The Smartest Dog Breeds: 10 Most Intelligent Dog Breeds

What makes a dog clever? What defines intelligence in a canine? That’s exactly what we will look at in this article, as well as going through some of the top-known intelligent breeds in the world.

Every owner looks for something different in their new four-legged friend, and you might want an intelligent dog, either for trainability or to fulfill a specific role around the home.

While many people welcome pets into their home for one reason, to be a cute new family member, there are other reasons too. Consider a guard dog for your property. You might want a working dog to help around your farm. Or you may need a guide pet or therapy dog to help with your day-to-day.

Dogs are generally very clever animals, perhaps more than we often give them credit for. There is a reason some breeds are so readily used by the police, army, and farmers. Did you know that some dogs can even sniff out drugs and bombs?

So let’s look at what makes a dog clever and which breeds rank among the most intelligent in the world.

What Makes A Dog “Smart”?

What makes a pet smart really depends on your own definition of smart. Perhaps you think a dog is a clever boy or girl because they can do tricks or fetch a beer from the fridge. However, there are some more technical ways to measure canine intelligence, as indicated by experts.

• Adaptive intelligence. This is how good a dog is at adapting to their surroundings and solving problems.
• Working intelligence. As the name suggests, this is all about the ability to learn, hear, and follow commands.
• Instinctive intelligence. Most breeds come with a base level of smarts, depending on their natural intelligence.

If you have a dog that ticks all three of the above boxes to a high standard, then you have a very clever pet on your hands! Of course, every dog and breed can be intelligent in their own way, and they don’t have to sniff bombs in a war zone to be considered clever.

RELATED: Dumbest Dog Breeds

Which Dog Breed Is The Smartest?

The general consensus is that the Border Collie is the cleverest dog breed worldwide. However, as with anything, there is a varying intelligence scale from one pet to another. Just because you have a Border Collie doesn’t necessarily mean they will be smarter than any other dog.

Just like a sister could be more intelligent than her brother, intelligence levels depend on the individual dog. Any other dog from any different breed could be even smarter than a Border Collie, depending on their natural intelligence and added training.

The golden rule is that you shouldn’t choose your pet based purely on their perceived intelligence. Several other factors should fall on your radar, to be honest.

Top Ten Smartest Dog Breeds

Border Collie

And we start with our most intelligent pet in the show! Border Collies were initially used for herding animals like sheep as they are among the smartest and most hard-working dog breeds on the planet. They are still herding dogs to this day and in competitions such as agility, obedience, and tracking. They learn very fast and are often winners in agility sports too.

RELATED: What are the differences between the Australian Shepherd and the Border Collie?

Poodle

One of the most recognizable dogs on the planet, the poodle can come with a jet-black coat if you look around. They are beautiful to look at and ideal for anyone with allergies due to their lack of shedding. They are very clever pets, making them very trainable and a pleasure to have around the home. There is a reason they have been used to create so many crossbreeds throughout the years. They are still used for herding, tracking, agility, and obedience due to their superior intelligence.

READ MORE: Best Clippers for Poodles

German Shepherd

The original purpose of the German Shepherd, which dates back to 1899, was to herd and protect sheep from predators. They are powerful and easy to train, which makes them perfect livestock guards. This is also why they are often used as police dogs.

READ MORE: How to Adopt a retired Military Dog?

Golden Retriever

Believe it or not, the beloved Golden Retriever first came about because hunters needed a four-legged friend to fetch their game after it had been shot. The Golden Retriever is easy and eager to please, which is why they are often given jobs. Not only is it in the top five gods for intelligence, but also popularity, so those two things go hand-in-hand.

Doberman Pinscher

The Doberman Pinscher has a rather interesting past, which dates back as far as 1890. It was also first bred as a protector, but not for livestock… for the taxman! The Doberman would stand next to the tax collector to keep them safe while handling and demanding money. The whole idea was to create a dog that was intelligent, fast, strong, and physically fit to fulfill this job. Over time, it has also become a beloved family pet.

Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog, as the name suggests, originated from the Shetlands up in Scotland, and it was created from local Shetland dogs and bred to herd and protect sheep. Due to their hard-working nature and high intelligence, they are often labeled a mini–Border Collie, which is a very big compliment. They are straightforward to train, often win agility competitions, and are great pets for the family.

Labrador Retriever

They may only be seventh on this list, but the Labrador Retriever ranks as the number one most popular dog breed in the US every single year! Believe it or not, these beloved pets were originally created to swim out and collect fishing nets, which is why they remain such strong swimmers to this day. Not only that, but they are very loyal and gentle dogs, making them perfect companions for a family home. If you are looking for a friendly and clever four-legged friend, you really can’t do much better than the Labrador Retriever.

Papillon

The Papillon breed is forever linked with the concept of royalty, as it proved popular with the royals of old. The dogs were small enough to be carried around under the arm as somewhat of a statement piece, which still happens to this day with handbag pups. Along with the Toy Poodle, it is one of the only small pets to make this smartest list. They have a whole lot of energy to match that intelligence, so be ready for that!

Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is a large purebred dog and was originally used to herd cattle by Roman soldiers, which goes some way to explaining their tough nature. The Rottweiler made the ideal guard dog for the cattle, which was Roman’s primary food source as they traveled from place to place due to their heightened discipline, endurance, and alertness. The Rottweiler was even used during World Wars as a messenger, ambulance, and guard dogs. They would not only provide safety and support but also prove helpful in search and rescue operations. Basically, if you are looking for a tough pup to get a job done, the Rottweiler should be pretty high on your list.

Australian Cattle Dog

You will struggle to find a tougher pup than the Blue Heeler, to the extent that they plow on with their work even when they are injured. They were also specifically bred to be able to work in the extreme heat in Australia, so there is very little you can throw at this dog to throw them out of their groove. If you live in a hot climate, you definitely have nothing to worry about.

Like most canines with backgrounds in herding, the Blue Heeler loves being given a job to do, even if they are domesticated. If you don’t have a job to provide them with, find another way to keep them occupied. Leaving them alone with nothing to do all day is a big no-no.

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