Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds in the World
The smartest dog breed is listed in the book by Canadian professor and long-time researcher of four-legged animals Stanley Coren. Having interviewed more than two hundred judges of dog training and education from the United States and Canada, he compiled a rating of the smartest dog breeds in the world, taking into account three types of canine intelligence. Instinctive implies innate abilities (guarding, hunting), adaptive – the ability to adapt to daily tasks, obedience intelligence – a high ability to learn and follow commands.
Despite the fact that the smartest dogs were determined almost unanimously by two hundred professionals, Coren’s classification cannot be considered 100% correct. It is important to understand that there is no simple way to evaluate the intelligence of a pet, since each dog has its own unique characteristics, and their development can be facilitated by a caring owner.
Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds in the World
Border Collie
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Size: medium
Height: 50–56 cm at the withers
Weight: 25-30 kg
Age: 12-14 years
Border Collie is the smartest dog breed in the world. Representatives of this breed are considered the smartest for their unprecedented intelligence, high energy and performance levels, extraordinary instincts and workaholic character. They are able to learn incredibly quickly. These shepherd dogs, who previously watched over flocks of sheep, have retained their observation skills and agility. Thanks to their highly developed speed and concentration, these dogs achieve high athletic results in agility. They are also unpretentious pets that are suitable for families with children.
Poodle
Country of origin: France
Size: medium
Height
Standard: 37-39 cm
Miniature: 28-30 cm
Toy: 25-28 cm
Weight
Standard: 20.5-30 kg
Miniature: 12-14 kg
Toy: 6.5–7.5 kg
Age: 12-18 years
Cute curly four-legged friends take the second place of honor among the smartest dogs. During the war, dogs of this breed performed an important mission – they delivered supplies to soldiers. It is not for nothing that poodles are called steadfast and smart animals. And they are also easy to train: training such a dog is a pleasure! The intelligence inherent in poodles allows them to easily cope with various tasks, so they can often be found in the circus arena. Formerly bird hunters, today they are smart and obedient companions. They are very sociable and love their owners.
German shepherd
Country of origin: Germany
Size: large
Height: 55–68 cm
Weight: 25–40 kg
Age: 8-10 years
It is no secret that German Shepherds are used by the police and the army. Representatives of one of the smartest dog breeds, they are considered intellectuals and prove their abilities in practice: they are trained to find drugs, bombs and perform other important missions. These are strong, smart and courageous dogs that are easy to train and can learn a command the first time. German Shepherds are recognized not only as excellent service dogs, but also as devoted protectors of the family they live with. It is noteworthy that this breed was bred based on intellectual abilities.
Golden Retriever
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Size: large
Height: 51–61 cm
Weight: 27–40 kg
Age: 11-13 years
Large and friendly retrievers can learn more than two hundred commands! It is not surprising that they are in the top five smart dog breeds. Dogs of this breed are reliable assistants, so they are often chosen as companions for people with disabilities. Possessing high intelligence, golden retrievers are even used for search and rescue operations. In addition to their friendly nature, their agility and obedience make them excellent service dogs. They are unpretentious in care and very obedient when trained, and also skillfully perform various tasks. Wonderful pets and friends for the whole family.
Doberman
Country of origin: Germany
Size: large
Height: 65–69 cm
Weight: 30–40 kg
Age: up to 14 years
This smart dog was once bred by a tax collector from Germany for security purposes. Dobermans are very smart, assertive and easy to train. Despite their muscularity and seemingly menacing appearance, they are quite gentle and loyal pets. Excellent guards, thanks to their fearless character, rapid speed of movement and high level of endurance.
They demonstrated all of the above qualities during World War II, guarding troops and leading soldiers through dense forests. Dobermans are often trained for police and military duties. They are obedient and easy to train, so they become excellent guards.
Sheltie
Country of origin: Scotland
Size: medium
Height: 35–37 cm
Weight: 6-7 kg
Age: up to 16 years
Dogs of this herding breed are distinguished by their special intelligence and quick wits. Scottish Shepherds are easy to train, they are active and obedient, and often take high places in agility competitions. Thanks to their perseverance and ability to grasp everything on the fly, these dogs quickly learn new commands. They are also wonderful guards, sensing danger and warning about it with a loud bark. High intelligence allows Shelties to easily perform almost all tasks, and their kind and caring nature makes them an excellent companion for the whole family.
