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What Are The World’s Most Intelligent Dog Breeds, And Why?

February 8, 2017 by Sydney Shapansky 31 Comments

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Does your dog make the list?

I am always inspired by the incredibly smart dogs we know and the difference they each make in somebody’s life.

Have you ever wondered exactly how smart your dogs is and what they are capable of?

I often do with Kilo the Pug. Do you measure by the number of tricks they can do or the type of talents they have developed or how fast they learn or how intuitive they are?

Dogs are capable of learning through simple reinforcement, but they also learn by watching humans and other dogs. Behavioral scientists have uncovered social-cognitive abilities in the domestic dog, similar to some in human children.

Different dog breeds were bred selectively with different strengths for different jobs and learn in different ways at different speeds. As well as varying by breed this can vary by individual dog. Different people have different needs and measures of “smarts” so what are the world’s most intelligent breeds?

Reportedly, the first intelligence test for dogs was developed in the late seventies. It included measurements of short-term memory, agility, and ability to solve problems such as detouring to a goal. It also assessed the ability of a dog to adapt to new conditions and cope with emotionally difficult situations.

Have you ever wondered exactly how smart your dogs is and what they are capable of Today We Look At The World’s Most Intelligent Dog Breeds.
We love this action shot of Rescues Rock! star Remy the Australian Cattle Dog Mix

There are some breeds of dogs like border collies that are known for having higher intelligence and others not so much, but what is it exactly that puts these dogs at the top of the list? Let’s find out!

Stanley Coren, on The Intelligence of Dogs

Stanley Coren is a neuropsychologist, Professor of Canine Psychology at the University of British Columbia, and author of the book: The Intelligence of Dogs. We were lucky enough to sit down with him for an interview when filming our documentary and really dig deep into what makes certain breeds of dogs “smarter” than others. border collie 1

Different Types of Intelligence

Coren breaks down dog intelligence into 3 categories:

  • Instinctive intelligence -a dog’s ability to perform the tasks it was bred for, ie: guarding, herding, hunting or providing companionship etc. This is measured by canine IQ tests and can vary by individual dog.
  • Adaptive intelligence – a dog’s ability to learn and problem solve on its own. This also varies from dog to dog and can be measured by a canine IQ test.
  • Working/Obedience intelligence – a dog’s ability to learn from humans. This is the form of intelligence that is considered most breed dependant and what most lists of “smartest dog breeds” are taking into account.

The good news about this is that just because your dog’s breed isn’t ranked highly on working/obedience intelligence, doesn’t mean that they aren’t intelligent in different ways like Kilo the Pug.  Perhaps ways that are even more appealing to you- for example, a therapy dog who knows when you’re upset and need some love might be infinitely more valuable to you than a dog that will learn to “sit pretty”, “stay” or “roll over” the first time you ask.

When I look at how my pampered prince Kilo manipulates me and how resourceful he is at getting comfort, cuddles, and food, he seems very smart indeed and a great fit for my lifestyle.

“The Genius of Dogs” and “Dognition” – Dr Brian Hare

Dr. Brian Hare is an associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University in North Carolina and a member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, which is a division of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University, founded the Hominoid Psychology Research Group while at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, and subsequently founded the Duke Canine Cognition Center when arriving at Duke University.

Dr. Hare has published dozens of empirical articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals including Proceedings of the Royal Society, Current Biology, Nature Neuroscience, Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PLOS Biology, Animal Behaviour, Animal Cognition and the Journal of Comparative Psychology. His publications on dog cognition are among the most heavily cited papers on dog behavior and intelligence.

He has also written the book “The Genius of Dogs” and started the research site www.dognition.com. Dr. Brian Hare, along with the world’s leading canine scientists and trainers, created the Dognition Assessment: interactive games and expert analyses that give you an unprecedented perspective on how your dog sees the world.

Breakthroughs in cognitive science, pioneered by Brian Hare have proven dogs have a kind of genius for getting along with people that is unique in the animal kingdom.

Brian Hare’s stunning discovery is that when dogs domesticated themselves around 40,000 years ago they became far more like human infants than their wolf ancestors.

Our List of The Smartest Dog Breeds

Number 12: Jack Russells

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Highly energetic,  fearless, lively and inquisitive, Jack Russell’s are highly trainable and excel at activities that exercise both the mind and body making them number 11 on our list.

We love working with Sweetie, Lulu and Shivers at events and on TV projects.

Read: Is A Jack Russell Terrier The Right Breed For You?

Number 11: Australian Cattle Dog

Screen shot 2017-02-08 at 11.08.59 AM

Energetic, muscular and highly intelligent, Australian Cattle Dogs respond well to structured training and require activities to challenge them physically and mentally. These adorable pups are number 10 in our list.

Number 10: Rottweiler

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Originally bred to drive cattle and pull carts, these dogs are as smart as they are feisty.

Number 9: Papillion

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These cute little dogs have beauty and brains!

Number 8: Australian Shepherds

Aussies were bred in the US to herd livestock. They remain a working dog breed at heart. Loyal, responsive and active, they are happiest when they have a job to do.

