Dog Intelligence Rankings by Breed
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ScribdTranslations13/06/2023, 13:10 Dog Intelligence Ranking
Dog Training Salvador February 11 3 minutes to read
Dog Intelligence Ranking
Most Intelligent Dog Breeds
This article does not intend to be deterministic regarding the classification of the most intelligent races.
even though it allows for some understanding of the dog breeds that are genetically more intelligent.
One counterpoint is that we can also have mixed-breed dogs, s.r.d., that are just as intelligent or even more so than many pure breeds.
known. And still dogs with intelligence above the average of the breeds.
Led by Stanley Coren, animal behavior expert at the University of Columbia.
British, the study was based on an extensive questionnaire developed by him, and answered by
more than 200 specialists in dog obedience tests. Among the main items evaluated are the
the number of repetitions needed for a certain breed to learn a new command, just like the
response time to do this.
In this way, dogs of breeds that theoretically need up to 5 were considered more intelligent.
repetitions to assimilate a new command, while other breeds might need up to 100 repetitions.
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13/06/2023, 13:10 Dog Intelligence Ranking
Canine Intelligence:
Below is the list of dog breeds according to their ratings in the assessment made by Stanley Coren.
Remembering that the races are listed in the order of their ranking position:
Between 1 and 10 (less than 5 repetitions and immediate response in 95% of cases): Border Collie, Poodle, Shepherd
German, Golden Retriever, Doberman, Shetland Sheepdog, Labrador Retriever, Papillon, Rottweiler and
Australian Cattle Dog.
Between 11 and 26 (between 5 to 15 repetitions and immediate response in 85% of cases): Welsh Corgi Pembroke, Schnauzer
Miniature, English Springer Spaniel, Belgian Tervuren Shepherd, Schipperke Belgian Shepherd, Collie Keeshond, Bracco
["German Shepherd","English Cocker Spaniel","Flat-Coated Retriever","Standard Schnauzer","Brittany Spaniel","Cocker Spaniel"]
americano, Weimaraner, Pastor belga-malinois, Berner Sennenhund (boiadeiro de Berna), Lulu da Pomerânia,
Irish water spaniel, Vizsla and Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
Between 27 and 39 (between 15 to 20 repetitions and immediate response in 70% of cases): Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Puli,
["Yorkshire Terrier","Giant Schnauzer","Portuguese Water Dog","Airedale Terrier","Bouviers des Flandres"]
["Flemish Cattle Breeder","Border Terrier","Welsh Springer Spaniel","Manchester Terrier","Samoyed","Field Spaniel"]
Terra Nova, Australian Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Gordon Setter, Bearded Collie, Cairn Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish Setter, Norwegian Elkhound, Affenpinscher, Silky Terrier, Miniature Pinscher
Setter Inglês, Pharaoh Hound, Clumber, Norwich Terrier e Dálmata.
Between 40 and 54 (between 25 and 40 repetitions and immediate response in 50% of cases): Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier,
["Bedlington Terrier","Smooth Fox Terrier","Curly-Coated Retriever","Irish Wolfhound","Kuvasz","Shepherd"]
Australian, Saluki, Finnish Spitz, Pointer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, German Wirehaired Pointer
["Coonhound","American Water Spaniel","Siberian Husky","Bichon Frisé","English Toy Spaniel","Tibetan Spaniel"]
American Foxhound, Otterhound, Greyhound, Pointer Griffon, West Highland White Terrier, Scottish
["Deerhound","Boxer","Great Dane","Basset","Staffordshire Bull Terrier","Alaskan Malamute","Whippet","Shar-pei"]
Wire Fox Terrier, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Ibizan Hound, Welsh Terrier, Irish Terrier, Boston Terrier and
Akita.
