Here Are The ’Smartest’ Dog Breeds, According To A Psychologist

BI ^ | 1-26-2017 | Gus Lubin

[blam]

There’s no easy way to rate dog intelligence.

As psychologist Stanley Coren wrote back in the 90s, there’s adaptive intelligence (i.e., figuring stuff out), working intelligence (i.e., following orders), and instinctive intelligence (i.e., innate talent) — not to mention spatial intelligence, kinesthetic intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, and more.

Indeed, as animal behaviorist Frans de Waal has argued, humans tend to judge animal intelligence in limited and unfair terms and often bungle the experiment.

While labs at Yale, Duke, and around the world are studying this question, for now we do at least have data on one metric: working intelligence.

Coren, in his book, "The Intelligence of Dogs," featured the results of a lengthy survey of 199 dog obedience judges. The responses, he said, were remarkably consistent; however, he noted that many judges pointed out that there are exceptions in every breed and that a lot comes down to training.

Here’s what he found:

TOP TIER—the brightest working dogs, who tend to learn a new command in less than five seconds and obey at least 95% of the time.

1. Border collie
2. Poodle
3. German shepherd
4. Golden retriever
5. Doberman pinscher
6. Shetland sheepdog
7. Labrador retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian cattle dog

(snip)

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

I think he can’t tell the difference between the TV and a window.

Can’t wait for the Puppy Bowl.

[meowmeow]

get cremated and have her add them to the urn. My dear husband is buried with his favorite cat...seriously. It was very easy and I love knowing they are together.

[snooter55]

Thanks for the suggestion ... that’s option 1 !

[Auntie Mame]

Oh, wow. What a lovely tribute to Barney. Made me tear up.

[sheana]

We have some friends who are real cowboys and have border collies. They’re cattle dogs. When the dogs are not working Randy has taught them to run with the Ranger truck he runs them for 4 miles.
We have a new pup that is a German Shepherd cross....and she’s high energy and crazy. I’m going to start taking her over there so they can run her. Lol

[windcliff]

Lol

[Chickensoup]

I would insert an English Shepherd in that list.

Beautiful and brilliant dog.

[blam]

Very good,
Thanks.

[blam]

"Bama dawgs!"

Dixie Dogs

- Roll Tide -

[LibertarianLiz]

I’m not ashamed to admit I bawled when my last lab passed

It's been over a year since our much beloved Corgi died. I didn't cry immediately; but, I was doing something in the kitchen, and his dishes were still there; but, empty. I turned and glanced down to the empty food and water dish and completely lost it. I cried for at least 20 mins straight.

I think I mourned the loss of that little guy more than any other dog I had ever owned. He was more than 13 years with us and the sweetest temperment I had ever had with any dog. I still miss him, just not quite so intensely as when he first died.

[TermLimitsforAll]

I've had many dogs over the course of my years. We just picked up our 3rd Border Collie puppy last Sunday. They are by far the most intelligent dogs in my opinion. If you don't mind being outsmarted, being exhausted and being the center of "their" world they are great pets and family members. I wouldn't have any other breed of dog. Our new puppy is just about 8 weeks old and already sitting when prompted, comes to us when called, most of the time too. Not for those who cannot devote the time to the breed. Our first one was a learning experience. He tore up our house because we didn't know the breed. Once we figured out how to "give him a job to do" he was the most awesome dog. Unfortunately we had to put him down on the 29th of December but he lived to the age of 16.

[left that other site]

Torey The Border Collie loved music.

Since I am a vocal Coach I was able to teach her to howl on pitch.

Her favorite pieces of music were “Farandole” by Georges Bizet and the Love chorus from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.

With the vocals.

In Latin! LOL!

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

I’ve owned poodles and Golden Doodles (Yes the same breed as the first dog: Patton).

They are smart!

But all big dogs like Border Collies need tons of exercise. And that is the biggest mismatch I’ve found. Like standard Poodles in an apartment. Except with that combo, you’d be saving yourself a lot of dander and clean up but you and the dog won’t be happy.

My wife raises toy poodles. They have all the smarts of a standard but a normal yard is enough room for them.

They are also cheaper to feed, you can’t find their poo to pick up, GREAT watch dogs, have excellent hearing, hypoallergetic, a snap to potty train, all hotels I know of will take them and very easy to travel with and if you get a perfect tiny one, you have a chunk of change.

I know my freepers buds won’t mentally take to ‘ankle biters’ but picture this. As the intruder is bending over to push away your tiny dog which is so quick he’ll never be able to touch him, his head is in the perfect position to unload on.

Big dogs, regardless of breed, aren’t going to get enough exercise unless you are constantly training for marathon distances. For that they are PERFECT!

[Daffynition]

We're Lab lovers. If our [now gone] Lab *Bullet* is the benchmark for all the other Labs that followed ... he was in a league all his own. Fantastic upland bird dog.

Our current guy has, I swear, a tennis ball for a brain. Not so smart, but fantastic water dog. Still a love.

So, I know what you are saying.

In a few weeks, we're going *chocolate*. Her eyes just opened the other day.

[numberonepal]

Heart of Dixie Dogs

[JulieRNR21]

I got my first Border Collie, a rescue, when he was about a year old. Conner is 4 years now and totally devoted to me.

He has trained me to play with him ‘on command’ between 3-6 pm .....LOL

He uses a special short sharp bark that means “Let’s play!” or he’ll toss his soft Fisbee or a tennis ball at me.

I’m amazed how quickly he has learned commands like....Go to bed, go to kitchen mat, go to front door or back door, find your bone, etc. He’s also a great watch dog.

[21twelve]

“...while the Aussies hang right in there but like to clock out at 5.”

We had an Australian Sheperd mutt (Husky and maybe german shepherd??). It would sit and keep a watchful eye over our kids play in the lawn and cul-de-sac. My wife would be out sitting on the bench or playing with them too.

But as soon as I came home that dog would lay down on the grass! His job was done for the day. But obviously he didn’t worry about the clock, he just knew the Alpha Dog was around and he didn’t have to be so protective.

[Iscool]

Thanks for the list...It’ll be easier now to avoid a dog that’s smarter than me...

[RooRoobird20]

I can’t believe a poodle is #2 and a Belgian Malinois is 27th.

The latter usually make the best war dogs, and they have much more stamina than police dogs. They are rock solid dependable for up to 30 hours without sleep, around the sounds of loud aircraft, gunfire, bombs going off. They are truly amazing dogs.

Poodle Is #2? LOL, who’d have thunk it!

[AndyJackson]

... still laughing...

I had one. It would sleep in a corner. Turn away from your dinner plate and when you looked back you would say to yourself "I am sure I had a piece of steak on my plate." And you would look at the Afghan and he would still be lying there asleep. But you knew ... and he knew...

He would get into fights in public with me. Someone threatened to call the SPCA for abusing my dog, so I called the SPCA myself. Their reaction - if it's an Afghan hound don't bother us. There should be a society for victims of Afghan Hound abuse. Let's just say they are very special dogs. But they spend their lives playing mind-games on their owners.