Ever wondered what are the most intelligent breed of dog? In this article, these top Smartest dog breeds share why clever and smart dogs are not only trainable, Intelligent, but they are also affectionate and protective dog breeds you can enjoy having as a family pet.
Listen, smart dog breeds are everywhere, and social media and Youtube has made it a lot easier to showcase intelligent dogs doing clever tricks and more!
From Stumpy tailed Australian cattle dog, Alpha blue blood bulldogs, Wirehaired Dachshunds German Shepards and many more. It seems like everywhere you look from law and order, entertainment to farming, you will find intelligent dogs
| DOG BREED | DOG BREED INTELLIGENCE RANKING | RANK | DESCRIPTION |
| Rottweiler Dogs | How smart is a Rottweiler? | 10 | Rottweilers are the number 10th smartest dog breed according the widely accepted dog intelligence ranking by Dr. Stanely Coren. Though rotweilers are born capable of following complex instructions, intuitively they are protective type of a dog breed. Unless you properly train them, you will sure end up with unrully, overly protective and aggressiveness dog. Great news is that If your Rotweiler puppies are coming from a reputable breeder who carefully breed them purposely to become calm, intelligent, with amiable temperament through proper socialization and training. |
| Doberman Pinschers | Are Doberman Pinschers Smart Dogs | 5th | Yes! Doberman Pinschers are well known for being smart dogs, whose intelligence ranking according to Dr. Coren is number 5th in Smart dog’s world ranking order. Doberman Pinschers are not just intelligent dogs, they are also loved by most pet owners for their alertness, and how tenaciously loyal companions they become once you train them as your household guard dogs. Doberman Pischers smartness does not come willy nilly! … it is owed to commitment to training and care from when they are just puppy dogs. So, if you need to own a clever dog, get doberman pischer puppies and train them well, so they can become wonderful family dogs. Many successful pet oners always choose a consistent approach to easily train their dogs and the good news is that this breed learn descipline very quickly. |
| Shetland sheepdog | 6th | Shetland sheepdogs are ranked 6th in the world’s smartest dog breed list. They are also commonly known as Shelties and revered for the extreme intelligence level and somewhat of a workaholic who does not like to sit idle. So, always make sure to have a job for them to do daily. If neglected from a young age( when they are puppies), they tend to get alittle bit stubborn. Most Sheltie owners who have successfully tamed their dogs often implement routine training disguised as fun activities. This allows the dogs to think they are making up their own minds yet behind each activity you devise, there is a lesson you want them to master a habit they can use to do their daily chores. On the other hand, Shelties have insane levels of energy and they constantly need to channel that excess energy through work and fun games if not running in your backyard. | |
| The golden retriever | How smart are Golden Retrievers? | 4th ranking | Ever wonder how smart are Golden Retrievers? Wonder no more as the verdict is in! Golden Retrievers are ranked 4th out of Dr. Stanley Coren‘s 138 list of highly intelligent dogs. Golden retrievers rank as the 4th smartest dog breed after Border Collie dog breed, the poodle and the german Sherpards who are all top 3 ranked in the 138 smartest dog breeds list according to the renowned canine psychologist, Stanley Coren. |
| The Labrador retriever | The Labrador retriever is number 7th on global dog intelligence ranking | ||
| The Papillon Dog Breed | The papillon dog breed is ranked number 8th on the intelligence ranking index | ||
| The Australian cattle dog | Is the Australian shepherd the smartest dog in the world | Yes! the Australian cattle dog is a smart dog breed that enjoy a global dog intelligence ranking of number 65th of all clever dogs. | |
| How smart is a poodle? | The poodle dog breed are number 3rd in the dog’s intelligence global ranking | ||
| Border Collies | Are border Collies smarter than poodles? | Yes! Border collie dog breeds are the smartest dogs and are ranked first while Poodles are ranked 2nd on the dog breed intelligence rankings. | |
| Shetland Sheepdog | Are shetland sheepdog intelligent And Protective? | Yes! Shetland sheepdogs are celebrated for their extreme intelligence And Protective traits. They are commonly known as Shelties who also are full of energy so much that if you do not give them what to do to stimulate her physically, they get naughtier |
Frankly speaking, all dog breeds are smart in their own right and just amazingly cute. But when it comes to intelligence (following commands and doing as told), certain types of breeds will stand out from the rest.