Between 55 and 69 (between 40 and 80 repetitions and immediate response in 30% of cases): Skye Terrier, Norfolk Terrier,
Sealyham Terrier, Pug, Buldogue Francês, Griffon de Bruxelas, Maltês, Greyhound Italiano, Chinês Crested
Dog, Dandio Dinmont Terrier, Basset Vendeano, Terrier Tibetano, Spaniel Japonês, Lakeland terrier, Old
English Sheepdog, Pyrenean Dog, Scottish Terrier, Saint Bernard, Bull Terrier, Chihuahua, Lhasa Apso and Bull
Mastiff.
Between 70 and 79 (between 80 and 100 repetitions and immediate response and tendency to distraction): Shih-tzu, Basset Hound,
Mastim Inglês, Beagle, Pequinês, Bloodhound, Borzói, Chow chow, Buldogue inglês, Basenji e Afghan hound.
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Common questions
Powered by AIWhen interpreting the dog intelligence ranking, it is crucial to consider the study's focus on specific dimensions of intelligence, such as obedience and command retention, while recognizing that intelligence can be multi-faceted. Understanding the inherent diversity within and across breeds and acknowledging the influence of non-genetic factors, like training and environment, are necessary to form a comprehensive perspective .
Expert-reported studies on dog intelligence might contain biases due to the subjective nature of assessments, such as personal preferences toward certain breeds. Additionally, experts' varying experiences with specific breeds can impact their responses, potentially leading to skewed results that do not accurately reflect general canine intelligence .
Using repetition and response immediacy as metrics to rank canine intelligence might overlook other forms of intelligence like social interaction and problem-solving skills. Additionally, these metrics favor breeds that are motivated by obedience and external cues, potentially underestimating the intelligence of breeds that demonstrate independence or alternative forms of cognitive ability .
The classification of dog breeds by intelligence may influence how potential owners perceive certain breeds, often leading to preferences for higher-ranked breeds due to perceived superiority in obedience and trainability. This could also unfairly stigmatize lower-ranked breeds as less capable, despite the fact that intelligence in dogs can manifest in various ways beyond obedience, such as emotional responsiveness and problem-solving .
The intelligence ranking might be affected by intra-breed variability, as individual dogs within a breed can exhibit a wide range of intelligence levels. Factors such as upbringing, environment, and training significantly influence a dog's cognitive abilities. This variability suggests that rankings provide general trends but may not reliably predict an individual dog's intelligence .
Top-ranking breeds, such as the Border Collie and Poodle, can quickly learn new commands, making them particularly suited for roles that require high levels of trainability and adaptability, such as service dogs, therapy animals, and competitive performers in dog sports. Their ability to rapidly assimilate commands enhances their utility and efficiency in tasks requiring obedient behavior .
In Stanley Coren's intelligence ranking, a higher immediate response rate correlates with a higher placement. Breeds at the top rank, like Border Collies, exhibit immediate responses 95% of the time. Breeds lower on the list, such as the Shih-tzu, often show a tendency to distraction and require more repetitions, reflecting a lower response rate and therefore a lower placement in the intelligence ranking .
The intelligence rankings of specific dog breeds suggest genetic predispositions but do not account for mixed-breed dogs, which can be just as intelligent or even more so than pure breeds due to diverse lineage. This indicates that intelligence in dogs is not solely dependent on breed; individual traits and environmental factors also play significant roles .
Labeling some breeds as less intelligent can lead to stigmatization and discourage adoption or investment in those breeds. Ethical concerns arise from how these perceptions may affect animal welfare, as breeds labeled as less intelligent might receive less attention or training. Addressing these concerns involves promoting awareness of the broad spectrum of canine intelligence and valuing all forms while fostering environments that cater to diverse needs and potential .
Stanley Coren's study ranks dog breeds based on the number of repetitions required for a breed to learn a new command and their response immediacy. Breeds requiring fewer repetitions and showing immediate responses more frequently are ranked higher in intelligence. For example, breeds in the top tier, like Border Collies and Poodles, reportedly require fewer than five repetitions and have immediate responses in 95% of cases .