Dog intelligence varies significantly across breeds, influencing not only their trainability but also their ability to perform tasks, solve problems, and respond to commands.
Dr. Stanley Coren, a canine psychologist, developed a widely referenced ranking system for dog intelligence in his book, The Intelligence of Dogs. The 1995 edition of Coren's book lists 130 dog breeds, and assigns them to 79 ranks with some ties, grouped into six descending categories.
Here is a list of the 30 smartest dog breeds, ranked from #1 to #25. The complete list of all 130 breeds can be found at the end of this article.
Rank #1. Border Collie
Herding Group
Border Collies are widely regarded as the most intelligent dog breed, excelling in herding, agility, and obedience. Known for their intense focus and boundless energy, they thrive with tasks that challenge both their minds and bodies.
Rank #2. Poodle
Non-Sporting Group
Poodles, available in Standard, Miniature, and Toy sizes, are versatile and highly trainable. Originally bred for water retrieval, they’re known for their quick adaptability, making them favorites in various canine sports and companionship roles.
Rank #3. German Shepherd
Herding Group
German Shepherds are dependable, brave, and quick learners, often chosen for police, military, and service work. Their loyalty and intelligence make them both protective companions and excellent working dogs.
Rank #4. Golden Retriever
Sporting Group
Golden Retrievers are friendly, eager to please, and highly trainable, making them wonderful family pets and therapy dogs. Their intelligence and calm demeanor make them popular choices for various assistance roles.
Rank #5. Doberman Pinscher
Working Group
Dobermans are sharp-minded, loyal, and fearless. Often used in protection roles, they’re quick learners and highly responsive to training, excelling in obedience and agility tasks.
Rank #6. Shetland Sheepdog
Herding Group
Also known as Shelties, these small herding dogs are agile, bright, and responsive. They excel in obedience and agility, using their intelligence to solve complex herding challenges.
Rank #7. Labrador Retriever
Sporting Group
Labs are versatile, friendly, and intelligent, making them popular as family pets, therapy dogs, and assistance animals. They’re enthusiastic learners who excel in hunting, agility, and service work.
Rank #8. Papillon
Toy Group
The Papillon is small yet incredibly smart, with a curious nature and strong desire to please. This breed shines in obedience and agility sports, known for their alertness and quick reflexes.
Rank #9. Rottweiler
Working Group
Rottweilers are powerful, confident, and highly trainable, often chosen for protection and police work. Their intelligence and loyalty make them excellent guardians and loving companions when properly trained.
Rank #10. Australian Cattle Dog
Herding Group
Bred for herding, Australian Cattle Dogs are hardworking, intelligent, and full of stamina. They require both physical and mental stimulation, excelling in activities that challenge their quick-thinking skills.
Rank #11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Herding Group
Corgis are small yet intelligent and courageous herders. Known for their agility and loyalty, they’re quick learners and adapt well to obedience and agility training.
Rank #12. Miniature Schnauzer
Terrier Group
Miniature Schnauzers are lively, alert, and intelligent. Known for their keen senses, they’re quick learners and make excellent watchdogs, adapting well to training and family life.
Rank #13. English Springer Spaniel
Sporting Group
Springer Spaniels are versatile, friendly, and intelligent, excelling in hunting and obedience tasks. Their trainability and enthusiasm make them well-suited for active families.
Rank #14. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren)
Herding Group
Belgian Shepherd Dogs (Tervurens) are intelligent, elegant, and versatile working dogs known for their loyalty, agility, and striking fawn-to-mahogany coats with black overlays.
Rank #15. Schipperke
Non-Sporting Group
Schipperkes are curious, energetic, and intelligent. Known as "little black devils," they’re quick-witted and highly trainable, excelling in tasks requiring vigilance and agility.
Rank #15. Belgian Sheepdog
Herding Group
The Belgian Sheepdog, also known as the Groenendael, is a versatile, intelligent, and elegant herding breed with a striking long black coat and a strong work ethic.
Rank #16. Collie
Herding Group
Collies are gentle, intelligent, and known for their loyalty. Originally bred for herding, they’re easy to train and adapt well to family life, often displaying a calm and responsive nature.
Rank #16. Keeshond
Non-Sporting Group
The Keeshond is friendly, alert, and intelligent. Known for their versatility and adaptability, they’re quick learners who enjoy obedience training and are known for their sociable nature.