Take dog breeds that rarely bark for example, though they are born with a predisposition to barking the least, the majority of it is learned re-inforcement training so the dog does not bark at anything that moves or when they are stressed.
Yet, there is still a section of people with fascinating questions that are asked daily, regarding the ability of certain dog breeds having an IQS.
So, are there smart or witty dogs out there?
And the answer is yes! Working dogs like wire haired dachshunds, Labradors to Stumpy tailed Australian cattle dogs are a few of many smart dogs you will ever come across.
But don’t just take my word for it! Let’s take a look at some of the most intelligent dog breeds as they will help understand more about their abilities, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and traits that make them fall under elite dog breed worth of our becoming furry friends.
You probably heard about smartest dog breeds, but do dogs have an IQ like us humans?
No! Dogs do not have an IQ; however, when trained well, certain dog breeds have proven to become smarter than others.
Furthermore, some dog breeds like Golden retriever Chow Chow mixed dog breeds can be stubborn and hard to train. Such dog breeds are generally regarded as not smart dog breeds.
What exactly makes a dog smart than others?
At the center of the smartest dog breeds is obedience, so dog’s intelligence in many cases is determined by how obedient they are and also on instincts and the ability to adapt.
Are bigger dogs smarter than smaller ones?
Researchers claim that bigger dogs are smarter, but this hasn’t been confirmed as a fact.
Though an argument can be made for Papillon dog breeds, which happen to be small yet intelligent, and in this list of smart dog breeds, we made sure to include papillon.
Some researchers have said that after looking at information since 1888, they learned that bigger dogs were able to remember and do as told for a more extended period than small breeds.
They also claimed that the only reason why there are small smart breeds is that they were a cross-breed inheriting some of its characteristics from the larger dog parent
With all that said, here is the list of smartest dog breeds. In this post, we have made sure to gather all essential additional information and pictures including the origins, appearance, and temperament of some of these intelligent dog breeds:
1. The German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is not just one of the large size breed that has origins in Germany, and this breed is obedient, easy to train and adapts to new routines or environments quicker than most of the smartest dog breeds listed here!
But, if you think that is not good enough to make german shepherds smart and intelligent dogs, go back in the day(1899) when this dog breed was used as a herding and guard dog.
No dog breed is better as a working dog if it lacks the emotional intelligence to pick training instructions, and When herding and guarding sheep, they were expected to patrol the boundaries to keep sheep from trespassing and damaging the crops.
And German Shepards being smartest dog breed, that’s precisely what they did. The breed is very intelligent and has the ability to learn simple tasks after only a handful of repetitions.
With their strength, this trait makes the German Shepherd desirable as law and order (police or military) working dogs , guard or search and rescue dogs.
For years the German Shepard dog breed has been chosen for their smart wits and their ability to learn varying simple or complex tasks for tactical operations in military combat or crowd control in areas where rioting is prevalent.
As military or police service dogs, German Shepards are held to their highest regard for interpreting the instructions given to them better than any other large dog can
Appearance and temperament of German Shepards as the Smartest breed
You may think temperament of a dog breed has nothing to do with being smart, but emotionally intelligent dog breeds are those who know how to moderate their tolerance levels in changing environments.
Though German shepherds being so large, considering that this dog breed generally stands between 55 and 65 centimeters (22 and 26 in) at the withers, they are in fact tolerant of nuisance from small dog breeds when you take them out for a walk.
And that is all possible as they are able to adhere to training commands you teach them from when they are puppies.
