How Smart Is Your Dog?
There was an article in the San Francisco Chronicle today about the intelligence of dogs. I had posted a while back about that study, it compared a dog’s intelligence being equal to that of the average two-year-old child.
Here are the details from the study on the SF Chronicle.
Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia and an author of several books on dogs suggests that dogs do more than simply by mimicking the body language of their owners (as suggested by the enduring example of the horse Clever Hans from the early 1900s). He believes that dog brains process information similarly to the way people do.
Dr. Coren has devised an intelligence ranking of 100 breeds, with border collies at No. 1. He says the most intelligent breeds (poodles, retrievers, Labradors and shepherds) can learn as many as 250 words, signs and signals, while the others can learn 165. This means the average dog is about as intellectually advanced as a two-year-old child with an ability to understand some abstract concepts.
The article goes on to list the top 10 smartest breeds and the 10 not -so- smart breeds. See if you agree…
Here’s a list of the top 10 smartest (e.g. most obedient) dog breeds:
* 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
And a list of the top 10 not-so-smart:
* 1. Afghan Hound
* 2. Basenji
* 3. Bulldog
* 4. Chow Chow
* 5. Borzoi
* 6. Bloodhound
* 7. Pekingese
* 8. Mastiff
* 9. Beagle
* 10. Basset Hound
I’m not sure how mixed breeds fit into this, but if you want to test your dog’s intelligence go check out the six IQ questions from Dr. Coren. Give me a bark, how does your best friend make out?
*Dogster member Baxter looks like he’s a studious fella.
I remember a similar comparison on a National Geographic show (or similar) that noted that the average wolf was as intelligent as a ten year old…
Makes ya think.
yeah! border collie are #1! I can believe that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0atefssLylM
I beg your pardon, but Basset Hounds are not unintelligent. They are strong willed and require someone with a lot of patience, but they can learn just as well as the next dog. The reason that 6 out of the 10 “not-so-smart” breeds are hounds is because hounds require a patient trainer willing to put in time, but this does not make them “not smart” it means that they are better trained at task such as hunting and tracking rather than balancing a milk bone on their noses. I am in complete ah that the bloodhound, one of the first breeds trained for search and rescue, would be on that list!
Hmm… I think instead of the terms “more intelligent” and “less intelligent” that “more biddable” and “less biddable” would be more accurate. I’m afraid that these types of things cause people to compare their dogs to people TOO much and as such expect human-like cognition, and then get angry when the dog doesn’t learn/respond how they think they should. I also think that placing dogs on an Intelligency Level list like this sets some owners up for, “Oh well, my dog is just too stupid to learn so I don’t bother teaching them anything” or on the other end, “I got a Border Collie because I thought they were smart, but they chewed my carpet even after I told them ‘no’ so I’m getting rid of it”. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s an interesting article, but I don’t think in the long run that comparing dogs to 2 year olds or putting them in a list order does them any favors.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are the smartest dogs I have ever seen. Problem is they are so smart that they are difficult to train. They have the ability to reason so in order to train them you have to be very advanced in your methods.
Completely BOGUS! Where are the JRTs? They are extremly intelligent little dogs.
http://www.youtube.com/justjesse197
That’s interesting, but just because a dog is easier to train doesn’t mean they are more intelligent than a dog that isn’t as easy to train; it could just simply mean that some breeds of dog tend to be more strong-willed than others. Peg is a very smart dog and knows commands in two different languages, English and Japanese, but she’s been extremely difficult to train because she has the classic Pharaoh Hound selective hearing combined with bull breed stubbornness.
This only holds merit if you think obedience is intelligence.
Yeah, I’m wondering where the JRTs are too. My little girl is half JRT, half Chi, and I’ve gotta tell you, sometimes she runs rings around ME, she’s so smart.
Very interesting article..glad to see Golden Retrievers high on the list!
I agree with Gracie. I live with three Walker Hounds and I know they are really smart and they are hounds too. One of my walkers, can open his crate when its latched and was never taught how to do that. The other one (a 3 month old) learned to sit in 5 minutes, reliably. So hounds should not be on the “not so smart” list, that is a crock
The Chihuahuas should be number 1 on the not so smart list.
I come in at 7th and 9th. I’m Lab/Rott. But you know, all dog are very smart !
