As we near the end of this series, if you have missed any of the previous 6 parts, you may wish to catch up. This is the World’s Smartest Dog Breeds List Part 7. All breeds listed previously are in ascending order.
This list of the most intelligent dog breeds was determined by a well-respected study. It was performed by a reputable canine psychologist. And, it is based on how well the breeds fared in his canine IQ testing. Coren has an excellent reputation globally and his work is respected by others in the field.
How Was the Canine IQ Score for the World’s Smartest Dog Breeds Calculated?
There were basically two components that determined a breed’s score.
- What % of the time did the breed obey a given command?
- How quickly did the breed learn specific new commands?
The Results Were As Anticipated
There was a direct relationship between the breed’s IQ score and the capability they demonstrated in obeying commands. Also, the breeds’ obedience score correlated with the time it took for them to learn a new command.
All breeds scoring high enough to fall into the most intelligent breed categories performed in the obedience percentiles of up to 95%. That is higher than it takes for most humans to receive an A on their report cards.
Now, Here is the World’s Smartest Dog Breeds List Part 7
6. Shetland Sheepdog
This beautiful dog belongs to the Shetland Sheepdog breed. It is historically known as a breed that excelled in herding all kinds of animals (including kids of the human species). They also were used to keep birds out of a farmer’s crops.
Super fast and super smart, they are also very agile and obedient. On average, rumor has it that they usually learn any new command within five attempts or less. WOW.
They have been featured in more than one TV show and several movies. Furthermore, most of us have heard a personal story or two about their intelligence and devotion to their owners.
#5. Doberman Pinscher
This fiercely devoted and loyal breed is known for its keen intelligence. Many owners claim that their Doberman Pinscher is able to outwit them at times. Stories abound of their willingness to take any risk to protect their family and home.
This breed absolutely must have lots of exercise or they will become destructive. Mental stimulation is important as well, but daily physical activity is a must. Their trainer needs to be firm and consistent to achieve the best results with this super smart and athletic breed of dog.
#4.Golden Retriever
This breed is always high on the list of most popular dogs, especially for families having children. Golden Retrievers are also hardworking dogs who take their tasks seriously while remaining super gentle with animals and children alike. Being a breed that retrieves, it is a good thing that they do not damage anything they take in their mouths.
#3. German Shepherd
Long thought of as a military or Police K-9 dog breed, the German Shepherd has a worldwide reputation to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds. Their ability to learn new tasks and commands at a rapid pace places them very high on all “easy to train” breed lists.
He is physically superior as well.
Furthermore, this breed has a physical capacity to match its intellectual abilities. Their endurance is incredible and their ability to remain focused for hours is well documented. These muscular dogs have a bite that is very strong and an exceptional desire to protect their handler/owner.
#2. Poodle
The Poodle breed comes in several sizes and all of them rank high in the category of intelligence. They are easy to train and catch on quickly to new commands. However, their problem-solving capacity is not always as strong as other breeds in the same level of intelligence category.
What If Your Favorite Dog Breed Has Not Made The List Thus Far
Now, all but one breed on the list has been mentioned. The one breed remaining is the one I call the Canine Einstein. This breed is the one who beat out all of the others tested in Coren’s study.
You may have figured out which super-smart breed is left to be revealed in the next, and final, article in this series. Will this be your favorite breed?
Are you up to date on the articles?
If you have read all the earlier articles in this series, this will come as no surprise. Your dog may or may not be as smart as other dogs of his breed. Just as people fall in different places on a Bell Curve for human IQs, so do dogs. One Standard Poodle may be much smarter than the average dog of his breed. Or, he may be dumb as a rock.
What if your dog’s breed is not on the list anywhere?
So what? He may be an outlier and smarter than any other dog you have ever known. Or, he may not be all that bright, but makes up for it with his huge heart. If you had to choose a dog who loved you or one who could outsmart you, which you choose? Paws down, I would want a dog who loved me unconditionally and that was always there when I needed a furry cuddle. How about you?
Are You Ready To Make Your Prediction As To The World’s Smartest Dog Breed?
We are down to the final breed and it will be revealed in the next and final article of this series. Feel free to make your prediction in the comment box below. If you have missed any of the earlier articles, here are the links where they can be found.
Links to prior articles in the series
https://happymutt.org/the-worlds-smartest-dog-breeds-revealed/
https://happymutt.org/worlds-smartest-dog-breeds-part-2/
https://happymutt.org/worlds-smartest-dog-breeds-part-3/
https://happymutt.org/worlds-smartest-dog-breeds-part-4/
https://happymutt.org/worlds-smartest-dog-breeds-list-part-5/
https://happymutt.org/worlds-smartest-dog-breeds-part-6/
Appreciation to these entities for photos, etc.
Photos and original storyline courtesy of https://www.bedtimez.com/worldwide/smartest-dog-breeds/64
Photo of Toy Poodle is courtesy of Pixabay