When it comes to determining which dog breed is the most intelligent, you can expect debates from dog lovers. There are different levels of intellect – some are good at communication, some are good at obeying commands, and some have strong senses.
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The American Kennel Club is an organization that regulates dog breed standards. It acknowledges 190 breeds, and among them, here are the top 30 that they declare to be the most intelligent, starting off with the 30th spot.
30. Bernese Mountain Dog
This is a large-sized dog breed that requires a lot of space and exercise. An average full-grown Bernese Mountain Dog could weigh around 100 pounds. If you want to own one, make sure you have a huge backyard or that there is a dog park nearby.
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Aside from being an intelligent breed, Bernese Mountain Dogs do well outdoors and are great and gentle with children. They are known to have a tendency to be more attached to one family member than another so do not be surprised if they play favorites.
29. Old English Sheepdog
This dog breed is known for being so furry that they look so chubby and their eyes often end up being covered in fur. These make them look cute and lovable. People can’t resist choosing them as pets.
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Old English Sheepdogs are smart and they follow commands well. This is why they are bred to herd farm animals. Although they are usually found in rural areas, they can also do well in urban settings.
28. Bearded Collie
You need to have an active lifestyle if you want to have a Bearded Collie for a pet because they are very energetic and a bit boisterous. They make great pets because of their charming and affectionate nature.
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Collies are very intelligent but they are known to be independent thinkers. It means that sometimes, they decide not to obey a command when they think it is not worth it. But even then, they are still dependable most of the time.
27. Jack Russell Terrier
This breed is known to be so energetic that they are not recommended for first-time pet owners. They might end up feeling overwhelmed because a Jack Russell is a lot to handle. Jack Russell Terriers are known for their athletic ability, agility, and fearlessness.
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Jack Russell Terriers are not only very active dogs but they are also very smart. They are vocal and respond to commands well. This is what makes them good dog actors too. They may seem fearless and feisty but they are also very friendly.
26. Weimaraner
This large dog breed is known for its unique good looks. With the right owner, they can become lovable companions and great cuddle buddies despite their large size. They have good instincts on top of being smart.
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Weimaraners used to be bred by royalty for hunting during the 19th century. This is because they can be trained quickly and they were good at performing tasks. They also have great stamina, strength, and impressive physical endurance.
25. English Springer Spaniel
There is more to this breed than their one-of-a-kind and captivating looks. At one point, everybody in America wanted this dog as a pet because the breed was often featured in contemporary art.
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English Springer Spaniels are known for their sharp intellect. In fact, they make great hunting dogs too. When you get one, just know that there is more to this breed than its beauty.
24. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
This breed is well known to be a favorite of the Queen of England. Everybody can’t get enough of how cute these short-legged small dogs are. Pembroke Welsh Corgis love attention and they are great with kids and other pets.
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You may be wondering why the Queen of England favors this breed. They happen to be very smart because they are easy to train and they are very responsive. They can be trained to only bark when necessary and are alert enough to be great watchdogs.
23. Irish Setter
This breed can be a beautiful show dog if you groom its distinctive red coat well. But Irish Setters are more known for being a great companion for hunters. They are best at being bird hunting dogs because they can carry birds with their mouths without hurting them.
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The Irish Setter is not only a smart dog but it is also known to be very loyal and obedient to its owner. This breed is also a popular choice as a therapy dog in hospitals and in schools.
22. German Shorthaired Pointer
From the name itself, you can tell that this breed is great at pointing. German Shorthaired Pointers are great hunting dogs. They are known to recognize their targets from afar and point hunters toward them by doing a forward stance and lifting a paw in the direction.
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If you want to own a German Shorthaired Pointer, you need to be active. This dog is very energetic and loves to run around so it needs a lot of walks and exercise. Because of their high energy level, you also need to train them well.
21. Alaskan Husky
When people think about dog sledding, the Alaskan Husky is often one of the first things that come to mind. This breed is very comfortable in icy and snowy climates so it is best to raise them where there is cold weather most of the time.
