Dog - Dog Intelligence

The Intelligence of Dogs is a book by Stanley Coren.

 

Methodology

The author used "understanding of new commands" and "obey first command" as his standards of intelligence. He surveyed dog trainers and compiled this list of dog intelligence.

 

1-10 Brightest Dogs

 

11-26 Excellent Working Dogs

 

27-39 Above Average Working Dogs

 

40-54 Average Working/Obedience Intelligence

 

55-69 Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence

 

70-79 Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence

 

Criticism

Intelligence is a complex subject. A breed of dog that does not learn very quickly may have other talents.

It is important to remember that intelligence should not be judged only by the willingness to follow obedience commands. The willingness or ability to be obedience trained may reflect a desire to please or a dependence upon humans, as well as intelligence.

 

Many long time livestock guardian breed owners believe that working breeds such as the Great Pyrenees or the Kuvaz are not easily trained because they do not see the point of such commands as “sit” or “down”. Hounds may also suffer from this type of ranking; several rank in the bottom tier of this list (such as Beagles, Bloodhounds, and Basset Hounds). These dogs are bred to have more of a "pack" mentality with other dogs and less reliance on a master's direct commands. While they truly may not have the same kind of intelligence as a Border Collie, they were not bred to learn and obey commands quickly, but to think for themselves while trailing game.

 

Ranking of dogs by breed

Brightest Dogs

1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog
     Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)

 

Excellent Working Dogs

11. Miniature Schnauzer
12. English Springer Spaniel
13. Belgian Tervueren
14. Schipperke
15. Belgian Sheepdog
16. Collie
     Keeshond
17. German Shorthaired Pointer
18. Flat-Coated Retriever
     English Cocker Spaniel
     Standard Schnauzer
19. Brittany
20. Cocker Spaniel
21. Weimaraner
22. Belgian Malinois
     Bernese Mountain Dog
23. Pomeranian
24. Irish Water Spaniel
25. Vizsla
26. Cardigan Welsh Corgi

 

Above Average Working Dogs

27. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
     Puli
     Yorkshire Terrier
28. Giant Schnauzer
29. Airedale Terrier
     Bouvier des Flandres
30. Border Terrier
     Briard
31. Welsh Springer Spaniel
32. Manchester Terrier
33. Samoyed
34. Field Spaniel
     Newfoundland (dog)
     Australian Terrier
     American Staffordshire Terrier
     Gordon Setter
     Bearded Collie
35. Cairn Terrier
     Kerry Blue Terrier
     Irish Setter
36. Norwegian Elkhound
37. Affenpinscher
     Silky Terrier
     Miniature Pinscher
     English Setter
     Pharaoh Hound
     Clumber Spaniel
38. Norwich Terrier
39. Dalmatian

 

Average Working/Obedience Intelligence

40. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
     Bedlington Terrier
     Fox Terrier (Smooth)
41. Curly Coated Retriever
     Irish Wolfhound
42. Kuvasz
     Australian Shepherd
43. Saluki
     Finnish Spitz
     Pointer
44. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
     German Wirehaired Pointer
     Black and Tan Coonhound
     American Water Spaniel
45. Siberian Husky
     Bichon Frise
     English Toy Spaniel
46. Tibetan Spaniel
     English Foxhound
     Otterhound
     American Foxhound
     Greyhound
     Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
47. West Highland White Terrier
     Scottish Deerhound
48. Boxer
     Great Dane
49. Dachshund
     Staffordshire Bull Terrier
50. Alaskan Malamute
51. Whippet
     Chinese Shar Pei
     Fox Terrier (Wire)
52. Rhodesian Ridgeback
53. Ibizan Hound
     Welsh Terrier
     Irish Terrier
54. Boston Terrier
     Akita Inu

 

Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence

55. Skye Terrier
56. Norfolk Terrier
     Sealyham Terrier
57. Pug
58. French Bulldog
59. Brussels Griffon
     Maltese
60. Italian Greyhound
61. Chinese Crested Dog
62. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
     Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
     Tibetan Terrier
     Japanese Chin
     Lakeland Terrier
63. Old English Sheepdog
64. Great Pyrenees
65. Scottish Terrier
     Saint Bernard
66. Bull Terrier
67. Chihuahua
68. Lhasa Apso
69. Bullmastiff

 

Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence