Smartest Dogs List
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Okay, we know the doberman pinscher dog is one of the smartest breeds but where does it rank on the smartest dogs list?
Psychologist and dog researcher, Dr. Stanley Coren, author of “The Intelligence of Dogs” came up with a dog training survey to assess which dogs displayed higher intelligence. He states that there are three types of dog intelligence.
- Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability). This is specific to the individual animal and is measured by canine IQ tests.
- Instinctive Intelligence. This is specific to the individual animal and is measured by canine IQ tests.
- Working/Obedience Intelligence. This is breed dependent.
Dr Coren created a dog intelligence list that ranks 110 dog breeds. More than 200 professional dog obedience judges helped compile this list. The dog breeds in the top 10 have ranked high as they can understand new commands with less than five repetitions and will obey first command 95% of the time.
Top 10 Smartest Dogs
- Border Collie
- Poodle
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Doberman Pinscher
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Labrador Retriever
- Papillon
- Rottweiler
- Australian Cattle Dog
The doberman ranks number 5 smartest dog breed in the world. Not bad at all.
I think it’s important to note, that these are generalities and genetics will play a big part in your dogs mental ability. Also working dogs are bred to follow commands but following a command doesn’t necessarily equate to intelligence. Lastly, if you evaluate “smartness” with what the dog was bred for, the list may be different.
Keep in mind that a smarter dog may also be harder to train since he knows what you’re up to and might not be easily tricked into doing whatever command you ask.
Curious which dogs rank the lowest?
If you own a Chow Chow, Bulldog, Besenji or Aghan Hound, well, you can still love your dog even though he might not ever win a top of the class award.
What do you think of the smartest dogs list?
December 17th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
my dobbie just died yesterday at the age of nine yrs. old…she had an anur. some say that their brain gets larger than their skull, with age…. this happened to her…suzzie will be missed. she was so loving…..
December 17th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I’m so sorry to hear about your dog passing away. I’m sure she was a very lucky dog to have you as her owner. Take care.
August 2nd, 2009 at 5:14 am
It is NOT true that a Doberman’s head swells inside his brain. That is one of the most wide spread lies about the breed. Now people are saying the same thing about the Pit Bull.
Please get educated and stop the lies about our dogs, people already are having a witch hunt on our large working dogs.
Your dog may have had an anur. but, it sure wasn’t because her brain swelled up.
Go to a reliable web site for information and quit believing everything you hear. It’s a diservice to the dogs who have fought in our wars, aided in search and rescue, helped the handicapped and more. The more untruths spread about our large dogs the harder it will be to stop the lies. People already hate the Dobie and Rottie, and Pit and the German Shepherd. Get educated about these wonderful breeds and spread the GOOD word.
There aren’t bad dogs, just bad owners who do not know what a large dog needs.
Thank,
Cathy
November 11th, 2010 at 6:56 am
[...] ranked the bulldog towards the bottom of his list for intelligence. You can read more about the 10 smartest dogs [...]
December 15th, 2011 at 4:36 am
Wow your a bitch Cathy! He said SOME say that there brains keep growing. He did not say that his dogs brain did not stop growing and that is why it had a anur. So quit being such a critical bitch because not everyone researches dogs. It would make sense if if someone told you that a certain dog breed brain doesn’t stop growing if your dog had a anur.
April 27th, 2012 at 1:30 am
Um, they did indicate in the last line that that is what happened to her….