Top 10 Smartest Dogs
Dogs are known as man’s best friend, though we can’t always say that’s true. If you have ever owned a dog, you probably encountered those days where you have a slight bit of regret for getting the dog. From chewed up shoes to messy carpet to washing a smelly dog that only seems to smell worse after, dogs can be a pain.
Some say that the intelligence of a dog all depends on how well its owner trained it. Others believe it’s all about the genes…well, breed. While it may be a combination of both, here’s a look at the top 10 smartest dog breeds, in case you’re in need of a Dogs for Dummies Handbook:
#10 Australian Cattle Dog
No you don’t have to live in Australia to encounter this dog. These dogs generally grow to be 30-50lbs. Australian Cattle Dog’s are known for their intelligence, especially when it comes to being able to train them to herd in cattle (this is where the name comes from if you didn’t catch it.) They have also been trained to be “biting” dogs. Don’t be scared, unless you’re training this dog to bite you. Australian Cattle Dogs are trained to bite cattle (not too hard) to keep them moving. These dogs have been herding cattle since the 19th century and today they still do just that. Australian Cattle Dogs are very active and love having a task at hand. Photo by pwcorgigirl
#9 Rottweiler
Better known as the “Rottie,” Rottweilers can be mis-trained to be vicious, mean dogs that can take down a human. Speaking of humans, Rottweilers can weigh as much as a petite sized female; about 110lbs in fact. This breed of dog originates out of Germany but was used in the Roman Empire. Rottweilers are sometimes used as police dogs because of the strong jaw and teeth that they have. Rotties can take you down! In the olden days, they were used to carry wood and other large heavy goods to markets and houses. If you’re looking to train a dog to protect you and all of your (precious) belongings, the Rottie is definitely the way to go. Photo by Bruno Luz
#8 Papillon
This breed of dog is probably one of the cutest and smartest you’ll find. Papillons are able to show that cute things can be smart too. This breed also proves that small things (brains) do come in small packages. Papillons can weigh up to 11lbs and can weigh as little as 3lbs. These dogs are very charming and have always been a symbol of elegance. During the Renaissance, these dogs were adored by royal courts and the aristocrats of the time. They always proved to be good watch dogs because of their keen sense of hearing. Make the slightest sound and the Papillon’s ears will be up faster than you can say the name. King Henry II is said to have spend crowns upon crowns on his own Papillons. Photo by michael_davies
#7 Labrador Retriever
This is one of the most intelligent as well as one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world. The Labrador Retriever is an amazing breed of dog that offer many different services. The breed originates from Newfoundland and was trained to hunt waterfowl. As time has passed, Labs have been introduced to more and more jobs. Many of these dogs are used in the police force as bomb sniffing or drug sniffing dogs. Any dog that can be trained to do this is most definitely smart. These dogs are also used as rescue dogs. Many are trained to help the disabled, especially the blind. Labs can be trained to lead a human around while ignoring any type of distraction. The Labrador Retriever is a loving, obedient, and patient dog that can be trained to do almost anything. Photo by suzalayne
#6 Shetland Sheepdog
Though not one of the most popular dogs around, the Shetland Sheepdog is a very smart dog. Some owners of this breed of dog claim that they are just as smart as a human is. Shelties originated out of Scotland. Sporting a furry two-layered coat and definitely not the toughest looking dog around, Shelties are used to herd sheep. Since the breed can be both big and small in size, some of these dogs are used to keep pests and smaller animals out of gardens. Shetland Sheepdog’s are generally very hyper, but they have a great sense of hearing. If anyone ever shows up at your door or a car pulls into the driveway, you can expect to hear a bark from this dog. Photo by Marie Schroder
#5 Doberman Pinscher
This breed of dog comes in right at the middle of the list. The Doberman Pinscher is another German breed to make the list. In the past, these dogs were trained to be police dogs, watch dogs, and guard dogs. In the 1800s, men were looking for a dog that was loving and loyal as well as tough and ferocious when necessary. This is exactly where the Doberman Pinscher fits in. Even though they can be trained to be ferocious, many of these dogs are very gentle and docile. Some have even been used in hospitals to help patients that are undergoing therapy. Slightly vicious by nature, you can expect that this breed will protect you. Photo by roy_mac_an_iarla
#4 Golden Retriever
Often confused with the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retrievers are also very popular dogs that seem to be perfect for a family. In the past up to today, these dogs are man’s companion, especially for those who hunt. This breed can be easily trained to find and bring back waterfowl or game that has been shot. The dog’s soft mouth allows it to bring back unharmed game to its owner. Aside from being a hunting dog, Golden Retrievers can be used as rescue dogs, drug sniffing dogs, and guide dogs. This breed is very patient, which makes it that much easier to train. If you ever find a dog sports competition online or on the television, you are sure to see a Golden Retriever competing. Photo by Ingrid0804
#3 German Shepherd
Rin Tin Tin! This is the one breed of dog that you can say actually looks tough and mean. Looks are most definitely deceiving because the German Shepherd is one of the most lovable breed of dog you will ever come across. Loving or not, these dogs can be trained to do things that humans can’t. Today, these dogs are usually trained to be police dogs, rescue dogs, and some are even able to work with the military. These dogs are so bright that the Army and Marines have allowed them to be used in overseas activity. German Shepherds are very obedient dogs as well as protective. In the past, German Shepherds were used as herd dogs but today they are used in more “higher up positions,” so to speak. The German Shepherd is one of the smartest dogs around. Photo by Setiritter
#2. Poodle
Surprised? You probably aren’t the only one. No your eyes aren’t going bad. The Poodle is number two on the list. Don’t let the fluffy, curly, white coat fool you. This breed of dog is absolutely brilliant. Though you have probably never seen it, Poodles are used as hunting dogs as well as watch and rescue dogs. The Poodle (sounds like puddle doesn’t it?) is also used as a water dog. Poodles come in all sizes, but even the Toy Poodle can be used to hunt birds. Poodles love to be around people and are very protective. Though this breed only weighs up to 8lbs, a mighty heart can come out of such a pretty looking dog. Photo by Jim Heid.