German shepherds are also playful and witty, with an ideal height of 63 centimeters (25 in) according to Kennel Club standards, they can easily be intimidating. Yet, you will find them using their wits to remain humble among other dog breeds.
According to a published report, siue estimates an average weight of 30–40 kilograms (66–88 lb) for males while 22–32 kilograms (49–71 lb) for females. They have a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle, and a black nose.
The jaws are strong, with a scissor-like bite. The eyes are medium-sized and brown with a lively, intelligent, and self-assured look.
The ears are large and stand erect, open at the front, and parallel, but they often are pulled back during movement.
They have a long neck, which is raised when excited and lowered when moving at a fast pace. The tail is bushy and reaches to the hock.
The UK kennel club accepted the breed in 1919, and till today, it’s adored by many people because of its incredible characteristics.
2. The golden retriever
The golden retriever has origins in Scotland, and it was bred there in the 19th century. This large-sized dog was bred for hunting purposes, and it was also known as the gun dog that retrieved shot waterfowl such as upland game birds and ducks.
The dog was able to retrieve shot game undamaged because of it’s super soft.
Mouth, hence it’s named, “retriever.” The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1925, and in 1938 the Golden retriever club of America was founded. It was ranked to be number two for the American Kennel club of registration.
Over the years tell dog grew in popularity in different parts of the world, many people were fond of it because of its charming characteristics, till today, dog lovers are fond of this breed.
Appearance and temperament of the Golden retriever
Golden Retrievers are large, powerful dogs with long fur and an athletic build, the male golden retriever weighs 29 to 34 kg and stands 56 to 61 inches tall.
Some smart and witty dog breeds come in smaller body frames; however, Golden retrievers are much sturdier and occupy a more substantial body frame.
With the female Golden retriever weighing at an average of between 25 to 29 kgs and stands 51 to 56 inches tall, you can agree they are not just intelligent dogs but also large.
The golden retriever is a strong dog breed and makes it an ideal dog to be hardworking and very loyal to their owners.
It’s got a coat that varies from very wavy to almost flat, the most common colors for its coat are white, black, fawn, cream e.tc Its eyes are notable for being dark brown and rimmed with a dark ‘eye liner’ marking and its ears are floppy and well furred, but should still be able to move.
This breed is known for being obedient, playful, and intelligent, it also has a well-mannered temperament, making them great family pets. It is extremely active and is always happy to go on a walk.
3. The Labrador retriever
Labrador retriever is both smart,witfully gentle with other family pets. And this trait makes Labrador retriever a smart pet to have in homes with multiple pets like a feline.
Yes! Labradors and cats can co-exist under the same room though they are mostly assumed as not being a great friend in other sections of communities.
It’s hard out there for families who love both dogs and felines as pets. Thankfully, with Labrador retrievers being smart dogs, they do come with a sweet personality and passive that makes them more amiable nature to co-exist with cats in the same house.
Labrador retrievers are naturally curious dogs who will go out of their way to mimic a cat’s playfulness just to get along.
Surprisingly, many homes with multiple pets have really had all good things to say about how clever and thoughtful this duo can be apart from the mischief this dynamic triggers.
The Labrador retriever has origins in the Newfoundland in the 1500s, during that time they were known as the Newfoundlands and small water dogs were bred with them to create a breed called the St. John’s Water Dog or Lesser Newfoundland.
Fishermen owned this breed, they would jump into icy water to bring back fish that had fallen off the fishing hooks; they would also pull in fish-filled nets.
The breed was perfect for these jobs because their coat repelled water, and their webbed paws made them excellent swimmers.
The breed was then exported to England where they became known as the Labrador retriever, they were also exported to America in 1903 and that’s also when they became recognized by the American Kennel club.
Appearance and temperament
The Labrador retriever is a medium to a large dog breed, the males weigh 29 to 36 kgs and stand 57 to 62 cm tall, while the females weigh 25 to 32 kg and stand 55 to 60 inches tall.