We commonly see them in trick shows, disc and agility competitions and TV commercials like our friend Cohen the Australian Shepherd.

Number 7: Shetland Sheepdog 

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A Herding breed that is well loved both on farms and in family households, these dogs are energetic, affectionate and responsive to training. They tend to do very well at obedience work.

Number 6: Doberman Pincher

Screen shot 2017-02-08 at 11.10.41 AM

Historically, this breed has been internationally known as a security dog, used for personal protection, policing, guarding, and even in war.

Number 5: Labrador Retriever 

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Popular family, therapy, and assistance dogs have high intelligence and gentle, eager-to-please, welcoming spirits, this breed is number 7 in our list.

Number 4: Golden Retriever

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Goldens are often seen as the ultimate family pet and generally do well with children because of their loving and generous spirit.

They also make wonderful Service Dogs like Dog Guide Flicka who is a PTSD Service Dog and Therapy Dogs like Smiley.

Number 3: German Shepherd

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German Shepherds are highly trainable, loyal and protective and are the most popular dogs in law enforcement, military and guarding, along with Belgian Malinois.

Number 2: Poodle

Poodle

Active and elegant, Poodles are extremely intelligent and trainable. This puts Poodles at number 2 on our list.

Number 1: Border Collies

border collie

Consistently considered to be the smartest dog breed on many measures, Border Collies can learn many words, skills, and tricks with good training. They frequently win trick, herding, and agility competitions and are great to work with on TV series, films, and commercials in our experience.

 See More Amazing Border Collies In Our Breed Spotlight

More ‘Top Dog Breeds’ Lists:

Most Affectionate Dog Breeds

Small Dog Breeds for Special Needs 

Dog Breeds For Fighting Depression

Dog Breeds for Kids and Families

Dog Breeds Suited For Apartments

Best Dog Breeds for Lazy Owners

Which Dog Breed Are You At A Party?

Did your dog’s breed make this list? Do you agree with this list? Is your dog intelligent in unconventional ways? Share your stories in the comments below!

Please note that we are TV producers and dog lovers, not scientists or vets or behaviorists, so our list is based on our own experiences working with dogs and studying the human-dog bond, plus other expert research.

Filed Under: Breeds, Featured Stories Tagged With: australian cattle dog, border collies, doberman pinscher, dog intelligence, german shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, obedience, papillion, poodles, rottweiler, shetland sheepdog, smart dogs, the intelligence of dogs

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Daily Pip says

    February 9, 2017 at 2:51 am

    Ruby is part poodle! Does that count? She’s actually pretty smart, but she has some terrier in her, too, so also a little stubborn.

    Reply
    • Talent Hounds says

      February 10, 2017 at 2:05 pm

      Absolutely – I personally think mixes are often super smart. #RescuesRock

      Reply
  2. Brando and Bogart says

    February 9, 2017 at 4:57 am

    We have two Border Collies! They deserve to be #1 on this list!

    Reply
    • Talent Hounds says

      February 13, 2017 at 3:55 am

      They sure do !!!

      Reply
  3. Flea Christenson says

    February 9, 2017 at 8:33 pm

    I’m not arguing with any of these! I think herding dogs in general are the most brilliant. My mutts, not so much. But they’re cute!

    Reply
    • Talent Hounds says

      February 10, 2017 at 1:58 pm

      Yes, I agree. Herding dogs do best on many measures but then you see the service dogs and they are amazing. Then I think of how Kilo the Pug manages his lifestyle and family LOL- pretty smart, although he does use his looks.

      Reply
  4. Cathy Armato says

    February 10, 2017 at 8:21 pm

    Great post, this is so interesting! I knew Border Collie would be in the #1 slot but a couple of the others did surprise me. Thanks for sharing these videos too, I just can’t get enough of Guide Dog puppies in training!
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

    Reply
  5. M. K. Clinton says

    February 10, 2017 at 8:37 pm

    Bentley and Pierre are protesting this list since neither of their breeds are listed. LOL!

    Reply
  6. Rochelle says

    February 10, 2017 at 8:40 pm

    My last dog was a border collie and chow mix, which was a funny combination: he was incredibly smart and knew exactly what you wanted him to do, but his chow half made him pretty stubborn and independent. Henry is pretty smart (in my eyes, anyway!), but the terrier part keeps him mischievous.

    Reply
    • Talent Hounds says

      February 13, 2017 at 3:52 am

      Our dog before Kilo for almost 17 years was Isabelle – half Lab half chow apparently. Fantastic dog- smart, great runner, loving, affectionate, easy to train and super loyal. She seemed smarter than our pure lab as was not as greedy and was a great problem solver. My husband still says BEST EVER

      Reply
  7. carleen says

    February 10, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    My corgis didn’t make the cut. But I see cattle dog on there and that is another favorite breed of mine.

    Reply
  8. Tenacious Little Terrier says

    February 10, 2017 at 11:30 pm

    Mr. N has all three! We think… he doesn’t often get a chance to hunt down rodents but he certainly tries.