#1 Border Collie
Topping off the list is the Border Collie. This dog lives to work, literally. Though it may seem only us humans have a lifetime full of hard work, this breed of dog needs something to do to be happy. The Border Collie is used as a herding dog and has since grown to be used as a sporting dog as well. The breed is known for its agility, speed, and obedience. It is also known for it’s ability to learn new tricks quickly. These dogs love being able to work next to your side. Collies are especially great at dog sport competitions. You will generally see them competing in Flyball and disc games. Photo by meg price
Yay Border Collies!
Someone on stumbleupon made a great comment.
“A lot of people “Think” they want a smart dog, but are not prepared for the mental stimulation these dogs need.”
Very true. Works the same way for people.
ok my uncle has a boarder collie and it is an idiot i think huskeys should be on this list
huskies are one of the dumbest breeds of dogs around! and i have a border collie that is amazingly smart. one time i went out back to find one of my child’s favorite toy, after looking for a little bit with no success, my dog ran around the corner and came running back with the toy in his mouth! it was amazing! he actually had it buried somewhere, realized i was looking for it, dug it up and brought it to me! truly amazing!
I’ve met many intelligent Huskies. Never met a Border Collie that wasn’t a spaz with the attention span of a rock.
Border Collies are very smart dogs, unbelievable smart, but they are dogs that need to be worked and have mental stimulation at all times. So many people get border collies as pets and dn work them and then the dogs develop behavioural problems from being bored and not worked. Hence they become nuts,or aggressive or nervous wrecks. When they are not bought as a working dog, they need owners that will give them a lot of attention.
And huskies and alaskan malamutes are great dogs. We have had alaskan malamutes and german shepards for years and they are both amazing dogs. Very smart. But the huskies are often very difficult to train and people then think they are stupid. Not stupid just very hard to train.
Unfortunately i disagree, the husky is by far one of if not the dumbest dog breed i have seen, though they are very good looking dogs they are not obedient for the most part, not to say none are but 9-10 times the retard is gong to dig a hole and run away, or rip the trash chase their tails etc; if i was in alaska needing sled dogs and have 1000 open acres of snow id get a husky but other than that unless you have a love for the breed i would not consider them a good working or obedient dog. Again not to say there are exemptions to the rule. By the way i dont own a border collie but to say collies are not a smart breed its like saying the earth is still flat being that all studies say otherwise.
You only get as much as you put into your dogs, If its a collie they have a huge degree of starting advantage over other dogs, if this is recognized and the taken note of, it will have very good ending results I gaurantee, unless there is a sickness or health issue involved. Dogs just don’t wake up and become smart they need to be trained and yes they will pick up on stuff on their own but honestly dogs need and love the training and like furthering themselve just like us humans do. So I disagree with your comment and yea Huskies are good smart dogs but the memory and commands the Boarder Collie can retain is uncomparable to a Husky.
I disagree with this list at all
noway is a dobie , or a rott as samrt as a pit bull
am staff ,or any terrier at that
the doberman it’s more smartest than a pitbull and a rotty
i agree..doberman is very possesive..and it’s defenetly one of the smartest dog’s on the planet..
DUH…. Maybe you’ve been smokin’ too much of that stuff. “it’s more startest than a pitbull and a rotty”…
Whereas Bob, in his succinct, thought provoking, intellectual reply, has proven his intelligence far better than anyone could have imagined.
Thats bull, William. Pig dogs are dumb and ugly. But your right about one thing the list is muddled up big time. there is no way that the australian kelpie uis not in the top five.
a pitbull smart? Any dog has the potential to be great sadly what ruined the breed is the inbreeding they did to make them bigger by mixing them with other dogs. to say a rott or a dobie is not as smart as a pitt is ludacris, here is my proof the rott is over 2000 years old the dobie though about 100yr old breed both have proven them selves, between the devil dogs of ww2 to protect the troops, to therapy dogs for hospitals, to herding, hunting, guarding police use, military use, but pits???? oh yeah bite the crap out of other dogs. Ohh i see how the pit seems so superior to the dobie or rottie. last time i checked its pits that bite owners, are banned in certain cities, are not allowed in the AKC are known for attacking children and are just a flat out unstable breed. My friend has 2 pits and although smart they constantly fight for no apperant reason while my 3 male dogs a 2yr old rott, a 6 month old rott and a 4 month old dobie all eat out of the same food,bowl, drink from the same water bowl and sleep in the same cage. can your pits do that and still destroy a intruder and not a 2yr old getting his ball in your yard?
