If you own a dog, you’re well aware of how fun, friendly, and faithful they can be. You’ve also likely come to realize that many dogs are also quite intelligent, but which breeds are the brightest of the bunch? Today, we’ll tell you about the smartest dog breeds and all the fun facts that make these pups so special.
For this list, we researched various types of dogs to learn which are the smartest and why. To compile them, 24/7 Tempo consulted various dog experts and veterinary sources, including the American Kennel Club, Purina, and Science Alert, among others, and these are our findings. (Click here to learn about the most popular dog breeds in America.)
1. Border Collie
- Origin: Border of Scotland and England
- Weight: 30-55 pounds
- Life expectancy: 12-15 years
Many experts consider the border collie to be one of the smartest dog breeds, and the main reason why they are often on the top of the list is due to how fast they can learn and understand new commands. Many dogs need multiple repetitions to remember a command, but border collies can retain new information remarkably well. This breed is also one of the quickest to start acting upon commands while doing exactly what they’re asked.
Most experts judge a dog’s IQ based on the number of repetitions it takes for them to gain an understanding of what they’re being taught. They have found that border collies can learn a new command in under five repetitions. It’s pretty remarkable, especially when you consider that most other dog breeds require at least 25-50 repetitions before they begin to understand the command. Many border collies even hold world records for the ability to perform a number of tricks in under a minute. Some of them can even roll down car windows.
Border collies also separate themselves from many other breeds due to their adaptive intelligence. That means they can learn from previous experiences and mistakes.
2. Poodle
- Origin: Germany
- Weight: Female 40-50 pounds, male 60-70 pounds
- Life expectancy: 10-18 years
While there are many variations and combinations, many breeders consider the standard poodle to be one of the most intelligent dogs. Experts often compare the intelligence of most dogs to that of a 2-year-old kid. When they talk about poodles, they often compare their intelligence to a 2-2.5-year-old child. That may not seem like a lot, but a number like that can mean the world when it comes to pet intelligence. Some poodles have even been known to solve very basic math problems and learn up to 250 different and unique-sounding words.
Poodles are often ranked just below border collies when it comes to intelligence. Like that breed, poodles have often also been known to learn a new command with five or fewer repetitions. Poodles will also obey a known command with a success rate of 95% or higher, which is not true of all dogs.
3. German Shepherd
- Origin: Germany
- Weight: Female 50-70 pounds, male 60-70 pounds
- Life expectancy: 7-10 years
Next on the list of the smartest dog breeds is the German shepherd, and it’s not hard to imagine that being the case. After all, there’s a reason why this breed often holds positions as a seeing eye, police aid, and medical assistance dog. German shepherds also have intelligence comparable to a 2.5-year-old human. This breed has an intelligence that has been passed down through generations. They were originally bred in Germany to herd sheep, and that takes smarts and structure, which are traits the breed continues to possess today.
As will be a theme on this list, German shepherds can also often learn a command in fewer than five reparations. They are also often dependable. That’s why they’ve been trained to perform many important functions, including transporting messages and bandages during wartime, helping people with disabilities get through their day, and even working as actors on shows and movies like “I Am Legend” and “K-9,” among others.
4. Golden Retriever
- Origin: Scotland
- Weight: Female 55-65 pounds, male 65-75 pounds
- Life expectancy: 10-12 years
An entry on every smart dog list is the intelligent and faithful golden retriever. This quick-learning breed has obtained some of its smarts due to the fact that their brains make up a higher percentage of their mass than many other breeds. Their brain-to-body ratio is even comparable to that of humans. While the size of a brain doesn’t necessarily mean that the person or animal carrying it is smarter than others, golden retrievers prove their intelligence with their actions.
This breed is exceptional, especially while outdoors, and they make great hunting dogs. They can navigate through thick brush and track down a variety of birds and animals. Like German shepherds, goldens are also great at helping folks with disabilities, including working as seeing-eye dogs. While guiding someone with a vision impairment, the breed can instinctively navigate crowded sidewalks, know when to stop at intersections, and avoid oncoming traffic while keeping their human companion safe. Golden retrievers are also often employed by the police force since they can follow scents and find missing people, including lost hikers.
Golden retrievers also do remarkably well when it comes to performing tricks. It’s not uncommon to see this breed performing high fives, salutes, the army crawl, and even bouncing a ball.
5. Doberman Pinscher
- Origin: Germany
- Weight: Female 60-90 pounds, male 75 -100 pounds
- Life expectancy: 10-12 years
The Doberman pinscher is a smart, capable, and faithful companion. It was originally bred in 1870 by a tax collector. Over the years, this breed has been instrumental in many facets of history. During World War II, they helped U.S. Marines get through the dense South Pacific and worked as guard dogs during the night. Today, they continue to work as rescue, therapy, and service dogs. Dobermans are also very perceptive and curious, and they always investigate their environment while trying to learn everything they can.
Like the other dogs on this list, Dobermans can also often learn new commands with five or fewer repetitions. That could mean you can teach this dog new tricks in a matter of minutes. That tax collector originally bred the animal to create the perfect guard dog. Doberman pinschers continue to possess that skill, and part of that is due to their great instincts and awareness, which they have in spades.
6. Labrador Retriever
- Origin: Newfoundland
- Weight: Female 50-70 pounds, male 65 -80 pounds
- Life expectancy: 11-13 years
The intelligence of labrador retrievers goes back to their origin in the 19th century. That’s when fishermen in Newfoundland wanted to create dogs that could fetch game. So they started breeding Newfoundland dogs with St. John’s water dogs. The result was a smart dog that was also a wonderful and faithful companion. Labrador retrievers are great at learning from their environment to solve problems. They’re also highly skilled at learning to fetch, guard, herd animals, and learn from humans. Like the other dogs on this list, labs can learn tricks five times faster than many other breeds. They also possess the intelligence of a 2-2.5-year-old.
7. Rottweiler
- Origin: Germany
- Weight: Female 55-70 pounds, male 65 -80 pounds
- Life expectancy: 11-13 years
Rottweilers have been around since the Roman Empire, so needless to say, they’ve learned a few tricks along the way. This breed is known for its sharp perception, environmental awareness, and ability to fill many roles, ranging from being search-and-rescue dogs to police companions. Though you may not immediately think of them this way, rottweilers also make great therapy dogs, and they can be very comforting. This is also one of the smart dog breeds that can learn commands very easily.
8. Papillon
- Origin: Spain
- Weight: 5-10 pounds
- Life expectancy: 14-16 years
Finally, we have the small but mighty papillon, which has a large brain and a great memory. They are great guard dogs that are remarkably adept at getting rid of pests. This is a toy breed that you’ll often see doing quite well in obedience competitions. Papillons are especially easy to train because they’re energetic and eager to please. They make great companions because they’ll stick with their owners through thick and thin.
Honorable Mentions
While the dogs we’ve listed so far are considered to be some of the smartest dog breeds, there are some others that experts see as very intelligent. Additional breeds that deserve a spot on this smart dog list include:
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Miniature Schnauzer
- English Springer Spaniel
All that said, most dogs are pretty bright, especially with the right training and plenty of patience from their owners. If you have a pup, take your time with them, and you’re likely to see great potential. (For more dog content, click to read about 10 of the most expensive dog breeds.)