Rank #17. German Shorthaired Pointer
Sporting Group
German Shorthaired Pointers are athletic, versatile, and highly trainable. Originally bred for hunting, they’re intelligent and quick learners who excel in agility, tracking, and obedience sports.
Rank #18. Flat-Coated Retriever
Sporting Group
Flat-Coated Retrievers are friendly, intelligent, and adaptable. Known for their playful and curious nature, they’re highly trainable and excel in retrieving and obedience tasks.
Rank #18. English Cocker Spaniel
Sporting Group
Cocker Spaniels are affectionate, adaptable, and intelligent, making them great companions and quick learners. Their obedience and natural hunting instincts make them skilled in tracking and agility.
Rank #18. Standard Schnauzer
Working Group
Standard Schnauzers are intelligent, alert, and trainable. Known for their loyalty and protective nature, they excel in obedience and agility sports, often displaying a calm, steady demeanor.
Rank #19. Brittany
Sporting Group
Brittanys are athletic, intelligent, and highly trainable. Originally bred for bird hunting, they’re quick learners who excel in agility, tracking, and obedience.
Rank #20. Cocker Spaniel
Sporting Group
Cocker Spaniels are affectionate, energetic, and intelligent dogs known for their silky coats, expressive eyes, and friendly disposition.
Rank #21. Weimaraner
Sporting Group
Weimaraners are athletic, intelligent, and versatile hunting dogs. Known for their problem-solving abilities, they thrive with structured training and love physical challenges.
Sporting Group
Weimaraners are athletic, intelligent, and versatile hunting dogs. Known for their problem-solving abilities, they thrive with structured training and love physical challenges.
Rank #22. Belgian Malinois
Herding Group
Belgian Malinois are known for their high intelligence, intense focus, and agility. Often used in police and military roles, they excel in tasks requiring precision, endurance, and quick learning.
Rank #22. Bernese Mountain Dog
Working Group
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, affectionate, and loyal working breed known for its striking tricolor coat, gentle temperament, and versatility in tasks like herding and drafting.
Rank #23. Pomeranian
Toy Group
The Pomeranian is a small, fluffy toy breed known for its fox-like face, lively personality, and luxurious double coat, making it a popular companion dog..
Rank #24. Irish Water Spaniel
Sporting Group
The Irish Water Spaniel is an intelligent, energetic, and versatile breed. Known for its unique curly coat and love for water, it excels in hunting and retrieving tasks, requiring both mental and physical engagement.
Rank #25. Vizsla
Sporting Group
The Vizsla is an energetic and affectionate Hungarian sporting dog known for its sleek golden-rust coat, exceptional hunting skills, and deep bond with its family.
Complete Dog Intelligence List
Stanley Coren's dog intelligence rankings are based on surveys of obedience judges from the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs. Coren identifies three types of intelligence in dogs:
- Instinctive Intelligence: Skills and abilities dogs are bred for, such as herding or guarding.
- Adaptive Intelligence: A dog's problem-solving ability.
- Working and Obedience Intelligence: A dog's ability to learn commands and tasks.
The rankings primarily reflect working and obedience intelligence, focusing on how quickly and reliably dogs learn new commands.
Top 10 Most Intelligent Dog Breeds (Tier 1)
These breeds learn commands in fewer than five repetitions and obey the first command 95% of the time or better:
- Rank #1: Border Collie
- Rank #2: Poodle
- Rank #3: German Shepherd
- Rank #4: Golden Retriever
- Rank #5: Doberman Pinscher
- Rank #6: Shetland Sheepdog
- Rank #7: Labrador Retriever
- Rank #8: Papillon
- Rank #9: Rottweiler
- Rank #10: Australian Cattle Dog
Excellent Working Dogs (Tier 2)
These breeds learn new commands in 5–15 repetitions and obey the first command 85% of the time or better:
- Rank #11: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Rank #12: Miniature Schnauzer
- Rank #13: English Springer Spaniel