William, this list actually was voted on by dog trainers. I would assume this means how easy the dog breed was to train would translate into intelligence. Don’t shoot the messenger, we just report the data from the experts. I’m sure pit bulls are very intelligent. I’m just not so sure about the owners.
These “trainers” are biased as we all know and only go on trainability. Some dogs take a little more time, which the trainer doesn’t want to give so they label them as ‘dumb’.
Pit bulls are as dumb as WWF wrestlers. They have big, STRONG mouth muscles and little dicks, which also makes them like WWF wrestlers.
To say a Pit Bull is intelligent is like saying a Pig can fly.
[I disagree with this list at all
noway is a dobie , or a rott as samrt as a pit bull
am staff ,or any terrier at that]
I cant speak for dobbies but Rotties and shepherds are some of the smartist dogs I have ever owned. (I have had the pleasure of having a pit, rottie, shepherd, lab and now golden retriever) All are/were very loving but intel wise the shepherds and rotties by far had surpassed all of them. (specially the pit)
rotties are definitely smart! i even got one at home…i think he is smarter than you.. you dont even know how to spell SMARTEST!!!!haha..lol
Here’s a FINE example of the pot calling the kettle black… “i even got one at home.” Yep – with English like that I don’t think you’ll be applying to Harvard anytime soon – OR ANY OTHER COLLEGE for that matter. In fact, it sounds like you didn’t even graduate from HIGH SCHOOL.
So, before you start correcting other people, make sure your house wasn’t constructed from translucent and very fragile material (i.e. GLASS).
My dobie I think is the smartest dog I’ve met personally, it seems to have its own intuition and picks up on so much I’m quite amazed everyday. Its actually mixed breed with about 15-20% of black lab in her. But she is so quick witted and has a phenomenal memory. All the pitts I’ve owned they are good smart dogs but never had seemed to have as good of instinct and were more big bullies and muscle their way to get things done and not think things though as much as other dogs. I know the collie breeds have larger memorys and a few other dogs on this list are smarter than the Doberman but I think like I mentioned in my earlier comment you only get as much out of the dog as you put in it and of course you need a good starting point with your dog my Doberman has just shocked me with the level of intelligence.
I grew up w/ all sorts of animals- from dogs to rabbits, cats to birds. My main childhood dog growing up was a German Sheperd, such a smart dog-first dog I ever trained – I loved her. 3 yrs ago , I rescued an American Pit Bull Terrier . This dog learned tricks so easy, I have never trained another dog as fast, till I recieved Lily ( my 2nd APBT )
Dogs are Individually different, just like Humans . A dog is only as Smart as that Human allows it to be.
Like to the comments about meeting dumb Collies ( because all they did was bark & jump around ) – Well that dog obviously wasn’t geting the Daily Mental Stimulation it needs – nor the training or excercise. This happens w/ all High Energy/ High Prey Driven dogs, just like the APBT.
APBT wouldn’t be on this list anways – they are not known under the AKC .
gotta agree with William, a staffy is so much more intelligent!! Proven by trainers and show people alike!
Your data and experts are not legit.
imho the smartest dogs are kangals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangal_Dog
I fully agree with willy: terriers of all sorts are conspicuously absent from this list. Oh well, everyone knows nothing beats a good mutt anyhow. My pit/lab mix is teaching me calculus.
I think really depends on the owner. Some dogs are harder to train but it does not mean their not as smart, rather stubborn or even smarter then we think.
were are the sausage dogs.I have two sausage dogs the smell out rats the are HUNTING dogs. A POODLE.sins when is a poodle the second SMARTEST DOG
JACK RUSSELL AND AIREDALE OR WIREHAIR TERRIERS ARE ON THE TOP OF MY LIST. I HAD AN AIREDALE TERRIER AS A CHILD UNTIL A CAR TOOK HIS LIFE. I LOST MY BEST FRIEND. MY SON RAISED A DEAF JACK RUSSELL IN ORDER TO TEACH HIMSELF PATIENCE. HE USED SIGN LANGUAGE AND SHOWED ME HOW THAT HE WOULD NOT SIT BY SIGN ON A COLD TILE FLOOR BUT WOULD PROMPTLY SIT ON A CARPET. I MUST HAVE TOLD ALMOST EVERYONE I MET FOR DAYS AFTER THAT. UNFORTUNATELY I CANNOT HAVE A DOG WHERE I LIVE AND CRIED MY EYES OUT THE FIRST 3 YEARS (I’VE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS FOR SAFETY REASONS) BUT I DO HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD FEMALE GERBIL NAMED PUMPKIN I RESCUED WHEN THE LOT BEING RAISED ALL DIED..AND I HAVE A MALE HAMSTER NAMED SUGARFOOT.THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR KNOW THAT THEY AREN’T SUPPOSE TO GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER ACCORDING TO THE BOOKS. THEIR PHOTOS ARE POSTED ON WEBSHOTS FROM TIME TO TIME. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO POST.
