What Are the Top 10 Most Intelligent Dog Breeds?

Every dog owner thinks that his dog is the smartest dog around (well at least a few we know!).

Of course only a few of them would be right. Don’t despair if your dog’s breed isn’t on the list. Some highly intelligent dogs are very hard to train or act destructively when alone in the house.

Dog breed intelligence is typically ranked based on obedience (how consistently they obey commands) and their working intelligence (how quickly they learn commands). This ranking is widely attributed to canine psychologist Dr. Stanley Coren, who compiled it based on surveys of obedience trial judges.

Here are the 10 most intelligent dog breeds.

10. Australian Cattle Dog

This dog breed is very active and in constant need for mental stimulation and physical exercise.

The breed was developed two centuries ago by crossing wild dingoes with Dalmatians and Collies. They are very playful, happy and were initially bred to herd cattle.

9. Rottweiler

The Rottweiler has a fearsome reputation, however when you see a Rottweiler around kids, you will know that this reputation is undeserved.

This dog breed is highly loyal and family friendly – in fact they make a great choice as a guard dog. Rottweiler possesses a strong character and they are always eager to work.

8. The Papillon

Also known as Dwarf Spaniels because they reach a height of only 11 inches. This miniature breed is one of the oldest European breeds. In order to stay out of trouble keep this dog’s mind always occupied by mental stimulations.

7.    Labrador Retriever

This intelligent and very gentle dog represents an ideal family pet. With aristocratic looks, Labradors are very sociable and easy to train with strong will to please owners. Golden, black and chocolate are three basic colors of this world’s most popular breed.

6. Shetland Sheepdog

Very devoted to the owner, this lively dog can be used to herd sheep and cattle. Shetland Sheepdog is medium sized dog originated from Scotland. Breed, known for great sense of hearing and tri-color fur, are very trainable. Most of Sheltie’s owners claim that this dog is as smart as humans.

5. Doberman Pinscher

This medium-sized dog is alert, incredibly smart and very loyal. If you train your Doberman properly from an early age, you can get brave dog ready to do anything to protect the loved ones. This guardian dog with a short hair comes from Germany and it is often used in military and police.

4. Golden Retriever

There is something extremely interesting with this energetic and great companion dog – it almost never barks. Golden Retriever represents everything we adore about dogs. Eager to please, loves children, sweet, loyal, carefree, easy to train. They are commonly used as a hunting dog, rescue dog, guide dog and drug sniffing dog.

3. German Shepherd

For numerous reasons, the German Shepherd deserves the third place on the top 10 intelligent dog breed list. This dog breed is capable of doing every dog’s job there is – you name it! Their loyalty, intelligence and fierce nature make them perfect work dogs and they are commonly used in police and military roles due to their trainability.

2. Standard Poodle

Many people are not Poodle fans, but they have to agree that this breed deserves runner-up position. Thanks to good looks and intelligence this French breed became very popular all over the world. The Poodle excels at obedience and agility.

1. Without any doubt the Border Collie is the most intelligent dog breed on the planet

For nearly every ranking of dog breed intelligence, Border Collie comes out on top.

If you give this workaholic a job and purpose, you’ll make it happy. Collies literally live to work and excel at problem-solving and obedience tasks.

Intelligent dog breeds stand out for their ability to learn quickly, perform complex tasks with ease and to follow commands. Their intelligence makes them extremely trainable but they need mental stimulation and proper training to prevent boredom and behavioural issues.

You won’t be dissapointed if you choose an intelligent dog breed as a pet however just remember it means being ready to engage actively, ensuring they thrive both mentally and physically!

Let us know your favourite in the comments below!