Experts Say These Dog Breeds Are Actually the Smartest
These intelligent pups take the cake when it comes to training.
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Overall, dogs are pretty smart creatures. Sure, some pups are adorably dopey. But somehow dogs always seem to know when you’re sad, and most never fail to get excited if they hear you mention a W-A-L-K or T-R-E-A-T. However, a couple of breeds are even smarter than the canine average, whether they are great at solving puzzles, love having a job to do, or know a ton of commands.
So which dog breeds are the smartest, and how do you tell? Psychologist Stanley Coren has built a career studying this question, and his book The Intelligence of Dogs has become the authoritative source on which pups are the smartest.
According to Coren, a dog’s smarts can be identified by its ability to carry out specialized tasks, its level of obedience, and its general working intelligence. Coren has ranked more than 100 dog breeds by smarts, so read on to discover the Einsteins of the dog world.
Border Collie
The valedictorians of the dog world, these herders took the top spot in Stanley Coren's intelligence rankings. Like all dog breeds in Coren’s top 10, Border Collies can learn a new command in under five repetitions and follow it at least 95% of the time.
- Height: 18-22 inches
- Weight: 30-55 pounds
- Life expectancy: 12-15 years
Poodle
Nowadays, you can adopt cockapoos, whoodles and goldendoodles, just to name a few. But people love regular ol' poodles for more than just their hypoallergenic qualities. The curly-coated cuties also took the silver medal for working intelligence in Coren's survey.
- Height: 10-22 inches
- Weight: 6-7o pounds (depending on variety)
- Life expectancy: 12-15 years
German Shepherd
German Shepherds happily serve as police dogs, seeing eye dogs, medical assistance dogs and therapy dogs, so it's no surprise that consistent obedience comes standard with this breed.
- Height: 22-26 inches
- Weight: 50-90 pounds
- Life expectancy: 7-10 years
Golden Retriever
That's right—one of the nation's most beloved family pets also took home straight A's in this intelligence survey. While the breed was originally intended for hunting, goldens also enjoy acting like straight-up goofballs once in a while (which you already know if you have one of your own).
- Height: 23-24 inches
- Weight: 65-75 pounds
- Life expectancy: 10-12 years
Doberman Pinscher
Dobermans got their start in the late 19th century, when a German tax collector named Louis Dobermann wanted a medium-sized pet to act as both a guard dog and companion. Translation: These fearless protectors can hold their own, and hang with kids.
- Height: 24-28 inches
- Weight: 60-100 pounds
- Life expectancy: 10-12 years
Shetland Sheepdog
Smaller than collies, these adorable fluff balls hold their own in herding, agility, and obedience trials. Consequently, Shelties do tend to bark, chase, and herd, but their affectionate nature and love for cuddles will erase any hard feelings.
- Height: 12-15 inches
- Weight: 14-20 pounds
- Life expectancy: 12-15 years
Labrador Retriever
Labs love to please, whether they're serving as guide dogs, narcotic detection dogs, or just everyday family pets. Americans accordingly made them the most popular dog breed in the country for a whopping 27 years in a row, until they were dethroned by the French Bulldog in 2022.
- Height: 21-25 inches
- Weight: 55-80 pounds
- Life expectancy: 10-12 years
Papillon
The first toy breed to crack the top 10, papillons aren't your average lap dogs. The 5-pound wonders often take home top prizes at competitive agility trials, according to the American Kennel Club. Their name—French for "butterfly"—alludes to their tall, pointed ears.
- Height: 8-11 inches
- Weight: 4-9 pounds
- Life expectancy: 12-16 years
Rottweiler
Rottweilers likely descended from drover dogs in Ancient Rome, with the rugged, dependable temperament to boot. An engaged Rottweiler owner will take care to train and exercise their pooch thoroughly—with the reward of a loving and loyal friend.
- Height: 22-27 inches
- Weight: 85-130 pounds
- Life expectancy: 8-10 years
Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog sits outside the top 50 in AKC's popularity rankings, but don't miss out on this smart breed. Alert, curious, and pleasant, the high-energy herders do best with a job.
- Height: 17-20 inches
- Weight: 30-50 pounds
- Life expectancy: 12-16 years
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is extremely energetic and highly trainable. For most commands, all they need is a treat as an incentive to obey. Getting them not to bark can be more difficult, as their high intelligence also makes them a bit stubborn.
- Height: 10-12 inches
- Weight: 20 – 30 pounds
- Life expectancy: 10-12 years
Miniature Schnauzer
As you might have guessed from their name, Schnauzers originate from Germany. Miniature Schnauzers are known for their working intelligence and obedience. That's what we call one smart doggie!
- Height: 11 to 14 inches
- Weight: 10 – 15 pounds
- Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years
English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is very friendly and outgoing, making it the perfect candidate for socialization and training. Their intelligence also makes training a breeze. They do have a retrieving urge that could cause issues with chewing on furniture.
- Height: 19–22 inches
- Weight: 45–55 pounds
- Life expectancy: 12 – 14 years
Belgian Tervuren
The Belgian Tervuren Shepherd's intelligence is put on full display with its sheep herding skills. The Tervuren's need to be active and work can be daunting for an unassuming owner.
- Height: 24-26 inches
- Weight: 55–75 pounds
- Life expectancy: 12 – 14 years
Schipperke
Schipperkes are high energy, but they are also very willing to be trained. They may be small, but training them to obey as early as possible is the best way to make sure it sticks and is an outlet for their energy.
- Height: 11-13 inches
- Weight: 10–16 pounds
- Life expectancy: 12 – 14 years
What makes a dog "smart?"
Coren evaluated breeds' intelligence based on instincts, obedience, and adaptability. But pet behavior specialist Sarah Hodgson says it's all relative. "Some dogs are social and emotionally dependent on people, so they are easier to train and far more receptive to our vision of what they should do," she says. "But they have little intuitive smarts." One example is a hound, because although they're not receptive, they have superior senses of sight and smell. Similarly, terriers might not take direction well, but they have excellent hearing.
Do dogs have an IQ?
Not exactly. Like Hodgson explained, "IQ" really depends on the quality you're observing. In Coren's book, you can have your dog take an IQ test he created based on his analyses. For example, if your dog can learn a new command in fewer than five repetitions, you can consider him among the Mensa members of pups.
Are bigger dogs smarter than small dogs?
It hasn't been confirmed, but research suggests bigger dogs could be smarter. If you look at this list, you'll find that the only tiny pup is the papillon. Coren posed this question in a post for Psychology Today, aptly titled "Are Big Dogs Smarter Than Small Dogs?"
"Data were obtained from 1,888 dogs, and the results were unambiguous," he shared. "There was a clear trend indicating that larger dogs were able to accurately remember over a longer period of time than their smaller counterparts."
Keep in mind, however, that some companion dogs were bred to have particular traits, like being calm and non-confrontational. Hodgson adds that many small breeds are bred down from larger breeds and thus have similar drives, instincts and yes, smarts.
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