The smartest dog breeds: TOP-10 with photos

Top 10 smartest dog breeds in the world

The study of the question of which dogs are the smartest in the world was taken up by cynologists from the American Kennel Club (American Kennel Club). Their research was inspired by the work of Vancouver psychology professor Stanley Koren, The Intelligence of Dogs, first published in 1994. The book has been translated into 26 languages ​​and has already been reprinted 16 times – and this is not the limit.

Determining a dog’s IQ is impossible without selection criteria. The ranking of “the smartest dog breeds” took into account:

• how many times you need to repeat the command for the dog to master it;
• the percentage of pets who completed the learned command accurately and the first time.

This approach made it possible to identify the most intelligent breeds, but with reservations.

• Some dog breeds may be highly intelligent, but their mindset is different from others. So, dogs of hunting and sledding breeds must have sufficient independence to make decisions on their own in a critical situation. Because of this, hard workers are less eager to follow commands than pets. This does not mean that they are dumber, but in the ranking of the smartest breeds they take lower places due to their relatively poor trainability.
• “Young” breeds are easier to follow commands than “ancient” relatives, whose genotype is closer to the wolf. For this reason, the last places on the list were the Afghan Hound and Basenji – one of the oldest breeds.
• Dogs of medium and small size, as a rule, take places lower than real ones, their natural stubbornness is to blame.

Thus, the top 10 smartest dog breeds in the world is quite arbitrary. In addition, if you start a conversation about canine intelligence with a loving and caring owner, then most likely he will have the smartest dog!

10. Australian Shepherd (Aussie)

The birthplace of the Australian Cattle Dog, despite the name of the breed, was America. Each Aussie has an original color, therefore it is considered unique. The breed is distinguished by phenomenal abilities in grazing livestock in mountainous areas. Australian Shepherds easily tolerate pressure drops at altitude.

Interestingly, the Aussies graze poultry and livestock only with their piercing gaze, never bite or use force. The Australian Shepherd stands opposite the animal that has strayed from the herd, lowers its head and looks sternly at it – this is enough for the loner to return to his fellow tribesmen.

Aussies are very smart, sensitive and loyal, for them there is no better reward than the praise of the owner. Dogs love to play and walk for hours. Responsible and hardworking, “shepherds” can nurse a child or a cat all day.

Among the Australian Shepherds, a dog named Strik distinguished himself. One day an Aussie breeder on horseback fell to the bottom of a canyon. Strick ran for several hours without stopping to get to the nearest village and bring help. Subsequently, the Aussie hero became one of the main founders of the breed.

9. Rottweiler

Rottweilers were bred in the German city of Rottweil and were originally used for cattle driving, household help and as security guards. Representatives of this breed are distinguished by endurance, strength and energy, which are easy to direct in the right direction, thanks to their high intelligence and poise of their character. “Butcher’s dogs” consider their master only one person, to whom they are endlessly devoted.

The Rottweiler quickly learns new commands, literally grasps everything on the fly, but the dog needs regular training and iron discipline. To curb a Rottweiler who wants to dominate, you will have to show perseverance and self-confidence, it’s not in vain that they say: “If you trained a German shepherd, you did nothing, but if a Rottweiler, then a lot.”

A Rottweiler named Eve was riding in a car with her mistress, American Cathy, who suffers from partial paralysis. The car broke down and caught fire. Kathy couldn’t get out of the burning cabin on her own, she only opened the door for her pet. Instead of escaping, Eve began to pull out the hostess by her legs, which is 5 times heavier than her. In a couple of minutes, the vehicle caught fire completely, but Katie was already at a safe distance from the fire, thanks to her brave and faithful pet.

8. Continental Toy Spaniel (Papillon)

Papillon, despite the puppet appearance and miniature size, made it to the list of the most intelligent dogs. The breed, whose name translates as “butterfly”, appeared in the XIV century in France. Unusual ears, reminiscent of butterfly wings, and an extraordinary mind quickly made papillons favorites of kings. These charming babies were kept by Henry IV, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette and Madame de Pompadour.

The Continental Toy Spaniel is a toy breed designed for socializing and stress relief. The dog will become an excellent companion not only for crowned persons, but also for ordinary families with children. Papillons are friendly, cheerful and mobile, they charge others with positive.

