The List
Stanely Coren is a psychology professor who has become best known for a series of books regarding the intelligence, mental abilities and history of dogs. On his famous list, Coren used “understanding of new commands” and “obey first command” as his standards of intelligence for dogs. While this method of ordering dog intelligence is acceptable for training and working with dogs, it does not apply to the intelligence measured by ingenuity and understanding of common situations. The drawback of this rating scale is that it is heavily weighted towards obedience related behavioral traits (working or guard dogs), rather than understanding or creativity (hunting dogs).
As a result, some breeds may appear lower on the list due to their stubborn or independent nature, but this nature does not make them unintelligent or impossible to train. But rankings were provided only for working intelligence, and are listed below.
Dogs that are not breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club or Canadian Kennel Club (such as the Jack Russell Terrier) were not included in Coren's rankings.
As a result, some breeds may appear lower on the list due to their stubborn or independent nature, but this nature does not make them unintelligent or impossible to train. But rankings were provided only for working intelligence, and are listed below.
Dogs that are not breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club or Canadian Kennel Club (such as the Jack Russell Terrier) were not included in Coren's rankings.
Smartest Dog Breeds
Each breed is unique however some are very intelligent. Once they learn the task, they will respond happily perform the task over and over again which is why they make wonderful service dogs. But others may become stubborn, more than anything it depends on the owner/trainer. No dog is easy to train if the human half of the equation is not doing their part, with love and patience. Some breeds take to training better than others. If you're looking for a dog that will train easily, stick to these:
Brightest Dog Breeds
Understanding of New Commands: Less than 5 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 95% of the time or better.
1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog
Intelligent Dog Breeds
These dogs are smart, but not necessarily easy to train. Dobies are smart but get frustrated easily, German Shepherds are smart but hard to break them off a bad habit, Border Collies are smart but get tired of doing the same thing over and over again. So its all how you look at "intelligent". Also, they may be great to train but you have to keep them stimulated or else, they can be destructive!
Excellent Working Dogs
Understanding of New Commands: 5 to 15 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 85% of the time or better.
11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
12. Miniature Schnauzer
13. English Springer Spaniel
14. Belgian Tervueren
15. Schipperke
Belgian Sheepdog
16. Collie
Keeshond
17. German Shorthaired Pointer
18. Flat-Coated Retriever
English Cocker Spaniel
Standard Schnauzer
19. Brittany
20. Cocker Spaniel
21. Weimaraner
22. Belgian Malinois
Bernese Mountain Dog
23. Pomeranian
24. Irish Water Spaniel
25. Vizsla
26. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
12. Miniature Schnauzer
13. English Springer Spaniel
14. Belgian Tervueren
15. Schipperke
Belgian Sheepdog
16. Collie
Keeshond
17. German Shorthaired Pointer
18. Flat-Coated Retriever
English Cocker Spaniel
Standard Schnauzer
19. Brittany
20. Cocker Spaniel
21. Weimaraner
22. Belgian Malinois
Bernese Mountain Dog
23. Pomeranian
24. Irish Water Spaniel
25. Vizsla
26. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Above Average Working Dogs
Understanding of New Commands: 15 to 25 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 70% of the time or better.
27. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Puli
Yorkshire Terrier
28. Giant Schnauzer
29. Airedale Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
30. Border Terrier
Briard
31. Welsh Springer Spaniel
32. Manchester Terrier
33. Samoyed
34. Field Spaniel
Newfoundland (dog)
Australian Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Gordon Setter
Bearded Collie
35. Cairn Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier
Irish Setter
36. Norwegian Elkhound
37. Affenpinscher
Silky Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
English Setter
Pharaoh Hound
Clumber Spaniel
38. Norwich Terrier
39. Dalmatian
Puli
Yorkshire Terrier
28. Giant Schnauzer
29. Airedale Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
30. Border Terrier
Briard
31. Welsh Springer Spaniel
32. Manchester Terrier
33. Samoyed
34. Field Spaniel
Newfoundland (dog)
Australian Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Gordon Setter
Bearded Collie
35. Cairn Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier
Irish Setter
36. Norwegian Elkhound
37. Affenpinscher
Silky Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
English Setter
Pharaoh Hound
Clumber Spaniel
38. Norwich Terrier
39. Dalmatian
Average Working/Obedience Intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 25 to 40 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 50% of the time or better.
40. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Bedlington Terrier
Fox Terrier (Smooth)
41. Curly Coated Retriever
Irish Wolfhound
42. Kuvasz
Australian Shepherd
43. Saluki
Finnish Spitz
Pointer
44. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
German Wirehaired Pointer
Black and Tan Coonhound
American Water Spaniel
45. Siberian Husky
Bichon Frise
English Toy Spaniel
46. Tibetan Spaniel
English Foxhound
Otterhound
American Foxhound
Greyhound
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
47. West Highland White Terrier
Scottish Deerhound
48. Boxer
Great Dane
49. Dachshund
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
50. Alaskan Malamute
51. Whippet
Chinese Shar Pei
Wire Fox Terrier
52. Rhodesian Ridgeback
53. Ibizan Hound
Welsh Terrier
Irish Terrier
54. Boston Terrier
Akita
Bedlington Terrier
Fox Terrier (Smooth)
41. Curly Coated Retriever
Irish Wolfhound
42. Kuvasz
Australian Shepherd
43. Saluki
Finnish Spitz
Pointer
44. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
German Wirehaired Pointer
Black and Tan Coonhound
American Water Spaniel
45. Siberian Husky
Bichon Frise
English Toy Spaniel
46. Tibetan Spaniel
English Foxhound
Otterhound
American Foxhound
Greyhound
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
47. West Highland White Terrier
Scottish Deerhound
48. Boxer
Great Dane
49. Dachshund
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
50. Alaskan Malamute
51. Whippet
Chinese Shar Pei
Wire Fox Terrier
52. Rhodesian Ridgeback
53. Ibizan Hound
Welsh Terrier
Irish Terrier
54. Boston Terrier
Akita
Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 40 to 80 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 30% of the time or better.
55. Skye Terrier
56. Norfolk Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
57. Pug
58. French Bulldog
59. Brussels Griffon
Maltese
60. Italian Greyhound
61. Chinese Crested
62. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Tibetan Terrier
Japanese Chin
Lakeland Terrier
63. Old English Sheepdog
64. Great Pyrenees
65. Scottish Terrier
Saint Bernard
66. Bull Terrier
67. Chihuahua
68. Lhasa Apso
69. Bullmastiff
56. Norfolk Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
57. Pug
58. French Bulldog
59. Brussels Griffon
Maltese
60. Italian Greyhound
61. Chinese Crested
62. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Tibetan Terrier
Japanese Chin
Lakeland Terrier
63. Old English Sheepdog
64. Great Pyrenees
65. Scottish Terrier
Saint Bernard
66. Bull Terrier
67. Chihuahua
68. Lhasa Apso
69. Bullmastiff
Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 80 to 100 repetitions or more.
Obey First Command: 25% of the time or worse.
70. Shih Tzu
71. Basset Hound
72. Mastiff
73. Beagle
74. Pekingese
75. Bloodhound
76. Borzoi
77. Chow Chow
78. Bulldog
79. Basenji
80. Afghan Hound
71. Basset Hound
72. Mastiff
73. Beagle
74. Pekingese
75. Bloodhound
76. Borzoi
77. Chow Chow
78. Bulldog
79. Basenji
80. Afghan Hound
The Rest
The list continues with many other breeds that are not as 'intelligent' or haven't been tested. However, every dog is an individual. If you want a dog, do your homework and check the dog's temperment before you make the decision to bring it home.