The Doberman Pinscher is by far the smartest dog on the list and should be the #1, at least from my experience!
What? Where are the Ridgebacks? Chiuahuas? They are incredibly smart!!!
Who made this list, a lab? Labs, rottweilers, and golden Retrievers are dumb as rocks. Once again, “no one knows your a dog on the internet”.
I agree with everything except Labs, Goldens, and Rotties. Due to over breeding, those dogs tend to be very thick headed. From my experience in Obedience and Agility competition, Shelties, Poodles, Cattle Dogs, Aussies, German Shepards, Dobermans,and border collies are the ones to have.
Boston terriers should be #1
I really don’t agree with the list because I have more experience with dogs than most people. I have owned dogs for most of my life and I have to deal with them everyday and Border Collies and Australian Shepherds should top this list for sure. I own a Australian Shepherd and in the first two or three weeks she learned sit, down, roll over, shake and so many other things I’m not even going to go their. She’s just smart as hell!! However, both of these dogs take lots of time out of a normal persons life so i would not recommend getting one unless you have a lot of time to devote. Also, i believe that Boodles, German Shepherds and Siberian Husky’s should also be at the top of the list because they have done things to blow my mind. However, that is just my top five!!! : )
ya ur sooooo rite!!!!!
i huv a mix of border collie and australian shepherd n she iz intelligent.
she is still a little puppy and she knowz sit, down, stay, leave it, high five, shake, jump, n otherz
Pitbullz r intelligent too n very sweet
P.S. i think all dogz r smart, it depends on da owner
if they train it or not
so nobody shuld be blaming da dog if he or she dosnt listen to dem
I FULLY AGREE WITH YA
“Better known as the “Rottie,” Rottweilers are known to be very vicious, mean dogs that can take down a human.”
i can’t believe someone hasn’t called the writer out for this one. everyone knows that dogs are like the people that own them. the rott is a very loving and loyal breed, and will make for a fabulous family pet if properly trained and stimulated. the problem is not with the breed, but dog owners most times.
i agree man!!! my rottie rockz!!! he is very smart!it really depends on how the owner trains his/her pet!
Tiffany – Good point and I agree. I have revised the author’s words to be more fair to the Rottweilers.
seriously labs are by far the smartests dogs ever
followed by rotties and german shepards
I don’t disagree with the list except for the absence of Yorkies. The smartest dog I ever had was a Yorkie-poo and I don’t think all her intelligence came from the poodle. I’ve had poodles and they’re smart, but nothing like this dog was.
Most of my pets have been mixes, shepherd or lab mixes mostly, and I’ll attest that they are very intelligent.
Of course, every dog is different and any can be unusually intelligent or dumber than a box of rocks. My cousin had an Irish setter who spent his day whining and crying at the six foot privacy fence. Then he’d jump it and spend an hour on the other side of the fence, crying and whining, until he jumped back into the yard. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat.
I believe that dogs to some degree are as “bright” as their owners take time with them.
Definately though, i have friends with most of top ten smartest and they really are smart dogs.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM A PROUD OWNER OF MY THIRD MINIATURE POODLE. “NIKKI” IS A BLONDE FEMALE, 15 MONTHS OLD. I OWNED THE OTHER POODLES SEPARATELY AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN MY LIFE. I’VE ALWAYS GONE BACK TO GETTING A POODLE WHEN I WANTED A NEW PUPPY BECAUSE THEY TRULY ARE ONE OF THE SMARTEST, MOST LOYAL, EASY TO TRAIN, OBEY ON THE FIRST COMMAND, ETC. My other two poodles were just as smart and loyal. I highly recommend a poodle for anyone with children over ages 5-6 (depending on maturity) because poodles don’t take well to being picked up and held usually except their Master. If you’ve ever owned a poodle you know they pick one person and bond with one person more than anyone else. They are very funny, playing with toys and balls, they easily keep things interesting. I would also recommend a poodle for ANY allergenic reasons OR if you don’t want a dog that sheds. A poodle does not shed at all.
american pit bull terriers are deff on that list in my op! terriers are some of the smartest dog on the planet!
my dad breed sheperds the whole time i was growing up i own a pit bull now that is just as smart i think you can have a smart sheperd and an then a dumb one and that gose for any dog my cuzin has a rottie and he is dumb as a brick
OMG I THINK GERMAN SHEPHERDS SHOULD BE #1 THERE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE AND SMART I HAVE 3 OF THEM I LOOOOOVE THAT PICTURE ALSO…:) I LOVE GERMAN SHEPHERDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOOK A BUNNY (=^.^=) NOOOOO SPARKY DONT CHASE IT …..LOL
Owning a lab, I know by fact now that they ARE the best dogs to have as family members.
They’re very smart, loyal, loving & quite comforting & love to lick!
Watch out for their tongues & their tails I might add. They can clean off a table in a second!
Also I’ve learned that a Lab especially is NEVER too old to learn new tricks.
She is almost 10 & still acts young as ever.
She loves water & loves to play fetch non stop.
