intellectually and routinely receive perfect scores in school.

The truth is that everyone views intelligence differently. There are some who excel in the classroom and those who do not. Some people have a lot more imagination than others, and vice versa. Our dog’s intelligence may be evaluated in the same way.

Dogs that have been specifically bred for an occupation are sometimes considered the smartest of all dogs because of their eagerness to obey their masters’ directions.

Typical markers of dog intelligence:

Easily influenced

Concentration and focus over lengthy periods of time

Loyal to the point of obsession

Chatty (while barking is typically considered as a bad attribute, a chatty dog usually denotes an intelligent one, as barking suggests they were formerly educated to be a guard or herding dog) (although barking is often seen as a bad quality, a talkative dog usually means a clever one, as barking indicates they were once taught to be a guard or herding dog)

high-spirited and ambitious, two qualities that often indicate a dog’s history as a working canine

There is no such thing as a dumb dog, so don’t worry if your dog doesn’t know a wide variety of tricks.

Some canines are extremely people-oriented; these furballs are loyal and eager to please their human caretakers. It’s true that some dogs just don’t give a hoot! Dogs who thrive on human company are extremely responsive, making them appear smarter than they actually are.

Each given dog may excel in obeying directions, following a scent, or sprinting. What counts as intelligence is very relative to the criteria used to determine it. Yet, whether or not a Bulldog’s ability to sleep during the day constitutes an intellectual trait is up for debate.

Do dogs have an IQ?

A person’s “intelligence quotient” (or “IQ”) is calculated using a battery of standardised tests.

The usefulness of an IQ test in the canine world is conditional on the attribute being evaluated. There have been a number of attempts to conduct “IQ tests” on dogs, but they all hinge on the dog’s receptivity to human approval, playtime, and goodies.

This implies that the results may be distorted based on the dog’s motivations about food. Although most dogs will do just about anything for a good treat, there are others who would prefer be left alone. Some dog parents may be surprised to learn that their canine companions aren’t all ravenous hounds.

Intelligence test – Stanley Coren’s assessment indicators

Stanley Coren’s research has become the standard by which all other studies of canine intelligence are measured. Professor of canine psychology Stanley Coren used two basic tests to determine a dog’s intelligence in his book The Intelligence of Dogs.

Initially, he evaluated the dogs based on how quickly they picked up and perfectly executed a new command. The smarter the dog, the less times you’d need to repeat the new command before it became second nature.

Coren also rated the puppies based on how often they correctly identified and responded to a previously taught instruction. The more successful a breed was, the further up on the intelligence scale it was placed.

Of course, this is just one binary approach to determining your dog’s IQ and isn’t the only way to find out how bright your pet is.

What are the smartest dog breeds?

This list is based on Coren’s ranking of intelligent breeds.

Border Collie – The Teacher’s Pet

Here we have the dog breed that has it all: intelligence, good behaviour towards people and other animals, a love of learning, and a penchant for showing off what they know.

The Border Collie tops the list of the most intellectual dog breeds in the popular book by Stanley Coren, The Intelligence of Dogs. This makes perfect sense.

The Collie’s brainpower, physical prowess, and amenability to training are all off the charts. While the ordinary dog only has the cognitive capacity to absorb about 170 words, Border Collies can learn anything from 250 to a stunning 1000!

For the record, a Border Collie called Chaser has the biggest tested animal memory, retaining the names of 1,022 different toys. It is just remarkable.

Their herding ancestry very probably contributed to their high IQ, as well as their agility, loyalty, and want to please their masters. Collies are eager students, whether they’re out on a walk or in a classroom.

This breed is prone to destructive behaviour from boredom if not given adequate opportunities for exercise and mental challenge. Make sure you have a lot of tricks in your sleeve to teach your smart Collie, as they are renowned for chewing holes in walls and furniture.

Breed stats

• Size: Medium
• Exercise needs: Very high
• Trainability: Very high
• Temperament: Energetic, devoted, alert

Poodle – The Stylish Smarty-Pants

At first sight, you might wonder how the arrogant, aristocratic Poodle managed to make the cut. The Poodle is one of the smartest dog breeds, and its puffy coat belies its ability to learn new tricks quickly.

