Smartest Dog Breeds

By Caroline Coile | February 27, 2009 5:12 PM

Ask just about any doting dog owner, and they'll tell you how smart their dog is. Read just about any breed description, and you'll see the word "intelligent" used to describe that breed. But if you spend a week with almost any dog, you'll see that dog, no matter what breed he is, do some amusingly, even amazingly, dumb things. Of course, some do seem to be a little more amazingly dumb than others.

Just how dumb or smart a dog is depends on what defines a "smart dog." Is it the ability to wrap people around her dewclaw and get her way, no matter what? Which dog is smarter, the one that does as he's told and works hard for his supper or the one that cocks her head, looks confused and is waited on because she's obviously too challenged to find her way to her own food bowl?

It's not a simple question. Just as you have book-smart and street-smart people, you have dogs that are smart in different ways. Dogs that we consider book-smart are the ones that tend to learn commands easily--and once these commands are learned, do as they're told. By these criteria, the border collie is at the top of the class.

Other breeds with 4.0 averages are the Australian kelpie, the poodle, the Beauceron, the German shepherd, the golden retriever, the Doberman pinscher, the Shetland sheepdog, the Papillon, the Belgian Malinois and the Labrador retriever.

Breeds often accused of being most likely to be held back a grade include the Afghan hound, the Basenji, the Bulldog, the Chow chow, the Borzoi, the Bloodhound and the Pekingese. Owners of these breeds might agree their dogs may not have college futures, but they do have street smarts, and when it comes to getting their way, they're without peer.

The reason for these differences is all in the genes. Or more precisely, the tendency to follow human direction depends very much on what a breed was developed to do in the first place. Of the most trainable breeds, almost all come from herding or retrieving backgrounds, jobs for which the ability to follow human cues is vital. A good herder must be able to follow the shepherd's directions to move the sheep where they are wanted. A good retriever must be able to follow his handler's directions to locate fowl downed out of the dog's sight, or to avoid swimming into danger. Even lapdogs tend to have an obedient streak, since they've been selected as companions for generations.

It's easy to explain why some breeds are so obedient, but how can it be explained why some are so disobedient? Sometimes being disobedient, or at least independent, is a job requirement. Hounds and terriers, for example, were developed to trail or chase quarry without human direction; a hound or terrier that checked back with the hunter to see which way he should go would be a dismal failure on the hunt.

Other breeds tend to be disobedient simply because they're less civilized, so to speak. Breeds that DNA studies have shown to be more closely related to the wolf tend to think for themselves rather than rely on humans. These so-called progenitor breeds include the basenji, the Afghan hound, the chow chow and the Pekingese.

Domestication has selected for dogs that have an aptitude for training to a greater degree than typical wolves, which are notoriously hard to train. Yet nobody would ever think of accusing a wolf of being slow-witted. After all, is it smarter to do everything you're told or to make up your own rules?

Most people think they want a smart dog, but be careful what you wish for. Smart dogs need mental stimulation to keep themselves occupied. If you can't provide it, they can undertake their own projects, which may include various home-improvement jobs, such as pulling up that old carpet, redoing the wiring or rearranging your pantry. Unfortunately, no matter how smart they are, they seldom get past the demolition stage of one project before moving on to the next.

There's something to be said for a dog that's easily entertained.

Want more dog breed info? Check out the Breeds Section!

Comments (11)

Heidi March 3, 2009 2:33 PM

I have two dogs, a 4-year-old registered smooth collie that I have had three years, and a Min-Pin mix (I am guessing possibly Jack Russell terrier) who has been in my household only two weeks. Aside from similar coat colors of black, tan, and white and being short-haired, there is not a lot these two have in common. Not only is there an age difference, but a personality difference that spans a wide spectrum. Gunner, the collie, is dignified, almost to the point of aloof. He would not think of chewing on something not handed to him by his human family members. The only thing that gets him to bark is seeing a squirrel in the yard, (or possibly a neighbor's cat) and someone walking their dog past our front yard. He helped to raise our youngest cat, and they will occasionally play with each other. The dog will approach any human, young or old, and show that he wants to become friends. He can run and bound enthusiastically when the opportunity presents itself, or pace sedately next to me on a walk about the neighborhood. His interactions with the other dog is one of much noise (he opens his jaws wide and sounds like a bear), but nothing aggressive enough to harm the younger, smaller dog who does all the instigating! He is basically wise, obedient, and loyal. Then there is Sparky. His name fits his personality. Energetic--the kind that does not fade until the dog is about sixteen human years old! He has the coloring and coat of a Miniature Pinscher, with the head shape and ears of a terrier. He literally bounces off furniture when he is playing. His big, round eyes give you the look that just melts your heart. Small enough to snuggle in your arms as he licks your face, the dog lives for attention, and in return, defends you from any invaders (real or imagined). He is smart when it suits him. How hard can learning the command "sit!" be? The perfect candidate for a good obedience school, and yes, he is signed up to take a 2-part puppy class in the near future! My three cats are still asking "why?" . Sparky likes to chase whatever moves, and has not shown any real respect to the older feline family members. They all have their claws, but have yet to make contact with the dog. I'm betting that given time, Sparks and at least one of my cats will end up sharing the prime napping sites in the house. Gunner does not share well, and will remove himself if disturbed and find a more secluded spot. Which dog is 'smarter'? I think they are equal, but not in the same way, which makes life with them always interesting, if not predictable!