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Alaskan Huskies have the wolf-pack mentality. Those in dogsled teams consider the rest of the dogs as their pack and family. They are very smart and have a way of communicating with each other, which makes them great for dog sledding.
20. Siberian Husky
Because of cross-breeding, some Siberian Huskies have the same genetics as the extinct Taymyr wolf. This makes some of them independent and solitary. Because of this, the breed is not reliable as guard dogs because they are not as protective compared to other breeds.
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You can tell how smart Siberian Huskies are by the way they interact with humans and other dogs. They are very vocal, responsive, and expressive, which can make them noisy sometimes. They often “talk back” to their owners when they are upset or scolded.
19. Alaskan Malamute
This is a large dog breed that is meant to live in cooler climates. It has a similar genetic makeup to the Alaskan and Siberian Huskies only the Alaskan Malamute is bigger and more fluffy. Because of this, they are best as family pets.
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Alaskan Malamutes are known for their gentle and warm nature and they are great for kids to grow up with. Aside from being smart, this dog is also loyal, affectionate, friendly, and playful.
18. Collie
Collies are a popular dog breed thanks to the 1950s TV show, Lassie. The show actually did a great job of capturing how smart this dog breed is. They are very intelligent and easy to train plus they communicate well with their owners.
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Collies make great pets for families with young kids because they can play all day without getting tired. They’ll definitely keep your kids busy. This dog breed is also one of the most loyal and motivated breeds out there.
17. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
This type of dog is bred in the United States and as the name indicates, it is specifically bred in the Chesapeake Bay area. A Chesapeake Bay Retriever is also known as the “Duck Dog of the Mid Atlantic” because of a special talent that proves their intelligence.
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A Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a way of telling where a bird falls after it has been shot and retrieves it. This is all thanks to their intelligence and enhanced senses. They are also known to have a friendly attitude and would bare their teeth when they smile at you.
16. Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds are bred to be herding dogs but they are also great family pets because they can play well with kids. If you are fond of hiking, an Australian Shepherd can keep you company even on long treks because of its stamina.
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Australian Shepherds are great at learning dog tricks and are always up for games. They are very eager learners and very focused. It is not only smart but also very loyal and strong.
15. Saint Bernard
The Saint Bernard is a popular breed thanks to the 1990s movie series Beethoven. As most of us know, Saint Bernards are bred to be skillful mountain dogs in Switzerland. They are trained to deliver goods and do rescue missions.
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Because of their huge size and calm personality, Saint Bernards are often called “Gentle Giants.” But like any other large dog breed, you must train a Saint Bernard well if you want one as a pet.
14. Akita Inu
This breed has been a standard competitor in dog shows because of their undeniable skills. Akita Inu is a dog that can be raised along with your kids because they are not only intelligent but also kind and compassionate.
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They are intelligent enough to be suspicious so it is not easy to trick this dog. This is also the reason why they will sometimes ignore commands. When this happens, it only means that they think your command is unjust or unfitting.
13. English Setter
Through years of human companionship and hunting, the English Setter has grown to have superior intelligence and heightened senses. They are bred and trained to hunt and track. Foxes are common prey for them.
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English setters are known to be friendly, playful, and energetic towards humans. This is why it will thrive when you give them a lot of attention. They can be stubborn and mischievous sometimes so you have to make sure they are trained well.
12. Great Dane
There is no doubt that the Great Dane is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. And there is more to them than their huge gigantic size. Their big brains mean they are incredibly smart as well. They are also known to be loyal and fiercely protective.
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Some people hesitate to own a Great Dane because they expect it to need a lot of exercise. But the Great Dane is actually a couch potato. In fact, they are considered to be the world’s biggest lapdogs.
11. Brittany
This dog breed is a smart and high-energy dog bred for bird hunting. Brittany dogs love to run around and complete tasks so they are great when it comes to obedience and field sports competitions.
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The Britanny has a gentle and sweet nature. Despite their potential for hunting and their athletic ability, they start out as very sensitive puppies. You have to train them to socialize at an early age otherwise they will grow up as shy dogs.
