Is your pup among the smartest dogs in the world? Certain dog breeds are prized for their intelligence. The smartest dog breeds in the world were bred to be brainy so they could help people accomplish specific tasks. But canine intelligence, like human intelligence, can be hard to define. There are many different kinds of intelligence, like the ability to adapt, having good instincts, being able to read emotions, and mastering control of one’s body.
Studies are being conducted to examine these different types of intelligence in dogs, but one type that has been studied thoroughly is working intelligence–the ability to learn and follow commands. Psychologist Stanley Coren surveyed 199 dog obedience judges to find out which dog breeds are the smartest when it comes to working intelligence for his book The Intelligence of Dogs. Though there are exceptions within breeds and a lot comes down to training, results were fairly consistent. Here’s a gallery of the top 50 dog breeds ranked in order of intelligence:
Dogs in the top ten can learn commands in five seconds and obey 95% of the time. Dogs ranked 11 to 32 can learn commands in five to fifteen repetitions and obey 85% of the time. Dogs in the 33rd to 63rd rank are average and can learn commands in 15 to 25 repetitions, obeying 70% of the time. Dogs ranked below that can take 25 to 100 or more repetitions to learn commands and obey 50 to 30% of the time.
Here are the breeds, in order, that ranked below the top 50:
51. Tied between American Eskimo Dog, Cairn Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, and Irish Setter
55. Norwegian Elkhound
56. Tied between Affenpinscher, Silky Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, English Setter, Pharaoh Hound, and Clumber Spaniel
62. Norwich Terrier
63. Dalmatian
64. Tied between Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, and Smooth-haired Fox Terrier
67. Tied between Curly-Coated Retriever and Irish Wolfhound
69. Tied between Kuvasz and Australian Shepherd
71. Tied between Saluki, Finnish Spitz, and Pointer
74. Tied between Cavalier King Charles spaniel, German Wirehaired Pointer, Black and Tan Coonhound, and American Water Spaniel
78. Tied between Siberian Husky, Bichon Frise, and English Toy Spaniel
81. Tied between Tibetan Spaniel, English Foxhound, Otterhound, American Foxhound, Greyhound, Harrier, Parson Russel Terrier, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
89. Tied between West Highland White Terrier, Havanese, and Scottish Deerhound
92. Tied between Boxer and Great Dane
94. Tied between Dachshund, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Shiba Inu
97. Malamute
98. Tied between Whippet, Chinese Shar-Pei, and Wirehaired Fox Terrier
101. Rhodesian Ridgeback
102. Tied between Ibizan Hound, Welsh Terrier, and Irish Terrier
105. Tied between Boston Terrier and Akita
107. Skye Terrier
108. Tied between Norfolk Terrier and Sealyham Terrier
110. Pug
111. French Bulldog
112. Tied between Brussels Griffon and Maltese Terrier
114. Italian Greyhound
115. Chinese Crested
116. Tied between Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Vendeen, Tibetan Terrier, Japanese Chin, and Lakeland Terrier
121. Old English Sheepdog
122. Great Pyrenees
123. Tied between Scottish Terrier and Saint Bernard,
125. Tied between Bull Terrier and Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen
128. Chihuahua
129. Lhasa apso
130. Bullmastiff
131. Shih Tzu
132. Basset hound
133. Tied between Mastiff and Beagle
135. Pekingese
136. Bloodhound
137. Borzoi
138. Chow chow
139. Bulldog
140. Basenji
141. Afghan hound
Where does your dog’s breed stack up in working intelligence? Do you agree with these rankings? Let us know in the comments below!
Smartest Dog Breeds
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1. Border Collie
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2. Poodle
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3. German Shepherd
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4. Golden Retriever
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5. Doberman Pinscher
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6. Shetland Sheepdog
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7. Labrador Retriever
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8. Papillon
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9. Rottweiler
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10. Australian Cattle Dog
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11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
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12. Miniature Schnauzer
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13. English Springer Spaniel
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14. Belgian Tervuren
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15 (Tied). Schipperke
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15 (Tied). Belgian Sheepdog
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17 (Tied). Collie
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17 (Tied). Keeshond
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19. German Short-Haired pointer
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20 (Tied). Flat-Coated Retriever
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20 (Tied). English Cocker Spaniel
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20 (Tied). Standard Schnauzer
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23. Brittany Spaniel
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24 (Tied), Cocker Spaniel
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24 (Tied). Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
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26. Weimaraner
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27 (Tied). Bernese Mountain Dog
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27 (Tied). Belgian Malinois
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29. Pomeranian
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30. Irish Water Spaniel
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31. Vizsla
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32. Cardigan Welsh corgi
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33 (Tied). Chesapeake Bay Retriever
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33 (Tied). Puli
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33 (Tied). Yorkshire Terrier
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36 (Tied). Giant Schnauzer
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36 (Tied). Portuguese Water Dog
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36 (Tied). Aerdale
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36 (Tied). Bouvier Des Flandres
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40 (Tied). Border Terrier
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40 (Tied). Briard
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42. Welsh Springer Spaniel
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43. Manchester Terrier
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44. Samoyed
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45 (Tied). Field Spaniel
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45 (Tied). Newfoundland
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45 (Tied). Australian Terrier
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45 (Tied). American Staffordshire Terrier
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45 (Tied). Gordon Setter
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45 (Tied). Bearded Collie