How smart is your dog? Turns out the answer is very! Dogs can count, remember words, solve problems and more. The most intelligent dog breeds can apparently remember hundreds of words. Most of all, dogs seem to know when you’re sad, happy or just need a hug – now that’s top shelf smarts. 😁
In this article we list seven of the most intelligent dog breeds. We also look at different ways of being a clever canine, from brains to brawn and more. And if your dog’s not on the list, fear not – every dog has his or her unique intelligence and that’s just one of the things we love about them!
In this article
- What is the intelligence level of a dog?
- What are the most intelligent breeds of dogs?
- #1. Border Collie is the most intelligent dog breed
- #2. Poodles are the next most intelligent dog breed
- #3. German Shepherds are third on the list
- #4. Golden Retrievers are next
- #5. How smart is your Doberman dog? Very!
- #6. How smart is your Shetland sheepdog
- #7. Labrador retrievers wrap up the smartest dog breeds
- How can I test how smart my dog is?
- How smart is your dog insurance?
What is the intelligence level of a dog?
According to Dr Coren, professor of Canine Psychology at the University of British Columbia, your dog is roughly as intelligent as a two to two-and-a-half-year-old hooman. That’s dogs in general, regardless of breed (though we’re looking at the most intelligent dog breeds next). If you’re wondering how smart your dog is, then it appears you can put an age on it!
According to Dr Coren, there are three types of dog intelligence.
We’ve listed these three types of dog intelligence here:
- Instinctive. i.e.: the Border Collie’s herding instinct and the Labrador Retriever’s retrieving instinct
- Adaptive. problem solving and learning from its environment
- Working and obedience. how well a dog takes to being schooled or trained
Take note though, the smartest dog in the room isn’t always the criteria for choosing a family pet. Dogs that are smart may require more training, interaction, and activity to put their brains to good use. Always research a dog breed before making the leap. This will allow you to find the best dog breeds to be your pawfect match.
What are the most intelligent breeds of dogs?
Dogs are intelligent creatures. Most people would agree that all dogs are intelligent (we know you’re nodding here dog lovers). But, in terms of doggy IQ, some dogs are renowned for their intelligence.
According to Stanley Coren, the following seven pups are the most intelligent dog breeds:
#1. Border Collie is the most intelligent dog breed
If you’re a Border Collie parent and wondering how smart your dog is then let’s just say this breed tips the scales. Border Collies are highly trainable, highly emotional, highly diligent, extremely devoted to their work and much more. In many ways, one of the reasons humans have come so far may even be thanks to them.
Without the Border Collie many a well raised, sheep, cow, goat and pig might not have made it onto the list of common farm animals. That’s because Border Collies have a genetic instinct for herding. They’re the most well-recognised and highly employed farm dog. They also work as rescue dogs and assistance dogs.
That said, if you’re thinking of getting a dog but you work fulltime, this canine companion might not be your match.
#2. Poodles are the next most intelligent dog breed
Poodles have two superpowers. Firstly, even though they’re not always fond of kids, they make great assistance dogs. (Speaking of which, read about five of the most popular assistance and guide dog breeds). These power pups are highly trainable and thus have been well inducted into the working dog world.
Their second super power is that they’re some of the most hypoallergenic dogs around. Now, even though being hypoallergenic (causes no/or at least fewer allergies) might not be a way to measure dog intelligence, it’s super cool. This is just one reason the Poodle has been used to breed designer dogs like the Labradoodle and Cavoodle.
#3. German Shepherds are third on the list
Like the Border Collie, the German Shepherd has a great rep for herding cattle. It’s also renowned (along with the Belgian Malinois) for doing police work. That’s because this breed has an undeniably powerful guarding instinct – something that also makes them great family watch dogs.
For this reason, even though the German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent dog breeds, it must be well trained and socialised from puppyhood. Something that certainly applies to dogs in general.
#4. Golden Retrievers are next
Golden Retrievers live up to their name. They’re some of the most intelligent and friendly dog breeds around, and were historically bred to retrieve the animals we humans hunted.
Like the Border Collie, Golden Retrievers have water repellent fur (and two layers of it to boot). This means they’re very outdoorsy and don’t mind a bit of rain as some less water resistant breeds.
So, if you’re asking how smart your dog is and you have a Golden Retriever then the answer is ‘very!’ And while the Golden Retriever is highly trainable like one, two and three on this list of most intelligent dog breeds, that’s not it’s only standout feature. This is a breed that’s also well known for being very gentle.
The Golden Retriever doesn’t have a guarding instinct but this might be one of the reasons it gets so much work as a therapy and assistance dog.
#5. How smart is your Doberman dog? Very!
If you’re seeking a smart dog that’s also fearless then the Doberman Pinscher is your pup. As number five on Dr Coren’s list of most intelligent dog breeds, this is a dog whose reputation in guarding precedes him, or her.
The Doberman, like the German Shepherd is famed for its strong loyalty to its family. This comes with the urge to protect them at all costs. Be sure to cater to your Doberman’s keen ability to learn and strong territorial instinct with puppy training from a young age.
Read all about positive reinforcement dog training along with some basic puppy training tips. Also find out more about how to find a great puppy training school in Australia.
#6. How smart is your Shetland sheepdog
The Shetland sheepdog, or “Sheltie,” for short is number six on the most intelligent dog breeds list. You’d be forgiven for mistaking this highly trainable and intelligent pooch for a Lassie dog because they look almost the same.
Lassie dogs which are rough-coated Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs look almost like twins! Like the Lassie dog, the Shetland sheepdog makes a loving and lustrous coated pet and is also well known for participating in obedience and agility competitions.
If you’re up for above average routine pet care (here’s how to choose a good dog groomer) plus your routine dog training, this might be the pet for you. You might also find these tips on how to remove pet fur off your clothes and furniture handy.
#7. Labrador retrievers wrap up the smartest dog breeds
If you were wondering “how smart is your dog?” and yours is a Labrador, you’ve got a double whammy. Not only is the Labrador Retriever on the list of most intelligent dog breeds but it’s also Australia’s most popular dog breed.
While this pooch isn’t much of a guard dog (they love everyone and even get lost because of their boundless curiosity) it’s popular for many types of work. These include therapy, rescue, military, police, detection, lifesaving and disability assistance. Now, that’s some doggie smarts!
How can I test how smart my dog is?
In Australia we’ve got a range of incredible dog services like behavioural training, agility training and more. These types of activities allow dog mums and dads to explore certain types of doggie smarts, such as trainability and manoeuvrability.
For those that want a little added fun, there’s also a dog IQ test. The test was developed by Dr Coren, who in addition to being a canine psychology professor is also a well known author.
If you’re interested in reading more of Dr Coren’s books, here are some that look at smart puppies:
- The Intelligence of Dogs
- How to Speak Dog
- Why We Love the Dogs We Dog
- The Pawprints of History
- Why Does My Dog Act That Way
- How Dogs Think
- The Modern Dog
- Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? (this one’s for kids and it won the Animal Behavior Society’s award for the best “Children’s book of the Year”)
While we’re on the topic of pets and books, here’s our list of top cat and dog books for your holiday reading.
How smart is your dog insurance?
Does your dog insurance give your dog the safety net it needs? Does it provide you with financial protection for unexpected vet bills? These are great questions to ask when you get a pet because your want your pet cover to provide you with what your dog needs and may need.
Vet bills in Australia can be expensive and vet care isn’t subsidised like human health care. Our pet insurance plans can provide your pup and pocket with a soft landing in times of need, plus you can get 1 MONTH FREE* pet insurance when you buy a plan.