Which Dog Breed Is the Smartest?

A breed's intelligence is determined by running a large number of tests on different dogs, which have been trained in different places and also vary in age. Knowing which breed is the smartest has taken many years of hard work by several specialized teams.

A dog's intelligence isn't measured simply by its ability to memorize or reason through different tests — its level of learning is also assessed when trained by people with little experience.

The smartest dog breed is the one that has repeatedly shown, across different individuals, quick reactions to unfamiliar and adverse situations, quick learning even when its trainer has no experience, and correct memorization and response to commands, etc....

This Is the Smartest Breed

You're sure to be very surprised to learn that, after many years of study and dedication, based on Stanley Coren's work, it's been concluded that the smartest dog breed on the planet is the Border Collie.

That's right, you read that correctly — the Border Collie is the smartest breed according to the various tests and studies carried out worldwide, thanks to the work of expert Stanley Coren.

• Border Collie

The Border Collie isn't the strongest or most aggressive on the planet, nor does it have the strongest bite or make the best guard dog, yet it's the smartest breed of all.

Collies have a much higher learning ability than other dogs — even when their owners are inexperienced trainers, they learn quickly. It's also the breed that reacts fastest to unexpected problems and adversity. And as if that weren't enough, it's the breed that can most quickly detect external dangers, such as an attack from another dog.

List of the Smartest Dogs

You're probably surprised by which breed took first place among smart dog breeds, but... aren't you wondering which other breeds stand out for their intelligence?

After a large-scale worldwide study, many conclusions have been reached about the rest of the breeds analyzed, showing that several dog breeds stand out for their intelligence above the rest.

1st Border Collie

In first place in the ranking of smartest dogs, we have the Border Collie, or "useful dog" translated from Gaelic. This is another breed originally in high demand for its herding abilities.

Interestingly, herding dogs in general have developed superior abilities compared to other dogs, speaking of intelligence, of course. Besides its ease of learning even in the hands of inexperienced trainers, the Collie has shown great intelligence and reasoning ability.

The many tests carried out to determine its level of reasoning provided data that left researchers very surprised, making it a very intelligent breed overall.

2nd Poodle

As surprising as it may seem, this breed takes second place when it comes to intelligence. The Poodle is the second-smartest breed according to current studies.

3rd German Shepherd

Being a herding breed adapted to harsh climates and situations, the German Shepherd has developed such a high level of intelligence it almost takes first place on the list of smartest dogs.

It has excellent aptitude for quick learning and reasoning, something many other breeds are unable to do. Perhaps thanks to its excellent hearing or simply being a very attentive dog, it's able to detect problems and possible dangers extraordinarily fast.

Its memory capacity is very high, which makes it able to constantly learn new things and use them to its advantage.

4th Golden Retriever

In fourth place on the list of smartest dogs, we have the honorable Golden Retriever. A dog that, although it has also done herding work, is best known for its use as a hunting or retrieving dog. A retriever is one that fetches hunters' kills (usually birds).

However, nowadays it's become an excellent family companion dog, a lovely dog with kids, happy to join us daily for exercise.

The Golden Retriever has proven to be a very intelligent dog thanks to its reaction, reasoning, and learning abilities. Those who enjoy the company of one of these dogs know they can sometimes be a bit stubborn... but shouldn't be underestimated — they're extremely smart dogs.

5th Doberman

In fifth place on the top 10 smartest dogs, we have the well-known Doberman, which stands out for its cunning and quick reaction to adversity. It also has a great capacity to learn, although it's often simply given the role of guard dog.

Precisely because of its intelligence and quick reactions, this breed is considered one of the best when it comes to guarding. What most people don't know is that they're also excellent life companions, since they have a huge heart.

The Doberman was originally a protective dog — its job was based on protecting its owner from possible dangers. Its intelligence and quick reactions have made it a worthy member of the top 10 smartest dogs.