- Rank #14: Belgian Tervuren
- Rank #15: Schipperke
- Rank #15: Belgian Sheepdog
- Rank #16: Collie
- Rank #16: Keeshond
- Rank #17: German Shorthaired Pointer
- Rank #18: Flat-Coated Retriever
- Rank #18: English Cocker Spaniel
- Rank #18: Standard Schnauzer
- Rank #19: Brittany Spaniel
- Rank #20: Cocker Spaniel
- Rank #21: Weimaraner
- Rank #22: Belgian Malinois
- Rank #22: Bernese Mountain Dog
- Rank #23: Pomeranian
- Rank #24: Irish Water Spaniel
- Rank #25: Vizsla
- Rank #26: Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Above Average Working Dogs (Tier 3)
These breeds learn commands in 15–25 repetitions and obey the first command 70% of the time or better:
- Rank #27: Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Rank #27: Puli
- Rank #27 Yorkshire Terrier
- Rank #28: Giant Schnauzer
- Rank #29: Airedale Terrier
- Rank #29: Bouvier des Flandres
- Rank #30: Border Terrier
- Rank #30: Briard
- Rank #31: Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Rank #32: Manchester Terrier
- Rank #33: Samoyed
- Rank #34: Field Spaniel
- Rank #34: Newfoundland
- Rank #34: Australian Terrier
- Rank #34: American Staffordshire Terrier
- Rank #34: Gordon Setter
- Rank #34: Bearded Collie
- Rank #35: Cairn Terrier
- Rank #35: Kerry Blue Terrier
- Rank #35: Irish Setter
- Rank #36: Norwegian Elkhound
- Rank #37: Affenpinscher
- Rank #37: Australian Silky Terrier
- Rank #37: Miniature Pinscher
- Rank #37: English Setter
- Rank #37: Pharaoh Hound
- Rank #37: Clumber Spaniel
- Rank #38: Norwich Terrier
- Rank #39: Dalmatian
Average Working Dogs (Tier 4)
These breeds learn commands in 25–40 repetitions and obey the first command 50% of the time or better:
- Rank #40: Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
- Rank #40: Bedlington Terrier
- Rank #40: Smooth Fox Terrier
- Rank #41: Curly Coated Retriever
- Rank #41: Irish Wolfhound
- Rank #42: Kuvasz
- Rank #42: Australian Shepherd
- Rank #43: Saluki
- Rank #43: Finnish Spitz
- Rank #43: Pointer
- Rank #44: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Rank #44: German Wirehaired Pointer
- Rank #44: Black and Tan Coonhound
- Rank #44: American Water Spaniel
- Rank #45: Siberian Husky
- Rank #45: Bichon Frise
- Rank #45: King Charles Spaniel
- Rank #46: Tibetan Spaniel
- Rank #46: English Foxhound
- Rank #46: Otterhound
- Rank #46: Jack Russell Terrier
- Rank #46: American Foxhound
- Rank #46: Greyhound
- Rank #46: Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Rank #47: Alaskan Malamute
- Rank #47: Scottish Deerhound
- Rank #48: Boxer
- Rank #48: Great Dane
- Rank #49: Dachshund
- Rank #49: Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Rank #50: Alaskan Malamute
- Rank #51: Whippet
- Rank #51: Chinese Shar Pei
- Rank #51: Wire Fox Terrier
- Rank #52: Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Rank #53: Ibizan Hound
- Rank #53: Welsh Terrier
- Rank #53: Irish Terrier
- Rank #54: Boston Terrier
- Rank #54: Akita
Below Average Working Dogs (Tier 5)
These breeds learn commands in 40–80 repetitions and obey the first command 30% of the time or better:
- Rank #55: Skye Terrier
- Rank #56: Norfolk Terrier
- Rank #56: Sealyham Terrier
- Rank #57: Pug
- Rank #58: French Bulldog
- Rank #59: Griffon Bruxellois
- Rank #59: Maltese
- Rank #60: Italian Greyhound
- Rank #61: Chinese Crested Dog
- Rank #62: Dandie Dinmont Terrier
- Rank #62: Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
- Rank #62: Tibetan Terrier
- Rank #62: Japanese Chin
- Rank #62: Lakeland Terrier
- Rank #63: Old English Sheepdog
- Rank #64: Great Pyrenees
- Rank #65: Scottish Terrier
- Rank #65: Saint Bernard
- Rank #66: Bull Terrier
- Rank #67: Chihuahua
- Rank #68: Lhasa Apso
- Rank #69: Bullmastiff
Lowest Degree of Working and Obedience Intelligence (Tier 6)
These breeds need 80–100 repetitions or more to learn commands and obey the first command less than 25% of the time:
- Rank #70: Shih Tzu
- Rank #71: Basset Hound
- Rank #72: Mastiff (Bullmastiff)
- Rank #72: Beagle
- Rank #73: Pekingese
- Rank #74: Bloodhound
- Rank #75: Borzoi
- Rank #76: Chow Chow
- Rank #77: Bulldog
- Rank #78: Basenji
- Rank #79: Afghan Hound