I always had collie, my first one being a mix of Scottish collie, sheltie and border collie. He just looked like a 50 lb. tri-coloered collie, classic looking, except for the fur; it was more flat but still triple coat. Beautiful dog and after living almost 13 years when he died we still miss him a few years later. This dog was so very intelligent, I can’t even begin. Words won’t do this justice. He was best friend and guardian for my middle child, a son with Down’s syndrome. He could read your mind, I can tell you that much and knew what we wanted long before we told him what to do. I am still left amazed by this animal. We now have a 2 year old border collie/sheltie. I can tell you this much; his intelligence level is the exact same. But, his personality is different. This one is more intense and a clown, like a split personality. But the kids are grown up now and he gets kind of bored sometimes. I know this is my last border collie; in the future I just can’t keep one mentally stimulted enough when my husband and I truly have an “empty nest” around here. Our son still lives here so the dog isn’t completely bored all the time.
I’ve had chi’s, poodle, shepherds, rat terriers and now a bulldog and boxer. You can’t claim one breed is smarter than another by simple tests. Thats like say a dislexic child isn’t as smart as a “normal” child. They all learn differently. Our bulldog Duchess can open doors, crates etc. Ask her fetch the paper and she looks at you like ” are you kidding”?
What! Beagle are on tht list. I know I’m only part beagle but it’s still insulting.
my scrappy doo is part JRT and the rest of my kids are chihuahuas and I have to say they are all really intelligent. They can figure out how to do anything, but they can be stubborn and I think sometimes people mistake stubborness to stupidness. But I believe all dogs have to potental to be smart.
These lists aren’t accurate as it should say Tranable as apose to intelligence. AND sorry but EVERY Lab I have ever met was a little bugger until they were over 3 years old so they don’t make the top 10 in my book.
Also the Australian Kelpie is a more intelligent dog than a Border Collie in that they use their own instincts and reason BUT they will never make a list like this because they are harder to train. A Kelpie will do what you ask if THEY see a pint to it just not necessarily HOW you ask them to do it.
I agree with Gracie so very much. Just because it takes time to train a dog doesn’t mean it’s not trainable. Buddy is Part beagle and he doesn’t seem ”not smart” at all! He make act silly sometimes, but he’s just playing then! It took a while to potty train him but we did it though!
I am a smart puppy! I am a golden/lab/border collie and they all score high on the list (go border collie!)! My brofur is a dachshund and we were surprised he wasn’t on the not so smart list! Kidding he’s just really stuborn….
no offense to the person who wrote this but it really doesnt matter wat breed a dog is cuz that doesnt tell if its smart…sum dogs r trained more sum r more lazy and sum r more obedient it depends on the dog and the owner too.And this article might give sumone the ego to go tellin ppl their dog is smart and the other persons isnt…its not fair to rate them by breed >.<
Sassy pretty much does as she pleases as long as it doesn’t make us mad. But I gave her the test and she scored a 26. I did have to do the calling her to me from memory since she is now deaf. But when it is anything to do with treats that girl is sharp as a tack.
I also agree that you can’t measure intelligence as a whole but can base it on a guideline.
Cockers rule at our house!
I have trouble believing this, actually. For example, I have read at multiple other places on the internet and in various books that Beagles are one of the most intelligent breeds of dogs. However they are on the 10 not-so-smart list. What’s up with that? But truthfully, I can’t understand how anyone would be able to make a list like this – every dog is different. You can make a dog lazy, or you can make a dog smart. In short, I think this whole ‘How smart is your dog’ article is a big joke and shouldn’t be taken seriously.
Hmmmm…. Seems kinda unfair. I mean, all dogs are smart in their own way, right?
Our golden made the smart list. Our bulldog made the not so smart list. Our boxer is as ornery as they come but the smartest of our three.
One funny example is Kong time. I stuff all their Kongs packed tight with treats & peanut butter. Both the golden & bulldog spend 30 mins. trying to slurp treats out.
Mr. Cody Boxer taught himself to bounce his Kong off the patio so the pieces fall out. He drops his Kong from his mouth half a dozen times to get a good bounce. Mr. Cody Boxer is always done less than 5 mins.
Now that’s a smart boxer!
This study raised eyebrows (and blood pressure) when it was first out. The study is very subjective. The #1 “not-so” Afghan Hound is an excellent sighthound. From the AKC: “The breed is primarily a coursing hound, pursuing its quarry by sight. The Afghan Hound was hunted singly, in pairs, in packs and combined with specially trained falcons. A tremendously versatile breed, its quarry included hare, wolves, jackals, marmots and snow leopards.”
Strange that 5 dogs on the “no-so” list are scent or sight hounds that can work quite well without human direction. Which alludes to a “different” type of intelligence than that tested in this and other studies.
(and no, we don’t hunt
* 6. Shetland Sheepdog
Yay!