Poodles were initially designed to be water retrievers, and they excel at this task with their high intelligence and eagerness to learn. Some people may dismiss their wild hairstyle as nothing more than an eccentric fashion statement, yet it serves a practical purpose. While having less hair makes swimming simpler, it also leaves them more vulnerable to the cold. Because of this, the torso and joints had small fluffballs of hair cut around them to keep the body warmer.

The Poodle’s swimming and hunting heritage makes them motivated to complete any assignment to the highest possible quality. Poodles are one of the smartest dog breeds, making them easy to train in a variety of areas.

Poodles provide the foundation for several pup-ular crossbreeds, including the Cockapoo, Labradoodle, and Golden Doodle, among many others.

Like many smart dogs, they need a lot of exercise and mental challenges to avoid becoming stir crazy. To prevent this bright breed from being bored, it is im-paw-tent to provide them with regular exercise, mental stimulation, and attention.

Breed stats

• Size: Toy, miniature or standard
• Exercise needs: High
• Trainability: Very high
• Temperament: Loyal, alert, playful

German Shepherd – The Multitalented Mastermind

A dog that excels at everything is the German Shepherd. Is there anything the German Shepherd can’t do? They make fantastic family pets, work dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, drug-detection dogs, medical aid dogs, tour guides, therapists, and more. There’s a good reason why they’ve been a popular breed for so long.

They may be reserved when first meeting someone, but their loyalty to friends and family is unwavering. The German Shepherd’s willingness to please and unwavering loyalty make him an ideal pet.

They are so eager to learn and keep busy that you could probably teach them anything. Have you ever wish someone would grab the TV remote so you wouldn’t have to get up, or that someone would run upstairs and bring down your slippers?

If trained properly, a German Shepherd will gladly perform these tasks at your beck and call. It’s a neat technique that’s sure to amaze guests.

But, you should be aware that German Shepherds are known barkers, so it may be helpful to teach yours the “quiet” command.

Breed stats

• Size: Large
• Exercise needs: High
• Trainability: Very high
• Temperament: Confident, loyal, brave

Golden Retriever – The Goofy Genius

The Golden Retriever may have a comical paw-sonality, but don’t let that fool you; they are a very clever breed. Although Goldens were originally developed to recover dead animals from water, they have now expanded their horizons to include service, guiding, therapy, and even search and rescue work. No superficial charms here!

Naturally capable swimmers, Golden Retrievers also have the flexibility to adjust to new environments. Many people choose Golden Retrievers as loyal family members because they get along well with everyone, including children, pets, humans, and other dogs.

Those who own Goldens often remark on the breed’s “strange” ability to read its owners’ emotions. If you’re feeling down, your significant other will be there in a flash to shower you with love and comfort.

Despite this, due to their intellect, Goldens may be sneaky and devious at times. If you don’t pay attention, your Golden Retriever may drag your socks up the garden in an attempt to play a game of chase.

It’s all in good fun, and you’ll forgive them in a moment because to their large, loving eyes and silly paw-sonality.

Breed stats

• Size: Large
• Exercise needs: High
• Trainability: High
• Temperament: Family orientated, cheerful, confident

Doberman Pinscher – The Wise Watchdog

The Doberman’s outstanding intelligence matches its remarkable physical presence: lean, sleek, and intelligent. Dobermans, first bred in the early 1880s for guard and protective responsibilities, are a relatively new dog breed.

Louis Dobermann, a tax collector, developed the breed because he needed a guard dog because of the high value of the money he carried in the course of his work. Dobermans thrive as police and military dogs in today’s world, but they also make wonderful pets for many people.

Dobermans are naturally protective because they were bred to be the ultimate mongrel guard dog. This implies they will be completely loyal to you and easy to teach. Don’t be alarmed by their protective nature; thanks to their high IQ, they can easily distinguish the difference between a friend and an enemy.

With proper training, your Doberman may be a well-mannered, loyal, brave, and lovable member of your family. Dobermans have a reputation as vicious guard dogs, yet their kind nature and intelligence will surprise you.