She’s very obedient & listens greatly but don’t ever over estimate her though, she does have a tendency to sneak into the cat box or the garbage at times, naughy girl…
Everyone thinks the dog THEY own is the best dog and the most intelligent dog ever. Golden owners say the same thing about being the best family dog. So do GS owners. I’ve never met a Lab that wasn’t a total goof.
We and our 8 year old Australian Cattle Dog, Sydney, were walking the ramparts of old Ft. Monroe. It’s a walled fortification built in the first half of the 19th century. The inside of this massive earthwork is generally merely steeply sloped down to the fort’s interior and covered with grass. On a portion of its southern side, however, this gives way to a sheer drop of about 30 feet, a wall behind which the old magazine now houses a museum beneath the fortification. The danger went unnoticed.
Suddenly a squirrel appeared along the 2 ft inside wall guarding the drop on the other side. We yelled to Sydney to stop, but the dog only hesitated slightly – the temptation was too great. I dashed for the wall hoping that if something distracted her I might have a shot at interception.
She hit the top of the 2 ft high wall at full speed as the squirrel disappeared over its edge. Sydney sailed off the 30 ft drop and was at least 20 ft out before her trajectory descended below her launch point. It was absolutely unreal. She hit the ground with a weak yelp and had managed to drag her shattered body to the base of the wall in the 20-30 seconds it took us to get down to her. She died in my wife’s arms within a few minutes as I ran for the car. When I returned a few minutes later, the Post Chaplain from the church across the street was kneeling with my wife over the still body of our pet.
Smart dog………………but, who would have thought? A car perhaps, but a “cliff”? A warning to all.
Poodles definitely belong near the top of the list. My wife had 3 miniature poodles when we met and we have since gotten two more.
One that passed away several years ago was incredibly smart. As she got older she was on meds for epilepsy and also went blind, but still found her way around, even to the paper to do her business inside. One time the miniature poodle puppy we had gotten a few weeks earlier tried to get her to play by pouncing at her from different sides. She would pounce, the older one would turn to bark, but the pup had moved around to the other side. The older one finally stopped, sat there like she was in some sort of zen trance as the pup pounced. Then the pup came at her and the older one turned and barked at the pup as the pup was pouncing, sending the pup tumbling away! ROFL! She was a jedi, and missed very much.
Of the three we have now, one is extremely smart and perceptive – scarily so! – one (the pup) is smart but headstrong, and one is the anti-poodle, has her moments but overall not all there.
What about australian shepherds why are they not metioned they were bread out of border collies as well as a few other extreamly intelligent herding breeds. There not even metioned in the list so i have to disagree.
As for dogs, do you know any reliable resource where one can find all the local dog kennels?
If you’re looking for kennels, try the local breed club (see the AKC site for listings of the main breed clubs, they’ll direct you to the local ones). If you’re looking for a reputable breeder, check the local clubs or call the vets in the area for a recommendation. Many breeds have rescues to help place dogs/puppies. The Humane Society may also have listings of breeders in good stead. Of course, they also have a variety of pups and dogs all needing a forever home. Shelter dogs make great pets! Just don’t go to a pet store and end up supporting a puppy mill. Even the ones who swear the puppies are from homes are probably lying.
My dog is an ACD/Border Collie mix & I think she may be smarter than me.
i like #4
I have yet to encounter a smart rottweiler or poodle.Two very dumb breeds i must say.
I feel any dog has the potential to be smart or dumb. It’s like saying all asians are good at math, or all blacks can run really fast. I have had several different types of dogs in my life and they all seem to be different, not because of the breed so much, but moreover because of who they are/were. My current dog however is a lab/border collie mix, and I believe if he could he would be working at my office next to me answering phones, filing, and helping customers. Seriously… as long as he’s not on the beach chasing the ball/frisbee non-stop! My mom’s pomeranian seems just as smart as my border collie, just more stubborn….. and there in lies the issue I think. Some ppl mistake stuborness for stupidity in dogs. LOL hmmm well anywho…
Thanks Adam,your comment is one of the best I’ve seen on here.
Seriously these smartest and dumbest dogs lists are retarded. Just because a dog mindlessly follows orders doesn’t mean they’re smart. These are ease of training lists, so change the title.
I own a big standard poodle, american descent. I never thought i would get a poodle except my wife is allergic to dogs. When you think poodle, you think fluffy poofy dog. My dog is not poofy and never has been. He has unique independence which we treasure. Poodles have a tendency to have mood swings. My dog has been through all levels of training yet if hes not in the mood he wont do a thing i ask. He is the most loyal and trustworthy companion i have ever owned. He deserves to be number one
In intelligence tests by researchers at famous university – #1 border collie, #2 poodle, #3 cattle dog.
Golden retriever? Stupidest dog list, then it might rank.
Hands down the most incredibly intelligent dog I’ve ever encountered is a buddy’s Staffordshire Terrier… Bubba exhibited a logic that absolutely blew my mind. His command language was immense, and his ability to differentiate between like-sounding words was astounding. His owner trained him to recognize “take it” as permission to eat something put out for him, and then would run down lists of any words starting with T until finally giving the command. On the most similar sounding words, Bubba would start to move but recognize even subtle differences in the sound and halt himself. Upon hearing “Take it” he would take the food. I’m sure you’d find this more impressive upon seeing it.