10. Australian Cattle Dog
This breed is known to be a fixture when it comes to obedience competitions because they are very sharp and quick thinkers. The Australian Cattle Dog is very loyal. They can come off as clingy and needy sometimes so you have to consistently interact with them.
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Australian Cattle Dogs love to be active so they are suited for activities that need endurance and athletic abilities. Because of this, they make great herding dogs. Ranchers raise them to help herd cattle.
9. Rottweiler
Most people think Rottweilers are a scary and aggressive breed. But this is far from the truth. They only act this way when there is a threat as part of their protective nature. Rottweilers are loyal, compassionate, and gentle. In fact, they make great service dogs.
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Rottweilers are thinking dogs. They are very clever and will often think first before they act. They are not only smart. They are very calm and quiet dogs meaning they do not bark unless it is necessary.
8. Papillon
Among all the toy dog breeds in the world, the Papillon is considered to be one of the smartest. they are very determined, obedient, and loyal. They also make good watchdogs and will immediately alarm you of any suspicious activities.
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Despite its small size, the Papillon is a loud barker. It also has a high energy level and requires a lot of play and exercise. The Papillon is also called the Continental Toy Spaniel and is one of the oldest toy spaniel breeds.
7. Doberman Pinscher
Because of their intelligence and protective nature, Doberman Pinschers are common breed choices for the police and military. They can get aggressive in their duty to protect but they are usually gentle and sweet when not perceiving any threats.
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A Doberman can make a great family dog. They can be sweet and fiercely loyal to kids provided that they grow up together. So the best one to get a pup in the house is when the kids are still young so they can be the ultimate protector of your kids.
6. Shetland Sheepdog
It may look like a Collie but the Shetland Sheepdog is on a higher level when it comes to intellectual capacity. They may look like fluffier mini versions of the Collie but they are also more agile.
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Shetland sheepdogs are easy to train and they are known to be very obedient. They bagged sixth place for their obedience and working intelligence. They are known to have a natural skill to herd – even without formal training.
5. Golden Retriever
The greatest family dog makes it to the top 5 spot in this list of the most intelligent dog breeds. They are a loyal, lovable, and intelligent. Golden Retrievers up to be very tame and domesticated and tend to be very attached and dependent on their owner.
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Because of their warm and loving nature, Golden Retrievers are also popular disability assistance or therapy dog. They are smart enough to perform search and rescue missions and detect if a person is not feeling good.
4. Labrador Retriever
This breed is the short-haired relative of the Golden Retriever. Because of this, Labrador Retrievers have a lot of similar characteristics and traits to Golden Retrievers. But when it comes to intelligence, the Labrador outranks the Golden Retriever.
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Labrador Retrievers have amazing communication skills. This makes them the perfect dog for those who have special needs. The American Lab has more energy and would require more training while the English lab is easier to train.
3. German Shepherd
This breed is deemed to be the most ideal for police and military work. This is because they are very intelligent, good at precision training, and have a special sense of smell that allows them to detect drugs and explosives.
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German Shepherds are very easy to train. They can easily perform any task after doing it on repeat at least five times. They are also known to be excellent when it comes to obedience.
2. Poodle
A lot of people would be surprised to know how intelligent this dog breed is. This is because Poodles are more famous for their looks and hairstyles. In fact, this dog breed has a lot of athletic potentials, making them a shoo-in for any category in a dog show.
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When Poodles were tested, they got top marks on their ability to remember and obey commands. They are also known to be water dogs because they are very skilled swimmers because have webbed paws. Poodles actually love playing in the rain and water.
1. Border Collie
The top 1 most intelligent dog breed is the Border Collie! Border Collies are not only smart, but they are also agile, fast, and can follow verbal, sound, and signal commands. They are very athletic and display great acrobatic skills. Overall, this makes them number 1.
Source: DailySportX
Border Collies are popular as ranch and farm animals because they can herd livestock well. But they are turning out to be popular family dogs too because they behave so well and are very receptive to commands.