    Reply
  9. Pawesome Cats says

    February 11, 2017 at 1:11 am

    This was a really interesting post – I was thinking that poodles and german shepherd would be near the top of the list as I’ve had friends with both breeds and they’ve known every trick in the book.

    Reply
  10. Jane says

    February 11, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    What a fascinating read, quite enjoyable. I will definitely agree that Labradors should be on this list. Our Black Lab, who passed, was extremely intelligent. He amazed us with so many talents, many that he learned himself without any training. He could carry a glass of tea into the kitchen, pour it into the floor, drink it up not leaving a spot, return the empty glass to its original position, without anyone suspecting a thing (so he thought), he could open any cupboard or refrigerator to have a buffet lunch while we were at work, open cheese wrappers without tearing the plastic… & many more talents which would require an entire book, haha.

    Reply
  11. Golden Daily Scoop says

    February 11, 2017 at 3:48 pm

    Yay! We made it to number 4! BOL! I actually thought the poodle would be number one! Great post, it’s fun to learn about other breeds!

    Reply
    • Talent Hounds says

      February 13, 2017 at 3:41 am

      Goldens are probably number 1 on most measures for me (don’t let Kilo know). I would have loved one but I just needed a smaller, slightly less active dog for this stage.

      Reply
  12. Ruth and Layla says

    February 12, 2017 at 3:47 am

    Layla is a HaShiPoo and very smart – actually she surprises me sometimes

    Reply
  13. Lola The Rescued Cat says

    February 12, 2017 at 5:46 pm

    This was very interesting and we learned a lot. All of the brands are very good looking dogs.

    Reply
  14. Dash Kitten Crew says

    February 12, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    I was surprised the Papillion is classed as brainy. Oops I had it down as a flake ‘worn’ by silly ladies – obviously these pups are on the right track finding the one person who would worship at their paws LOL!!!!

    Reply
    • Talent Hounds says

      February 13, 2017 at 3:39 am

      To be honest, I was too but we found them on so many lists and we met a few that seemed to confirm.

      Reply
  15. Tonya Wilhelm says

    February 12, 2017 at 8:48 pm

    I like that you said “Different Types of Intelligence” I’m often so crushed when a dog owner says they have a stupid dog or a stupid breed. It’s just not true. And believe me, these dogs know that their human doesn’t believe in them.

    Reply
    • Talent Hounds says

      February 13, 2017 at 3:37 am

      Yes, I totally agree. Some people don’t train their pugs (however, their resourceful little smarties do train them LOL). They do not think they are smart but Kilo has lots of tricks. Obviously, he is no herding dog and may not learn as fast or work remotely but he certainly knows the words he likes best and he is such a snuggly love bug.

      Reply
  16. Rebecca at MattieDog says

    February 12, 2017 at 9:22 pm

    Poodles! We just love them – they are truly smart and in very real, practical ways! They learn easily, can do tricks with little effort and are super sweet. Can you tell we’ve had Poodles in our family 🙂

    Reply
  17. Beth Patterson says

    February 13, 2017 at 1:47 am

    This is a pretty interesting list. I wonder if IQ is measurable between breeds, what the difference between the smarter breeds and not so smart breeds is. We had a Poodle and although she was great, I don’t know that seemed smarter than our other dogs. But this does explain why so many service and working dogs are breeds that are in the top tier.

    Reply
  18. Sweet Purrfections says

    February 13, 2017 at 4:55 am

    I’ve also read that intelligent dogs need a lot of activity or they can get into trouble. My sister has Australian Shepherds and I love them.

    Reply
  19. Kitty Cat Chronicles says

    February 13, 2017 at 5:15 pm

    Love Goldens and Border Collies! I’m also partial to Jack Russells, since my Lucy girl is a JR. Interesting to know her breed is one of the smartest!

    Reply
  20. Kim says

    February 13, 2017 at 5:43 pm

    Totally agree with this list

    Reply
  21. Katie Allan says

    February 13, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    Huskies never make these lists! Even though they are very smart dogs, they are way too stubborn! Echo is part collie and he is super smart.

    Reply
  22. Rachel says

    February 14, 2017 at 2:08 am

    What a fun post! I think my favorite thing about training and tricks is that Rooney looks so happy when we work on training. He loves the rewards and it is so clearly fulfilling for him.

    Reply
  23. Robin says

    February 15, 2017 at 5:38 am

    Very interesting! I always thought that German Shepherds were really smart. It’s great to see that I was right. Intelligence tests are still being created to understand intelligence in kitties. The problem is that they aren’t motivated by or bred for the things dogs are, so the same tests don’t really work. Cats can be very smart, though!

    Reply

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ABOUT TALENT HOUNDS

Talent Hounds started as a TV series exploring the changing roles of dogs and how they enrich our lives. We have grown into a Content Hub and Community for Dog Lovers. Our mission: Inspire. Connect. Inform. Entertain. I am Susan Nation - I manage the community. Kilo the cute little Black Rescue Pug is my sidekick and inspiration. Please join our community. Contact us if you have content, tips or resources to share.

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