I’d also suggest that the Akita is an incredibly intelligent dog, and I would definitely put them above many of the dogs in this list.
there is no mention of the Siberian husky I toilet trained mine in a day and taught it lead work in a day aswell they are naturally cunning and friend very clever dogs!
I don’t know what you people are talking about, this list is accurate. Also it completely depends on the owner. Many of you say Rotts are dumb. There are two rottweilers in my family one owned by my aunt another owned by my cousin. My aunts dog is as dumb as a rock. My cousins dog is well trained and extremely smart. Shetland sheepdogs are also extremely smart, my dog Boots who is one, is the smartest dog I know. The goldens are amazingly smart. You say their dumb, oh you just haven’t seen a good owner then. It depends on the owners. So don’t completly deny the whole breed of a certain dog, off of a few you have met.
I’ve owned border collies for over 30 years. They are without a doubt the most intelligent dogs around. Once you bond to them they are almost telepathic about obedience and command. They never cease to amaze me how they figure things out. I taught one puppy that was 6 weeks old how to sit and stay in two lessons! That’s pretty smart.
I agree with most on the blog, Austrailian Shepards should be in the top 5. I have one Irish Wolfhound Aussie cross. She is VERY smart and the borders follow her lead as alpha of the pack. I don’t contribute the Wolfhound to her intelligence, I’d have to say she got her brains from the Aussie.
this list is bull, my English setter is smarter than all of this dogs, besides you cant judge dogs intelligence by breed
This list is abiut how trainable these dogs are. An irresponsable owner will have what seems like a dumb dog. Yet give that same dumb dog to a responsable owner and in a short time, you will have a smart dog. All dog breeds are different and some are more susceptive to training.
wolves are smarter than any of these
I can not say if this list is “correct” or not I have not owned all of these dogs but I grew up with Labs. But by far the best trained dog we owned as I grew up was always a Chesapeake bay retriever. Now were they smart ? I don’t think so… just well trained. We have two dogs now one rat terrier and one pit bull mix. The rat terrier is trained very well he does a ton of tricks, but he is dumb as 2 boxes of rocks! Our Pit bull is very well trained too but not only does she “get it” quicker but she can figure out things like how to open the refrigerator. How to open doors. She sees a problem and figures out how to “fix it”. Now some owners would think she is a stupid dog getting into all this trouble but I see it as she is very smart which means we need to out smart her! She has learned she is not allowed to go in the fridge anymore. She has learned we do not want her opening doors, or drawers! She is also the dog who will stand in front of a kid doing something wrong and bark until an adult shows up to see whats going on! I don’t know if its normal for her breed but she is just awesome. The thing about this list is it can only list 10 … so its not going to make everyone happy cuz there are thousands of dog breeds!
gsd iz smartest of all dogs so he should b at the top of the list
Pit Bills should have topped the list somewhere…so intelligent. Just because a dog is easily trained does not mean they’re smarter…maybe it means they’re so simple that they don’t have any natural thinking ability of their own…Pitts are naturally smart. Most of your intelligent people are leaders and can’t be easily trained…lol, however the dumbest people can be swayed and convinced of almost anything, in short periods of time…Pitt Bulls are pleasers and loyal to their owners, they’re usually way ahead of their owners and require more breaking that training.
I believe a list like this in nearly impossible to accurately create, and even more difficult to please the owners. You think people are hardcore about PC and MAC? Start talking dog breeds…everyone thinks their dog is the smartest–just like everyone thinks their baby is the smartest. It’s fan-boyism at its most intense.
I’m sure this list has it’s merit, and we can trust the majority of it. The only thing I don’t trust is the fact that Aussie Sheppard isn’t on there…but Dobbie and Rotts are…out of ALL of the Dobbie and Rotts I’ve met, they are never as smart as the Aussie Sheppards I’ve met.
And I must say, I’m surprised about Poodles…they’ve never stood out as intelligent to me.
In my own experience, I would list
* German Sheppard
* Aussie Sheppard
* Border Collie
as the smartest dogs I’ve personally met (as well as researched).
Take it easy.
This dog breed:
)
Was first in space.
Was only dog to both North and South Poles.
Has appeared in long-running, live action t.v. shows.
So well-trained in athletics, has an entire “trials” competition just for the breed.
A mainstay in other athletic events worldwide.
Has claim to “World’s Smartest Dog”, in a member of the breed named “Maggie”.
Give up?
It’s the Jack Russell Terrier.
Who, not only is never mentioned in the top ten, but in ANY rankings of dog breeds I can find.
What a disservice to such an historically important animal.
Perhaps they are so smart, that they are in a category of their own – somewhere between DOG and HUMAN.
I own a Jack Russell Terrier and Toby is almost too smart for his own good and for my good. I agree they are intelligent breed but this list was put together buy professional trainers and how easy these dogs were to train was the biggest factor in deciding their intelligence. Not the best judge but something to get a conversation going.
I am partial to JRTs too, so I understand your plea and Toby also thanks you.
