Over 200 professional dog obedience judges ranked 110 dog breeds on the basis of their intelligence; the list below is the result. But remember, as Stanley Coren notes in his book The Intelligence of Dogs, depending upon your lifestyle, it may be more difficult to live with a more intelligent, rather than a less intelligent dog. A smart dog can prove a more challenging companion and all breeds on the list bring their own unique mix of wonderful attributes.
Brightest Dogs
Understanding of New Commands: Less than 5 repetitions. Obey First Command: 95% of the time or better
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
Excellent Working Dogs
Understanding of New Commands: 5 to 15 repetitions. Obey First Command: 85% of the time or better.
11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
12. Miniature Schnauzer
13. English Springer Spaniel
14. Belgian Tervuren
15. Schipperke 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
Understanding of New Commands: 15 to 25 repetitions. Obey First Command: 70% of the time or better.
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, Australian Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Gordon Setter, Bearded Collie
35. Cairn Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish Setter
36. Norwegian Elkhound
37. Affenpincher, Silky Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, English Setter, Pharaoh Hound, Clumber Spaniel
38. Norwich Terrier
39. Dalmatian
Average Working/Obedience Intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 40 to 80 repetitions. Obey First Command: 30% of the time or better.
40. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier
41. Curly-Coated Retriever, Irish Wolfhound
42. Kuvasz, Australian Shepherd
43. Saluki, Finnish Spitz, Pointer
44. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, German Wirehaired Pointer, Black & 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, Stafforshire Bull Terrier
50. Alaskan Malamute
51. Whippet, Chinese Shar-pei, Wire Fox Terrier
52. Rhodesian Ridgeback
53. Ibizan Hound, Welsh Terrier, Irish Terrier
54. Boston Terrier, Akita
Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 40 to 80 repetitions. Obey First Command: 30% of the time or better.
55. Skye Terrier
56. Norfolk Terrier, Sealyham Terrier
57. Pug
58. French Bulldog
59. Brussels Griffon, Maltese
60. Italian Greyhound
61. Chinese Crested
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
Understanding of New Commands: 80 to 100 repetitions or more. Obey First Command: 25% of the time or worse.
70. Shih Tzu
71. Basset Hound
72. Mastiff, Beagle
73. Pekingese
74. Bloodhound
75. Borzoi
76. Chow Chow
77. Bulldog
78. Basenji
79. Afghan Hound
For more on dog intelligence, check out Stanley Coren's excellent book, The Intelligence of Dogs
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