20 Smartest Dog Breeds
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Introducing a new member to your family never goes without some serious thought. And when it comes down to selecting a pup that will be a great fit for your family, there’s so much to consider. First, you have to decide if you want to adopt a young pup or senior sweetie. Then, of course, comes size. Are you looking for a small dog to fit your apartment lifestyle, a cuddly medium-sized dog to cuddle with or a large pooch who is really a gentle giant? There are other factors you'll want to consider as well: the dog's overall health, maintenance and shedding. And, if it is extremely important to you to have a puppy companion that will quickly pick up on your commands, you're going to want to look into some of the more intelligent breeds.
So we've compiled a list of the top 20 smartest dog breeds to help you find your new family member. How do we know? Well, psychologist Stanley Coren cataloged several of these breeds as the most intelligent in his book The Intelligence of Dogs, which has stood the test of time as a landmark piece of literature on the subject. According to Coren, a dog’s smarts can be identified by its ability to carry out specialized tasks, its level of obedience as well as its general working intelligence. With his data, along with other information from popular pet sites, we've put together this list.
Scroll on to discover which Einstein of dog breeds is the right fit for you.
Border Collie
The valedictorians of the dog world, these herders took the top spot in Stanley Coren's intelligence rankings, meaning most can learn a new command in under five repetitions and follow it at least 95% of the time.
Height: 18-22 inches
Weight: 30-55 pounds
Life expectancy: 12-15 years
Poodle
Nowadays, you can adopt cockapoos, whoodles and goldendoodles, to name a few, but breeders love regular ol' poodles for more than just their hypoallergenic qualities. The curly-coated cuties also took the silver medal for working intelligence in Coren's survey.
Height: 10-22 inches
Weight: 6-7o pounds (depending on variety)
Life expectancy: 12-15 years
German Shepherd
German Shepherds happily serve as police dogs, seeing eye dogs, medical assistance dogs and therapy dogs, so it's no surprise that consistent obedience comes standard with this breed.
Height: 22-26 inches
Weight: 50-90 pounds
Life expectancy: 7-10 years
RELATED: 13 Best Guard Dogs to Protect Your Family and Home
Golden Retriever
That's right – one of the nation's most beloved family pets also took home straight A's in this intelligence survey. While the breed was originally intended for hunting, goldens also enjoy acting like straight-up goofballs once in a while (which you already know if you have one of your own).
Height: 23-24 inches
Weight: 65-75 pounds
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
Doberman Pinscher
Dobermans got their start in the late 19th century, when a German tax collector named Louis Dobermann wanted a medium-sized pet to act as both a guard dog and companion. Translation: These fearless protectors can hold their own, and hang with kids.
Height: 24-28 inches
Weight: 60-100 pounds
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
RELATED: 35 Best Large Dog Breeds for People Who Want Impressive Pets
Shetland Sheepdog
Smaller than collies, these adorable fluff balls hold their own in herding, agility and obedience trials. Consequently, Shelties do tend to bark, chase and herd, but their affectionate nature and love for cuddles will erase any hard feelings.
Height: 12-15 inches
Weight: 14-20 pounds
Life expectancy: 12-15 years
Labrador Retriever
Labs love to please, whether they're serving as guide dogs, narcotic detection dogs or just everyday family pets. Americans have accordingly made them the most popular breed in the country for a whopping 27 years in a row.
Height: 21-25 inches
Weight: 55-80 pounds
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
RELATED: 20 Most Popular Dog Breeds in the U.S.
Papillon
The first toy breed to crack the top 10, papillons aren't your average lap dogs. The 5-pound wonders often take home top prizes at competitive agility trials, according to the American Kennel Club. Their name — French for "butterfly" — alludes to their tall, pointed ears.
Height: 8-11 inches
Weight: 4-9 pounds
Life expectancy: 12-16 years
Rottweiler
Rottweilers likely descended from drover dogs in Ancient Rome, with the rugged, dependable temperament to boot. An engaged Rottweiler owner will take care to train and exercise their pooch thoroughly – with the reward of a loving and loyal friend.
Height: 22-27 inches
Weight: 85-130 pounds
Life expectancy: 8-10 years
Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog sits outside the top 50 in AKC's popularity rankings, but don't miss out on this smart breed. Alert, curious and pleasant, the high-energy herders do best with a job.