Breed stats

• Size: Large
• Exercise needs: High
• Trainability: High
• Temperament: Fearless, devoted, loving

Overall, Coren ranks 130 dog breeds, and his top 10 continues, including the Shetland Sheepdog, Labrador, Papillon, Rottweiler and the Australian Cattle Dog.

Does this mean that bigger dogs are smarter than smaller dogs?

It appears that bigger dogs are smarter, since all of the top five smartest dog breeds are medium- to large-sized.

The University of Arizona conducted a research to see if greater brain sizes in dogs correlated to an overall smarter breed. On a whole, the results of the study showed that larger dog breeds were smarter than their smaller counterparts.

The larger dogs were more patient in waiting for their owner to give them a reward and were also better at remembering which cup the treat was hidden under.

As bigger breeds tend to fare better in Coren’s experiments, this supports his conclusions as well. While this pattern is undeniable, it also shows that IQ testing have their limitations.

Therefore, it does not seem to reason that a canine of greater size would also be superior in intelligence. While we humans may have the largest brains in the animal kingdom, other creatures with greater brains sometimes fall short of our talents.

Furthermore, it would be unfair to assign all the credit to the larger species.

Papillon – The Pocket-Sized Prodigy

The Papillon is the only toy breed to make Coren’s top 10 most intellectual dog breeds despite its minuscule size (only 3-4.5kg).

The name of their breed comes from the French word for butterfly, which is obviously a nod to their distinct erect ears.

Papillons are not only little, fluffy lapdogs. The Papillon is a toy dog breed known for its high level of energy and intelligence, which has made it the undisputed champion in obedience competitions for little dogs.

The Papillon is an excellent performer in agility and outdoor activities; just remember to keep things on the small side!

What about the dogs who ranked the lowest?

We all know that Stanley Coren used two tests to determine the relative intelligence of different dog breeds by measuring the dogs’ propensity to respond to and follow directions. Several dogs did poorly on his list as a whole, but it doesn’t imply they are stupid!

According to the findings of Coren’s tests, several types of hounds are among the “least intellectual” canine breeds. This in no way indicates their intelligence; rather, it only highlights the fact that they are challenging to teach. Keep in mind that Coren bases his evaluations on your ability to follow instructions and learn new ones.

Dogs of hound breeds are notorious for disobeying their masters since they’d rather be exploring the world around them through their noses. These dogs excel at scent tracking because of their acute sense of smell, and they are practically invincible in the field. A Bloodhound would easily outrun a Border Collie.

The smooth, royal, and gorgeous Afghan Hound is the canine breed with the lowest intelligence ranking. Fans of this rare species would disagree with such a poor score.

Because they are sighthounds, Afghan Hounds have excellent vision and can spot and grab their prey in a flash. Afghan Hounds have a paw-sonality all their own: they are extremely autonomous, obstinate, and reticent. As a result, they are generally difficult to train.

The Afghan just wants to live their life their way, at their own pace, and on their own terms, not yours. Afghans may be obstinate, so you’ll need time, persistence, and maybe even some ingenuity to teach them.

Basenjis, Bloodhounds, Chow Chows, Bulldogs, Beagles, Basset Hounds, and Borzois also rank among the dumbest canines.

If a dog doesn’t obey its master or learn basic commands like “lay down,” it’s tempting to assume the worst about it and write it off as an idiot. Nonetheless, every canine is unique in the skills and characteristics that set it out as smart.

The Afghan Hound could be more intelligent than the Border Collie, right? Afghan Hounds are independent dogs that do what they want with their lives, but Border Collies need to be told what to do all the time.

Should I get a smart dog?

We’re all impressed with a dog that looks to have been taught to paw-fection and can do tricks. But does that imply that everyone will find a dog of high intelligence to be the perfect companion?

To put it simply, no. To be clear, Coren does not imply that “smart dogs” are simple to train. The most intelligent canines, according to our research, are also the most disorganised, hyperactive, and activity-hungry.

Dogs that are less anxious are more likely to be well-behaved and pleasant household additions. Yet, you shouldn’t count on them to perform any fancy stunts or flips.

Without the proper amount of exercise and mental stimulation, intelligent dogs may get into all sorts of mischief if they are left alone for too long. Your furniture, skirting boards, pillows, and pretty much anything else they can get their claws on will be destroyed.