American psychology professor, Stanley Coren performed a number of tests on dogs to devise a test that would measure canine IQ. He tested one hundred and thirty three different breeds of dogs and measured the variations in their intelligence and also took into account information given be judges who had experience of different dog breeds during obedience trials.
Some dog specialists and owners have tried to negate this research by claiming that dogs are specialised creatures and while a dog might perform badly in an intelligence test, it may in fact excel in one particular area. For example, some breeds are ferocious, some are very fast, and some naturally perform well in obedience tests.
The intelligent border collie came out top in these doggy intelligence tests, followed by the Poodle. At the bottom end of the scale came the Afghan Hound and the Basenji.
Stanley Coren’s top ten list of the most intelligent dogs looked like this:
(Source: Stanley Coren: The intelligence of Dogs.)
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Border Collie
Border Collies come in different colours, although the black and white version is the most common and most widely known. The dog in this picture is a reddy brown colour but they also come in a tri-colour and a bi-colour version. This small dogs stand at about 18 inches high and is famous for its ability to herd sheep.
In Cumbria, England, they can be see working the hills and fell top on a daily basis. The shepherds sometimes control them by using a series of whistles but experienced dogs do most of the job without direction.
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Poodle
Poodles were originally bred to hunt birds. They are agile, intelligent dogs and are used at French air and sea ports for customs inspections. They come in a range of colours including blue, gray, silver, brown, coffee, apricot and cream.
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German Shepherd
The German Shepherd, or Alsatian dog, is from Germany. It is a fairly new breed of dog which was first recognised in 1899. It is a strong, intelligent and obedient breed which is often used by police forces in many countries of the world.
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Golden Retriever
This is historically a gun dog which is known for its soft mouth and ability to retrieve game undamaged. Retrievers are very versatile dogs and have also been used for search and rescue, drug detection and as guide dogs for the blind. Recently they are also being trained as ‘hearing dogs’ for the deaf.
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Doberman
Authors Own Picture: Doberman/Labrador Cross Breed.This breed is intelligent, alert and makes an excellent guard dog, watch dog, or pet. They make great and companions. Recently experiments in breeding have done a lot to improve the temperament of these dogs which have gained a bad reputation because of the media.
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Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland sheep dog is also known as the Sheltie. They look like a small collie in appearance but there are several major differences, including the pointed muzzle and longer coat around the neck area. They make good pets but need to be introduced to children as puppies if they are family pets.
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Labrador
The Labrador is thought to be the most popular breed of dog in the world. These dogs are intelligent, gentle and obedient. They make excellent gun dogs and family pets.
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Papillon
Papillon is the French word for butterfly and this refers to the very beautiful feathery ears that this little dog proudly displays. These dogs are small, lively and intelligent. They are actually a kind of Toy Spaniel and are bred mostly for companionship. They make excellent pets.
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Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a large German breed of dog which is very strong, hardy and intelligent. During the first and second world wars these dogs were used as beasts of burden. They carried wood and other commodities on their backs. Today, they are used as guard dogs and police dogs and as pets.
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Australian Cattle Dog
This dog is also know as the Queensland Heeler, or Blue Heeler. It was bred in Australia for herding cattle. It is strong, intelligent and has a definite independent streak which makes it go its own way on occasion.
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User Comments
Jasin
On January 11, 2009 at 1:52 am
Lol, animals are very smart, nice work Louie.
Inna Tysoe
On January 11, 2009 at 3:07 am
Yes, anyone who’s lived with dogs knows they are very smart
Well-written.
Inna
Anne Lyken Garner
On January 11, 2009 at 3:34 am
Most dogs are pretty smart.
CHAN LEE PENG
On January 11, 2009 at 4:03 am
Cute
BC Doan
On January 11, 2009 at 7:14 am
Great article Louie, and love that little Papillon!
Paula Mitchell Bentley
On January 11, 2009 at 9:13 am
I would have never guessed poodles were #2!
valli
On January 11, 2009 at 11:06 am
Cute dogs and interesting info.
Christy Tuller
On January 11, 2009 at 11:29 am
Great article! I have a Lab and just love him! Among the most stubborn strongwilled dogs is the Dachshund. I have two of them and they really only listen to themselves LOL! Love the photos and very informative!