6th Rottweiler

In sixth place on the list of smartest dogs, we have the well-known Rottweiler, also known as the butcher's dog. But no, don't worry — the nickname "butcher" comes from its origins, when it was used to pull carts carrying meat to markets.

However, that wasn't its only skill — interestingly, the Rottweiler was also used as a herding dog for its excellent qualities. It's a very intelligent dog, although it can sometimes be a bit stubborn. Its ease of learning, memory, and quick reactions make it a well-deserved winner of sixth place.

The Rottweiler is also the breed with the most powerful, strongest bite worldwide — even above another well-known breed, the Pit Bull. Because of this, throughout history this breed has been used as a cart-pulling dog for its strength, a herding dog for its intelligence, a hunting dog for its cunning, and a guard dog for its intelligence and strength.

7th Maltese

In seventh place among the smartest and most affectionate small dogs, we have the Maltese, a breed originally from the island of Malta in Italy, said to be one of the oldest in history. Engravings related to this breed have been found in ancient Egypt.

This is a breed that's both very intelligent and affectionate, ideal as a life companion. It adapts easily to any type of home due to its small size and low physical needs.

The Maltese stands out for its great capacity and ease of learning and its reasoning ability. Although it may seem like a not-very-intelligent breed due to its size, it can surprise everyone.

8th Siberian Husky

In eighth place on the list of the world's smartest dogs, we have the beautiful Siberian Husky, which interestingly also performed herding functions. It originates from the Russian region of Siberia, bred by the Chukchi tribe.

This breed was used (and still is) as a working dog, for pulling sleds and cargo. It also performs herding work protecting and guiding reindeer herds. Its boldness and cunning quickly made it a worldwide standout. This may be one of the reasons it was used to create the Pomsky, for its high level of intelligence.

The Siberian Husky can also be an excellent companion dog, though it's not recommended in areas with mild temperatures, let alone hot ones. This breed requires and needs to live in places where it's very cold — that's where it feels best. It's a breed that needs a lot of daily physical exercise and large natural areas.

9th Papillon

In ninth place among the smartest and most affectionate dogs, we have the Papillon, a French breed that gets its name from the shape of the dog's ears, shaped like a butterfly. Papillon actually means butterfly.

This is a very intelligent, affectionate breed, possibly one of the best-known worldwide among small, smart dog breeds for its enviable traits.

The Papillon isn't a herding or guard dog, but a companion dog to share a lifetime with. Very active, super intelligent, and with an exemplary learning ability, the Papillon takes its place among the world's top 10 smartest dogs.

10th Spanish Greyhound

In tenth place in the ranking of smartest dogs, we have the Spanish Greyhound, which, as its name suggests, originates from Spain. Its origins are uncertain, though everything suggests it's a selection of Podencos stabilized over centuries.

The Greyhound breed is very intelligent overall — it learns very quickly even when its trainer has little experience or skill, and it reacts quickly to any adversity. Its best-known trait is its speed, greater than any other dog breed.

Greyhounds have been used for years for hunting work, mainly hare and rabbits. However, it's an ideal dog to share a home and family with — very affectionate and with a huge heart, ideal for playing with kids.

Which Are the Least Intelligent?

There are no dumb dogs, just dogs that have some of the qualities other dogs have developed less developed, such as ease of learning, retention capacity (memory), reasoning, and reaction to certain problems.

This doesn't mean anything bad — it simply means these breeds can be more affectionate, loving, protective, or empathetic. They just don't stand out for their intelligence, that's all.

The least intelligent dog breeds on the planet are:

• French Bulldog / English Bulldog
• Chihuahua
• Bull Terrier
• Lhasa Apso
• Shih Tzu
• Chow Chow

Did Mixed-Breed Dogs Take Part in the Smartest Dog Study?

No, tests were only run on registered, official purebred dogs — no tests were run on mixed-breed dogs (dogs with no pure breed). However, we can say that mixed-breed dogs are, generally speaking, very intelligent.