Dan March 3, 2009 4:20 PM

So you used a JRT in the picture for this story, but there's no mention of the dog in the article - nor are they listed under your breed searches. I don't understand this site.

TERESA April 25, 2009 1:36 AM

I too had trouble with this site. I wanted to find the symtoms for canine pregnancy. Was unable to do this. It says something about duration BUT none of the signs to look for. What a huge disapointment!

Allan May 2, 2009 5:52 AM

All dogs have their own inteligence. Some to learn tricks, some can think on their own more than others, some have "wizdom" in family situations....There is no breed smarter than the other. All dogs have different types of inteligence just like people do. And yes, there are some dumb ones too even withing a same breed. Just like people :-)

Els Devrieze May 10, 2009 12:21 PM

I don't agree with these top 10 smatrest dogs, all the dogs in the top 10 are working dogs, like the border collie, they just have a will to please and do what their master tells them, is following orders a sign of intellegence? Not in my book, i think a dog who thinks for his own much smarter, like a jack russel, you can teach a J.R. anything a collie can learn (and i know we have 3 collie's and 2 jack russels) the difference is, the collie's follow orders no matter what, but a jack russel has a mind of his own, for axample the jack did a trick for a treat one hour ago, now you tell him to do the same trick again but without the treat, now there's a big chance the dog doesn't want to do it again, you don't work if you don't get paid either do you? Same discusion whit a horse and a donkey, donkey's are way smarter then horses for the same reasons...

samsher June 3, 2009 2:36 PM

Well, I do believe in the top 10 smartest breeds. Though it is true there are some that will be "dumb" in a smarter breed, but I don't believe it is the dog, but the trainer. We aren't just going on a few pets here to make this clarification. If you check other sites, these breeds are listed pretty consistently, and it is the consistency that has put them into the categories. The border collie...clearly most intelligent by consistency. Just watch obedience trials or pet trick show, whatever...you will find the majority of the winners are Border Collies. Poodle being second, I own a Standard Poodle, and I own a hound. The Standard will pick up routine and is intelligent enough to listen and remember, treat or no treat. My hound mix, well she is sweet, and can do tricks, but all her tricks are associated with a treat. She's learned them and remembered that she will get a treat. Now I don't treat her every time. I want her to know to do something she is told....sometimes...just to do it. But I know if I stopped treating her all together...well, I'm not sure how long she would retain the trick. The Poodle, learns the trick or command with a treat for training purposes...now it is it's daily routine. It picked up the vocabulary. But again, most importantly it is the training and of course the trainer. you have to keep it up. I had a terrier mix...stubborn...smart...sweet...but if I'd stopped practicing with him. He'd have used his intelligence to entertain himself and it would have been destructive...he proved that. I've seen an incredible Weinmeraner (sp?) but it wasn't the dogs intelligence, it isn't typical for the breed...it was the trainer, the training, and the relationship between the dog and owner. The dog clearly wanted to please, so it performed. So take your dumb hound, or Afghan, or Besenji and love it, train it, and be consistant, and you can make it appear to be just as intelligent as the top breeds. But it isn't typical. But who cares!

Robert August 10, 2009 4:35 PM

I agree with Els. Dogs are as smart as the owner makes them. I have a border collie and a flat coated retriever. The flat is less than a year old and the border is between 4-5 years old the best we can figure since both were abandoned and wandered up to our property. Both are highly intelligent. The pup picks up on everything the border teaches her and what we teach her.

me August 10, 2009 5:27 PM

So did all these breeds get the same training and recieve the same tests to come up with this list. It's hard to believe a JRT is nowhere on any list. My Jack dumps over her water bowl for the sole purpose of getting me off her favorite chair. Never met a dog with that kind of thought process. Granted everything she does that I feel is "Smart" is caniving and only to suit her own needs but I guess if the dog doesn't do things for human amusement then it's not considered smart.

Karen August 16, 2009 8:33 PM

That is smart... and funny!

John November 17, 2009 9:46 PM

I have had many breeds over the years and when it comes to flat out smart I disagree with the Top Ten list. A boardie collie is smart there is noone on the planet gonna argue with that but I disagree that it is the smartest. Of the 31 different breeds I have trained and worked with over the years, the Australian Cattle Dog has been my best subject. This dog will not only learn EVERY command you teach it, but it will also do any job required without command. If anything seems out of place that this dog can fix, then they will do it. They love to be praised but never require it. Loyalty is a second nature with this animal. My grandkids can play in the yard without you worrying bout them leaving the area you dont want them to. The dog learns by watching boundries and will literaly herd the children back into my yard. I never worry bout anything with this dog cause it will come through whether you tell it to or not!!! I vote the Australian Cattle Dog as the smartes breed. It has more street and book smarts then any breed I have Ever dealt with. This includes 47 years of training dogs on every level.

jole November 21, 2009 12:04 PM

I don't understand why JRT's or PRT's are not mentioned...AKC and other kennel groups are a little snarky when it comes to Russell Terriers, either breed for some reason. I have a JRT(a puddin' Jack), he's as cleaver as any dog you'll see here, with the characteristic of being strongly independent and confident. I do believe all dog breds are "smart", based on their DNA and what they were bred for. Russel's aren't mentioned, I'll be moving on.

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