Bren Parks
On January 11, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Great work! I totally agree that breeds made a difference.
I had a Red Heeler, which is the bloodline of the Australian dogs they use to herd their sheep.
She was the smartest dog I have ever owned.
RJ Chamberlain
On January 12, 2009 at 1:43 am
Would love to know where the Siberian Husky featured for intelligence. Mine is a little too smart. haha. Nice work Louie.
Betty Carew
On January 12, 2009 at 8:29 am
Hi Louie , wonderful article but my dogs are really insulted they didn’t get a mention lol. (Two American Cocker Spaniels).
I sincerely enjoyed this article . Excellent job!
Clay Hurtubise
On January 12, 2009 at 11:26 am
My old dog, Pfizer, was super bright. Our latest addition, an Old English Sheepdog, has a vacancy sign flashing over his head. Endless love, just no brains!
Thanks,
Clay
Leesy
On January 12, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I had to read this because my son just got a new dog (Catahoula, Bulldog mix) and she is the dumbest dog I’v ever seen. She’s clumsy,too. She runs into walls and falls off furniture. She has a nice big bump on her head. LOL. It’s nice to know that there are some normal dogs out there.
cardy
On January 12, 2009 at 1:37 pm
i love this i have 8 working dogs and i would class them as having brains well most of the time lol.
Mr Cool
On January 12, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Great, we have several working collies but one of them is the most brainless dog on the face of the planet. Oh well, he’s still my best friend.
Glynis Smy
On January 12, 2009 at 3:03 pm
We have 4 dogs, they each have their own personalities. The owner is quite a numbskull tho :0 Great article, no 1 on hot content today, congrats!
Kitaps
On January 12, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Very nice, me loves dogs !! now i know something new about them.
gunga
On January 12, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I love dogs
larcha 51
On January 12, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Awesome article!
xavix
On January 12, 2009 at 5:33 pm
nice information, the doogs are so cool
smac
On January 12, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Yes – my ACD IS smart!
michael johnson
On January 12, 2009 at 7:13 pm
very nice article there…. hey comment my articles and i will send many of my friends over here to comment on you
Jacqui
On January 12, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I thought this article was informative and attractively done. Being a dog lover, it is worthy information to know which dogs are considered highly intelligent so one can act accordingly while searching for the proper canine.
Angie0000023
On January 12, 2009 at 8:20 pm
This is a great informative article Thank you.. I like the lab the best.
check out my stuff?
Uma Shankari
On January 13, 2009 at 12:25 am
Adorable pics. Brain or no brain, dogs are adorable and will continue to be our best friends.
Maricel
On January 13, 2009 at 6:13 am
I love this article….I love dogs
realtimer
On January 13, 2009 at 9:42 am
Thank for your article. We have sold our family dog so ….but dogs are really great friends. I miss you Buffer Dog!
maranatha
On January 13, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I have a numbskull. But he is the most devoted and loyal dog we have ever owned, and is part of our family for life. Sometimes you just have to make allowances….
Joni Keith
On January 13, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I’ve had a numbskull and a semi-superbrain. I guess each dog has a way of stealing your heart. Great article and photos.
Dawn xoc
On January 13, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I have a dumb blonde labrador however he has amazing emotional intelligence….he is the emotional barometer of the house
PR Mace
On January 15, 2009 at 12:26 am
I have two Kole and Katie. Kole is a black lab mix and he is very smart. Katie is my little yellow mutt and she is a big silly dog. Kole will follow all my commands and Katie looks at me like I am stupid. Then she will finally obey me. They are so different but great dogs. If you have time, I have several photos of them posted at my profile. Great article.
denus
On January 19, 2009 at 5:05 pm
great article!
I have a labrador!
Yay hes smart.
Cheers,
denus
Dee Huff
On January 20, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I’m not surprised the border collie came out top. They’re pretty smart dogs. This is a really useful list.
smoothe1
On January 28, 2009 at 7:34 am
Great article! Didn’t know a poodle could be so useful. Never heard of the australian breed before.
Yeah, doberman breeds can be temperamental.
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