Labrador Retriever
Country of Origin: Canada
Size: large
Height: 55–57 cm at the withers
Weight: 30–45 kg
Age: 12-15 years
Labrador retrievers are famous all over the world as loyal, kind and active pets, distinguished by high intelligence and an amazing sense of smell. With these qualities, they perform very important tasks: for example, they act as guide dogs, help police officers, find drugs and even participate in search and rescue operations. Thick fur and a heavy tail allow Labradors to swim long distances in cold water. Representatives of this smart dog breed are known for their patience, ingenuity and gentle nature. They can learn a lot on their own, they know how to observe, study and imitate human behavior.
Papillon
Country of origin: France
Size: small
Height: 20–28 cm
Weight: 2-3 kg
Age: up to 16 years
Papillons are the only miniature four-legged dogs that made it into the top ten smartest dog breeds. These small dogs with butterfly-shaped ears are very smart and agile. They are frequent winners of agility competitions because they love to train and are easy to train. At the same time, papillons are much stronger than they seem at first glance: they are hardy and can walk for a long time without slowing down. Obedient and caring extroverted pets are not averse to participating in various events.
Rottweiler
Country of origin: Germany
Size: large
Height: 56–68 cm
Weight: 42–50 kg
Age: up to 12 years
Powerful and strong Rottweiler dogs have a number of advantages – they are smart, affectionate, obedient, loyal dogs. Their high intelligence is manifested in police work, performing service and guard tasks, and is even used in therapy. These dogs were among the first to become guide dogs. Despite their power and size, Rottweilers are playful and cheerful, and are also distinguished by patience, courage, and insight. Wonderful companions, they love and protect their owners.
Australian Cattle Dog
Country of Origin: Australia
Size: medium
Height: 43–51 cm
Weight: 13–28 kg
Age: 12-15 years
Australian Cattle Dogs are bred to herd cattle, and they always do their job with pleasure. Dogs of this breed are unique: they are not only extremely active, energetic and hardy, but also very smart. Their extraordinary intelligence and organization are amazing: dogs put things back in their place themselves. They are very smart and can outwit their owners, while they are especially zealous in protecting family members. They understand human commands perfectly, and due to their activity and high performance, they need constant physical exercise.
Which Smart Dog Is Right for You – Tips for Choosing
Smart little dogs
For those who live in a small apartment and want to get a small, smart dog, you should pay attention to the following three breeds: poodle (miniature), papillon and Pomeranian. These intelligent dog breeds are among the top 30 smartest.
Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds
Medium sized dogs
Future owners whose home is medium-sized, in addition to small smart four-legged friends, can be advised to get a pet of medium size. You can choose, for example, such smart dogs as a border collie, standard poodle, sheltie, Australian cattle dog or Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Smart Large Dogs
Anyone who wants a huge and smart canine friend and has enough living space for him to live comfortably should take a closer look at the following breeds: German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Doberman, Labrador Retriever, and Rottweiler. They are among the top ten smart dog breeds.
Dogs for allergy sufferers
First of all, people prone to wool allergies are advised to choose an intelligent pet of one of the following breeds: Irish Water Spaniel, Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer and Mittel Schnauzer.
Smart guard dogs
Dobermans, Shelties and Rottweilers, which are among the top ten smartest dog breeds, have excellent guard qualities. The second ten include Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Schipperkes and Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Dogs for families with children
Only a few representatives of intelligent dog breeds love children very much and get along well with them: Border Collie, Poodle, English Cocker Spaniel, Shetland Sheepdog, Collie, Golden Retriever, Labrador, Weimaraner, German Shepherd and Viennese Mountain Dog.
Advice to all future owners of a four-legged pet: before getting a dog, get to know the main characteristics of its breed and needs. Most smart breeds are hunters and workers by nature, who require long-term active training and exercise. You also need to understand exactly what kind of dog you would like to see next to you and how much time you are ready to devote to it. The choice of the breed of your future pet and your happy coexistence depend on this.