Height: 17-20 inches
Weight: 30-50 pounds
Life expectancy: 12-16 years
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is extremely energetic and highly trainable. For most commands, all they need is a treat as an incentive to obey. Getting them not to bark, however, can be more difficult as their high intelligence also makes them a bit stubborn.
Height: 10-12 inches
Weight: 20 – 30 pounds
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzers are known for their working intelligence and obedience. It only takes them about 5 to 15 repetitions to learn a new command, and they're more likely to obey on the first attempt, according to the Smart Canine. That's what we call one smart doggie!
Height: 11 to 14 inches
Weight: 10 – 15 pounds
Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years
English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is very friendly and outgoing, making it the perfect candidate for socialization and training. Their intelligence also makes training a breeze. They do have a retrieving urge that could cause issues with chewing on furniture.
Height: 19–22 inches
Weight: 45–55 pounds
Life expectancy: 12 – 14 years
Belgian Tervuren
The Belgian Tervuren Shepherd's intelligence is put on full display with its sheep herding skills. The Tervuren's need to be active and work can be daunting for an unassuming owner.
Height: 24-26 inches
Weight: 55–75 pounds
Life expectancy: 12 – 14 years
Schipperke
Schipperkes come in at #15 on Coren's list. They are high energy and also very willing to be trained. They may be small, but training them to obey as early as possible is the best way to make sure it sticks.
Height: 11-13 inches
Weight: 10–16 pounds
Life expectancy: 12 – 14 years
Belgian Sheepdog
Known to be great herders, Belgian Sheepdogs are also highly intelligent. According to AKC, they do need a lot of mental stimulation and have a lot of energy.
Height: 24-26 inches
Weight: 55–75 pounds
Life expectancy: 12 – 14 years
Collie
Not to be confused with a Border Collie, these pups are so smart, they made their way into mainstream television. That's right, the most famous dog ever, Lassie, was a Collie.
Height: 24-26 inches
Weight: 60–75 pounds
Life expectancy: 12 – 14 years
Keeshond
The Keeshond is known to be a very obedient dog breed. If you so choose to adopt one, you'll be sure to get the best of both worlds as they are also very energetic and playful.
Height: 17-18 inches
Weight: 35–45 pounds
Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years
German Shorthaired Pointer
Not only are German Shorthaired Pointers super smart, but they are highly adaptable and friendly, according to the American Kennel Club.
Height: 23-25 inches
Weight: 55–70 pounds
Life expectancy: 10 – 12 years
Flat-Coated Retriever
Flat-Coated Retrievers are extremely good with children and other dogs, and have a trainability level that's categorized as "eager to please," a.k.a. highly trainable, according to AKC. But FYI: That means they need a lot of mental stimulation.
Height: 23-24.5 inches
Weight: 60–70 pounds
Life expectancy: 8 – 10 years
What makes a dog "smart?"
Coren evaluated breeds' levels of intelligence based on instincts, obedience and ability to adapt. But pet behavior specialist Sarah Hodgson says it's all relative. "Some are social and emotionally dependent on people, so they are easier to train and far more receptive to our vision of what they should do," she says. "But they have little intuitive smarts." One example is a hound, because although they're not receptive, they have superior senses of sight and smell. Similarly, terriers might not take direction well, but they have excellent hearing.
Do dogs have an IQ?
Not exactly. Like Hodgson explained, "IQ" really depends on the quality you're observing. In Coren's book, you can have your dog take an IQ test he created based on his analyses. For example, if your dog can learn a new command in fewer than five repetitions, you can consider him among the Mensa members of pups.
Are bigger dogs smarter than small dogs?
It hasn't been confirmed as a fact, but research suggests that bigger dogs could be smarter. If you look at this list, you'll find that the only tiny pup is the papillon. Coren recently posed this question in a post for Psychology Today, aptly titled "Are Big Dogs Smarter Than Small Dogs?"
"Data were obtained from 1,888 dogs, and the results were unambiguous," he shared. "There was a clear trend indicating that larger dogs were able to accurately remember over a longer period of time than their smaller counterparts." Keep in mind, however, that some companion dogs were bred to have particular traits, like being calm and non-confrontational. Hodgson adds that many small breeds are bred down from larger breeds, and thus have similar drives, instincts and yes, smarts.
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