Papillon Lilin got into the French annals. The pet of Henry III met the killer of the king with aggression and furious barking, which was not characteristic of the breed. For the sake of maintaining the decency of the audience, the servants were forced to carry the baby out of the hall, where a murder took place in a few minutes, which led to a coup d’état.

7. Labrador retriever

Getting into the top 10 most intelligent dogs in the world of a Labrador Retriever is difficult to surprise anyone. The breed was bred on the Canadian island of Newfoundland, which is part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Dogs have high intelligence, excellent memory and a keen sense of smell. Representatives of this breed successfully work as rescuers, bloodhounds, guards, guides.

Kind and affectionate Labradors love to spend time actively with their owner and are ready to walk all day. They always get along with children and pets. In the nature of these merry fellows, rancor and aggressiveness are completely absent.

Labrador easily learns new commands and does it with sincere joy. During training, the dog tries so hard, peers into the eyes of the owner and listens to his words and intonation, that it is simply impossible to give a command with a strict serious look or punish a pet!

Dozens of feats of Labrador Retrievers remain in history. One of them belongs to a guide dog named Dorado. Together with the owner Omar, the dog ended up in one of the twin towers on September 11, 2001. When the planes crashed into the north and south towers, the buildings began to collapse rapidly, and the blind Omar could not quickly get out on his own. Dorado did not lose his head, tightly squeezed the owner by the trouser leg and pulled him to the emergency exit. Friends survived, escaping with bruises and bruises.

6 Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)

Those who remember the Lassie series with nostalgia and dream of having a collie at home, but do not dare because of their size, should pay attention to its smaller copy – the Sheltie. The breed originated in the Shetland Islands, where small, agile animals were used to herding and driving herds and, if necessary, even protecting fields from sheep.

Shetland Sheepdogs are intelligent, quick-witted and highly trainable. Charming Shelties are able to instinctively make the right decisions, perform the roles of a watchman, guard and companion. Dogs are not aggressive at all, they will bark but not bite. Shelties are distrustful of strangers, but they are ready for anything for their master and family!

Scottish farmer Robert Sinclair lived alone in the forest. He had an asthma attack and needed emergency care. Not really hoping for anything, the man wrote a note, put it in a bottle and threw it out of the window. Meanwhile, a Shetland Sheepdog living on a farm nearby found the bottle and took it to his owner. With this decision, dog Ben saved a man’s life. The owner of the shepherd read the letter and called 911. The doctors managed to put an oxygen mask on Robert at the last moment.

5. Doberman

The top five most intelligent dogs are opened by luxurious Dobermans. This breed was bred in the German city of Apolda. Dobermans make a mixed impression: on the one hand, they fascinate with their beauty and elegance, and on the other, they seem dangerous and frightening. Representatives of the breed even got the nickname “devil’s dog”. Dobermans can effectively work on the trail, look for prohibited substances, protect people.

These working short-haired dogs are distinguished by fidelity, endurance and reliability. Each Doberman is a real person, revealing his potential with regular training, quality care and a healthy atmosphere in the family. In order for the high intelligence of the dog to work not in the direction of pranks, you need to take it in training.

Dobermans have many famous representatives. Tref became a real legend – a tracker dog, on whose account more than 1 solved crimes. The Doberman was born in the von Thuringian kennel and since 500 began working as a bloodhound in the police of the Russian Empire. The reputation of Tref was so impeccable that the rumor about the imminent visit of the Doberman was enough for the criminals to flee the city – if only the dog would not take their trail.

4. Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever descended from common ancestors with the Labrador Retriever, but then its genotype was supplemented with the genes of the Yellow Flat-Coated Retriever, Scottish Water Spaniel and Setter. And, judging by the higher place in the ranking of the smartest dogs, quite successfully. The defining traits of the Golden Retriever are kindness, sensitivity and calmness. The dog can be useful as a bloodhound, guide and just a four-legged friend.

It will not be difficult for Golden Retrievers to learn new commands, they are not at all lazy. Representatives of this breed always come to the rescue of people, are ready to play with children and are even used for medicinal purposes, helping to cope with psychological problems.

Retrievers love outdoor activities, including splashing in the water. Despite their size, they can live not only in a house, but also in an apartment.

Golden Retriever Trepp is the most skilled sniffer in the Guinness Book of Records. The dog, which is in the service of the Florida Police Department, detained more than a hundred criminals, and also found drugs worth $ 63. When the retriever was brought to the police academy to demonstrate his talent, he was given the task of finding 000 bags of drugs. Trepp found 000.