You made my entire day. Around 7 years ago my only son came to visit me after turning his life around and brought this little dog that he had bought maybe a year before. I was not aware that it was a Jack Russell until he told me. I had seen them in pictures and wasn’t impressed. He proceeded to tell me about how he had asked God to please give him something to work patience and stability into his life. He decided to go to the pet shop and get himself a dog. While he was there a lady bought the dog he wanted and then decided to just let him have it instead. He noticed the dog would not heed him in the least and took him back only to discover the dog was deaf. The owner said they would give his money back, but something deep inside my son prompted him to keep the dog. For times sake….my son trained that dog to be completely obedient simply by sign language. My son told me that that dog was the best thing that had ever happened to him in his life. He wanted to prove it so ask Rusty to sit on my kitchen tile,but he wouldn’t no matter how many times he was told. As we stepped into the carpeted living room Eddie asked again…he immediately sat down. We instantly realized it was because the tile was COLD! After my son married and had a child Rusty suffered from neglect. One day he walked off and was not ever seen again. I will never forget that dog!!
my shepherd can think and read. they are much smarter than any dog. its said people dont know this. i have a book from akc. that says. a german shepherd is the only dog that thinks. why dont people wake up. its said that people think a poodle or collie is even close. cliff
I have a border collie, and they are the smartest by FAR! She opened the house door with my key! THE DOOR WILL LOCKED AND SHE UNLOCKED IT! She is WAY smart!
Does she also drive you to work? pfffffffff
Every dog has his own personality, you can´t really say if a dog will be friendly, obedient, healthy or smart just by his bread.
You will have a better chance to know if he is smart if you get to look at his parents or family history.
And don´t forget, a lot of breads have been corrupted with mixes between brothers and sisters along the way.
I had a dog which was a mix between a Golden retriever and a Labrador retriever, he didn´t even need to be trained to know exactly what I wanted him to do.
The list will never be fair according to each experience, you have to keep in mind that every dog has his own personality. And yes, the Border Collie is by far the smartest bread.
“you can´t really say if a dog will be friendly, obedient, healthy or smart just by his bread.”
“And yes, the Border Collie is by far the smartest bread.” First of all, bread is something that you put ham and cheese on. Second, that was a total contradiction. It’s not about “breeds”, it’s about the person training them and the individual dog. I’ve met extremely smart GSD’s and some that were dumb as a box of rocks and wouldn’t train to save his/her life! Some of the dumbest dogs I’ve seen are Labs or Pitbulls, but I wouldn’t say that ALL Labs or Pits are dumb. Just that “those” particular dogs weren’t trained, or trained correctly!
WAKE UP!!! this is not about individual dogs. who cares if your pit bull or jack russell or akita or whatever dog u own is smarter than you. Go on youtube and enter smartest dog. You will see video of practically every type of dog u can imagine doing amazing things. BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS LIST!!!! take 1000 random dogs from every single breed and train them then rank them. pretty F’n sure the list is gonna look like the one here.
I speak on behalf of my Golden Retriever. She is extremely smart.
I do believe that all these dogs are very smart. Besides the Sheltie. My neighbor has one. I Do not find it intelligent at all. But i guess some dogs do differ from their breed standards.
We have two Shelties, and they are both smart, but in different ways. One is clever at figuring out ways to communicate with you. For example, unrolling a toilet paper roll when she has business to do outside. (Aha!) Or adopting different facial expressions for “you owe me” vs. “can I please.” The other Sheltie can find a tennis ball hidden anywhere by following a highly efficient search pattern. Both are very emotionally intelligent — affectionate and grateful, and sometimes displaying jealous behavior like human sibling rivalry. They seem to grasp the concept of ‘fairness’. They are dialed in to people’s energy and moods.
Smartest dogs would be Moscow strays. They commute on the subwayand have learned how to scare people out of their fast food.
http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2009/04/07/smartest-dogs-moscow-stray-dogs/#more-2462
Ok so heres what i think:
1.Dobermans
2.German Sheperds
3. Rottweilers
4.Border Collies
5.Papillons
These are (in my opinion) the smartest dogs.And of course i think that wolf hybrids should be on the list too.And to all you people out there who think that Rottweilers are dumb i have three of them and the male can do loads of tricks and he can open gates and we didnt even teach him!
ALL YOU PPL WHO SAY ROTTIES ARE DUMB AS ROCK MUST BE CRAZY! I HAVE A ROTTIE NAMED ROXI AND IS ONLY ABOUT 1 1/2 TURNING 2 IN 3 MONTHS… SHE KNOWS HUG, SIT, PAW (IN POLISH!) LAY, HOW TO GET ON A TRAMPOLINE ANND MUCH MORE! AND I HAD A GERMAN SHEPHERD AND SHE WAS AMAZINGLY SMART! I LEFT THE GATE OPEN ALL NIGHT AND SHE NEVER RAN AWAY… SHE KNEW HOW TO SING AND SO MUCH MORE! EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THE TRAINER! IF THE TRAINER IS DUMB THEN THE DOG WONT KNOW WHAT TO DO! I AGREE WITH THIS LIST SO MUCH! PLUS WHO DO U THINK IS RIGHT… PRO. DOG TRAINERSA TO SEEK THE FACTS OR YOU PPL! IN MY OPINION…
1-German Shepherd
2-Rottie
3-Golden Retrevier
4-Sheltie
5-Westie
This is just my list! cuz im watching Dogs101 and all u ppl who r as dumb as rock should get ur facts right!