The body of this dog is powerful and muscular built, its jaws are strong, the muzzle is of medium length and not too tapered.
The head is broad with slightly pronounced eyebrows, eye color is Hazel and brown, it’s ears are hanged close to the head and set slightly above the eyes.
It’s coat is short and dense, but not wiry, it is as well water-resistant so that the dog does not get cold when taking to water in the winter.
The common coat colors of this dog breed are black, yellow, and chocolate. The Labrador’s temperament is known to be pleasant, kind, loyal, outgoing and also has a tractable nature.
4. The papillon
The Papillon dog breeds are a small and smart type of dogs that originates in Spain and is said to be one of the most intelligent small dog breed in the world.
It can listen to commands just after a few repetitions. It’s also very loyal, loving and friendly to its owners.
5. The Australian cattle dog
This God has origins in Australia and was bred for herding purposes. The breed is of medium size, it’s got a short coat that comes to in many different colors.
The Australian cattle dog is known for being highly intelligent, it responds well to training and commands. The breed is also very loyal, loving and friendly.
6. The poodle
The poodle has origins in Germany and is regarded as one of the most intelligent breeds in the world; they are highly trainable and will do everything they are told to do. The poodle is elegant, proud, talented, and many find them very impressive. They are also very affectionate and loyal to their owners.
7. The Border Collie
You can not talk about the smartest dog breeds without mentioning the border collie, which is Intelligent, loyal, and has origins in Scotland where it was bred for working and herding purposes.
The Border Collie being an adaptable, intelligent dog, it is easily trainable from when it is a puppy to herd of sheep and other livestocks on a working farm.
The breed weighs 26 to 44 kgs and stands 18 to 22 inches tall. It’s coat is smooth or rough and comes in colors such as:
- Solid colored,
- bicolored or tricolored on blue merle,
- red merle,
- chocolate merle,
- liver,
- lilac merle,
- bear,
- chocolate,
- lilac,
- blue,
- sable merle,
- sable,
- shaded sable,
- chocolate sable,
- black,
- white,
- red,
- brindle or orange.
And this dog breed has an average life span of 10 to 17 years.
This breed is believed to be the most intelligent dog in the world and requires considerably more daily physical exercise and mental stimulation than many other breeds.
The breed is also very loyal, affectionate, and, more than anything, love to play.
8. Shetland sheepdog
You’ve got to see the Shetland sheepdog to realize how smart and intelligent this breed which has origins in the Shetland Islands of Scotland.
The Shetlands sheepdog is known to have high levels of intelligence according to Dr. Stanley Coren, an expert on animal intelligence, it is said to be one of the brightest dogs, ranking 6th out of 138 breeds tested.
The breed weighs 5 to 11 kgs, and stands 33 to 43 cm. The breed has a long double coat that comes in colors such as sable, mahogany sable, shaded sable, tri-colored, bi-black, bi-blue, blue merle, bi-blue merle, sable merle, black and tan. It’s got a life span of 12 to 18 years.
9. Doberman Pinscher
This dog has origins in America and Canada, it is a medium-size dog weighing 32 to 45 kg and has a short coat that comes in colors such as red, blue fawn and black.
The breed’s intelligence is an umbrella term that encompasses the faculties involved in a wide range of mental tasks, such as learning, problem-solving, and communication.
The Doberman Pinscher has a proven record of being one of the highly ranked amongst the smartest intelligent dog breeds in experimental studies and expert evaluations.
It’s also known for being very loyal and friendly to its owners. And has a life span of 9 to 12 years.
10. Rottweiler
The rottweiler is a medium-sized breed that gas origins in Germany and were bred for herding purposes. The breed weighs 35 to 60 kgs and stands 22 to 27 inches tall.
It’s short coat comes in colors such as black and tan or black and mahogany. It’s got a life span of 8 to 10 years, and it’s known for being very intelligent. It listens and follows commands and does not take a long time to be trained.