3. German Shepherd

Bronze in the list of the smartest dogs in the world deservedly took the German Shepherd. Among all modern breeds, it is the closest relative of the wolf. The first German Shepherd named Graf was registered in the city of Hannover. The dog can be safely called a “universal soldier”, able to work in any conditions and keep cool. Most often, shepherds worked as shepherds or carried patrol duty.

Interestingly, when patrolling, the dog has to change partners almost daily. Unlike many breeds that obey one owner, the German Shepherd will clearly follow the command of each policeman.

To raise an obedient and friendly pet, they need to be engaged from childhood. The German Shepherd is highly trainable, highly intelligent and very hardworking. By its nature, the “German” is not aggressive, but if the owner is in danger, he will not hesitate to defend him.

The company sniffer Trepp in the Guinness Book of Records was the customs officer Leo. The German Shepherd served in airport customs for 9 years. During this time, Leo detained more than 300 drug dealers.

2. Poodle

The British speak of poodles like this: “Not yet a man, but no longer a dog.” Ludwig van Beethoven, George Sand, Giuseppe Verdi, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, John Steinbeck, Emma Watson and Rihanna were able to personally verify the outstanding intellectual abilities of poodles. Representatives of this breed rightfully took second place in the top ten most intelligent dogs. Poodles are the national breed of France, with roots in northern Europe.

Poodles are invariably associated with the circus, but few people know that the breed has many varieties. Hunting poodles help catch birds, and large swimmer poodles save drowning people. Dogs also cope with the duties of a watchman or companion.

Curly handsome men are able to master the most complex commands. Their sharp mind is combined with attentiveness, sociability and inexhaustible energy.

While shepherds and retrievers are collecting medals in the field of serving the law, the white poodle has distinguished itself on the other side of the barricades. A smuggler named Malin carried expensive lace under his skin. The owner cut his dog’s hair, wound lace around its body, and put on a fur coat made of previously cut wool on top. In this form, Malin crossed the French border and came to the agreed place, where the owner took the valuable cargo. When the customs officers – on the denunciation of envious acquaintances of our couple – went to court, it was decided to catch all the white poodles. Then Malin began to put on not a white, but a tinted coat. And when the customs officers decided to grab all the poodles in a row, he escaped punishment thanks to his dexterity. Rumor has it that the dog and his owner retired, being very rich.

1. Border Collie

The Border Collie is the smartest dog in the world. The intelligence of these amazing animals is comparable to the level of a 3-year-old child. The breed was first mentioned in 1570, and official recognition came much later, in 1915. It is assumed that the ancestors of the border collie were the working dogs of the Normans. During the Viking invasions of Scotland, their dogs ran away and bred with the local sheepdogs.

It is impossible to list all the advantages of the border collie: an outstanding mind, an understanding look, incredible devotion, activity, kindness, caring … The dog learns quickly and immediately remembers new objects. In addition to mental abilities, Border Collies excelled physically – they are excellent athletes and play partners. For representatives of this breed, there is no greater joy than running after a Frisbee on a sunny day.

The border collie named Chaser is recognized as the smartest among the smartest. Owner John Pillay has always suspected that dogs are smarter than they seem, so he decided to teach his pet new words. To do this, he bought various toys, showed them to Chaser and called each item many times. At the age of 5 months, the dog knew about 50 words, and by the age of 3, his “vocabulary” had expanded to 1022 words. Now, when John asks to bring him this or that toy, Chaser unmistakably finds it in a pile of others. This dog knows exactly what a raccoon, hippo or vampire looks like.

Another legendary Border Collie dog is Rico. He memorized more than 200 words, distinguishes them by ear and understands the meaning. In addition to an outstanding memory, Riko is quick-witted – he can make the right decisions on his own. Scientists from Leipzig undertook to study the abilities of the dog. In one experiment, they put a Border Collie and his owner in a room, and took their favorite toys to an adjacent room. The owner then named the items one by one and asked Rico to bring them. The dog coped with the task 38 times out of 40. After that, a new thing, unfamiliar to Rico, was added to the toys. When the owner asked to bring it, the dog itself guessed that the new word meant a new object, and correctly carried out the command. The unique dog remembered all the learned words even a month after the end of the tests. The scientists concluded that Rico the Border Collie learned language in the same way as children in the first years of life.