My family has bred and trained several breeds over several generations. One of the first I was exposed to was Labs. Naturally, I thought they were the smartest dogs ever, at least compared to the cocker spaniels, chihuahuas, pit bulls, golden retrievers, irish setters, dalmations and a few others that my family regularly trained. Then we were introduced to Border Collies and Australian Shepherds. Border Collies were so smart, but serious. They are definately quick to respond to a command. I assume thats how they got to be number 1. Any dog can follow commands with proper training. What amazed me was how the Australian Shepherd learned by watching. They could actually teach themselves from watching us. Incredibly easy to train, but so intelligent that much of the time they would be one step ahead of you. I think they are misunderstood by trainers. Many trainers want an immediant response, complete submission…that does not make or mean that you are smart. Problem solving skills, memory, intuition are much more important. The test needs to be done over and how we view intelligence in dogs needs to be evaluated. This is obviously a very biased test. I do agree Border Collies are incredibly intelligent, but this test is offensive to anyone who has ever bred, raised or trained their OWN Australian shepherds. They are the only dogs I work with now and I can promise you they do not belong in the ranks of the 40′s. I am not saying they are number 1, but there are few dogs that are as versatile, sensitive, creative and have the same incredible critical thinking that these dogs have. This test needs to be redone by people who understand what that intelligence is MUCH more than just “the quickest dog to respond to a command” or “the easiest dog to train.” I would like to see EXACTLY what was included in this so called “smartest dog list.” I call this test COMPLETELY BOGUS and offensive to many pet owners.
Oh and I truly hope to get replies to my post. You should be able to follow up your answer with something better than “well these are professional trainers.” How many Australian Shepherds have they trained and what exactly made any dog less intelligent than another breed? How were these conclusions drawn and were specialists in each breed consulted?
It is a sad commentary on the intelligence of the people posting here when such a large percentage make basic spelling (and I am NOT talking about typos because those can happen to anyone) errors or use grammar that makes them appear as though they were raised out in the middle of nowhere without any schooling whatsoever.
I mean, come one now,
the doberman itâ??s more smartest than a pitbull and a rotty
itâ??s defenetly one of the smartest dogâ??s
This is a real good one too…
were are the sausage dogs.I have two sausage dogs the smell out rats the are HUNTING dogs. A POODLE.sins when is a poodle the second SMARTEST DOG
Here’s the coup de gras
rotties are definitely smart! i even got one at homeâ?¦i think he is smarter than you.. you dont even know how to spell SMARTEST!!!!haha..lol
I could go on and on, but, well, you get the idea. I have to ask these three people – ARE YOU REALLY THAT STUPID?
I just can’t fathom the fact that no one has even mentioned the fact that this article was not based on any scientific study used to determine actual animal intelligence. It was pointed out that this was just a survey of dog trainers though. Isn’t it clear that the trainers are going to pick those breeds that they have had the most success in training? Could other breeds require more training but ultimately end up being able to learn more? Possibly, but trainers may not (note that I did NOT say definitely did not) take that into account. In any case, everyone here is presenting their own personal viewpoint, NONE of which makes any difference at all, they are all just anecdotal stories with NO statistical significance.
What SHOULD be done is some intelligence test for dogs should be developed. One that will not allow trainers to “train for the test”, but one that truly tests the ability of the animal to make intelligent decisions based on input they have. A problem with this test is that some animals may have a better sense of small, others may have a better sense of sight, while others may remember better. So, the bottom line is, what constitutes intelligence in dogs. Before you look for the answer, you should first DEFINE THE QUESTION properly!!!
Hmm well maybe you didn’t read my post, but my comment was not an anecdotal story. I merely used a specific breed as an example to show that trainers clearly used biased methods in determining what constitutes a dog being “the smartest dog.”
You echoed my remarks that “intelligence” in dogs needs to be redefined. In personally training many of the breeds of dogs in that list, I can’t even imagine how they came to those results. Some of the trainers were not even knowledgeable about the breed. For example, in other articles, a trainer had no idea that border collies and Australian shepherds shared an extremely similar heritage, but split off years ago, trained to do two separate things while herding. In doing this these two breeds work as perfect teams, each having a different responsibility.
Another trainer mention that a miniature Australian shepherd is the same as an Australian shepherd, just smaller. That is also incorrect. The breeds may have a few distant relatives, but they are not small Australian Shepherds. Border Collies share a much more closer heritage with Australian Shepherds than miniature Australian shepherds do…although many people, in ignorance have been breeding smaller Australian Shepherds with miniature Australian Shepherds actually creating a “new breed.” I don’t have any faith in these experts if they don’t even know basic information about some of these breeds. How can you properly assess a dog for intelligence if you don’t know the actual history.
I am sure some of these breeders would have give the Australian Shepherd a second look had they realized they were so closely related to their #1 favorite, the Border Collie! If they were so ignorant about these breeds, then how ignorant were they with the other breeds they chose. You are right, there was NOTHING scientific in this, but that was obvious since dog trainers are NOT scientists!
OMG I GETTING A AUSTRIAN CATTLE DOG NUMBER 10 IN THE LIST