I’m like so smart x]
Hmmm… comparing dogs to human children as far as intellectual capacity seems to be comparing celery to cheesecake. Totally different species and what a human-centered yardstick. Plus all the different breeds and combinations have their own genetically driven skills and interests. I don’t think this comparison or ranking works. Also, my Shih Tzu says Shih Tzus are extremely smart- too smart to go get a ball and bring it back. Like… why?
No offense, but they shouldent base how smart a dog is on how many tricks and how obediant they are.
Coren’s book came out in 1995. It has been very popular, but the idea of “intelligence” as a singular notion for all breeds of dog has widely been debunked.
If I’m lost in the woods, send in the “dummies” — the bloodhounds, beagles and other hounds — instead of the border collies, please.
Different breeds were bred for different uses, of course. It’s no huge surprise that the “smartest” dogs are those bred for herding, protection and retrieving. These are dogs largey bred to work directly with humans. Bringing up the bottom? Dogs largely bred to work independently of their owners.
As noted above, the term intelligence should be biddability. Coren certainly knows that (by now.) My beagle is just as intelligent as her GSD “sibling.” She knows just as many tricks, has just as large of a vocabulary, does sophisticated obedience as well, and does agility and tracking. I couldn’t train her using traditional methods though. But she is very trainable, as he is.
The problem is that we like to look at dogs as little people in fur suits then congratulate those who are most like us. Stanley Coren’s subsequent books show that he understands fully about true breed intelligence. But I guess the idea of the “most” intelligent dog is too alluring for the casual dog owner.
At least, all of those border collies are super easy to train…and reason with.
Heh..
I was reading a book, and it said that inteligence tests are usually based on Working/Obedience intelligence, which is how easy the dog is to train and how well they listen to you. There are also other types of inteligence; one’s that measure problem solving and adaptation to environments. Read the book Inteligence of Dogs by Steven Cohen (or maybe it’s Coren) to read the different inteligence types. All dogs are smart in their own ways!
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This was interesting but i think that the intelligence is developed. if you dont teach the dog to do things, as you do with your children, probabbly they will never learn. Their energy levels are different… i think thats an issue in the intelligence fields
Sorry, it’s actually Stanley Coren as the above poster, A beagle and a GSD, said.
Firstly, I know I will get strung up here for saying this, but I have yet to meet a Golden I think is “smart”. Trainable sure, but “smart” or “sharp”, I dunno.
I also wanted to see what this Dog IQ test was. So I did two of the problem solving tests on my 2 dogs. Not shockingly, the Chi didnt fare so well. However, my MinPin turned the whole thing on its head. Technically he didnt do “well”. However, he kept looking to me to tell him what to do. Thats because I do a TON of training with him. He is used to me being the reward lady, and I wasnt cueing him, so he was confused. I have also taught both dogs the “Leave It” command, so I think they were skeptical I was setting them up for that as well.
I guess my point is that these tests/lists are never really going to be conducted on a “fair” playing field. Pretty much impossible.
I also liked someone else’s comment that we obviously assign the “Most Intelligent” award to those breeds who are like “little humans in suits”. So true! I do love me a Border Collie, probably because they can ready my mind!
i was surprised to see the bloodhounds on the not-so-smart list…that’s ridiculous! i agree with Carissa & Kolbe. but i can believe border collies made the #1!
LAME…. sorry but that’s like saying you are smarter because of your race, LAME LAME LAME.
I am sick as heck of people saying Dalmatians are dumb. My Birdy is smarter than a lot of adult humans I know. She knows over 30 “tricks” and she “speaks” both English and Spanish.
And Beagles??? I grew up with Beagles and they are NOT in the least bit dumb. They are very smart and cunning. Manipulative as well. BOL.
I’m half Sheltie, we are herd dogs and that means SMART!!! We have to be able to think and reason to herd. There is a lot of thinking that goes into the herding task. We don’t just rush in, bunch them up and drive them!! We have to evaluate the type of animal and the herd as a whole and figure out the correct approach. If you don’t think we are way up there in IQ points, you need to watch some herding trials.
I am a Pekingese & I’ll have you know that I am VERY smart! Just ask my mom! When she got me, I was 4-5 yrs old & had never been trained but you couldn’t tell it now. Mom has taught me a lot of tricks & she talks to me like she would a child & I know what she’s saying to me. When it’s time for bed she takes me out to ‘go’ & I do, then I know it’s time to go to bed. If she doesn’t come in the bedroom I’ll go look for her & she tells me to go up my stairs & I do, right up on the bed. She does tell me how stubborn I can be but I also know when she means business!