Dogs

The Intelligence of Dogs

The Intelligence of Dogs is a book by Stanley Coren.

Methodology

The author used "understanding of new commands" and "obey first command" as his standards of intelligence. He surveyed dog trainers and compiled this list of dog intelligence.

•  1-10 Brightest Dogs
• 11-26 Excellent Working Dogs
• 27-39 Above Average Working Dogs
• 40-54 Average Working/Obedience Intelligence
• 55-69 Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence
• 70-79 Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence

Criticism

Intelligence is a complex subject. A breed of dog that does not learn very quickly may have other talents.

It is important to remember that intelligence should not be judged only by the willingness to follow obedience commands. The willingness or ability to be obedience trained may reflect a desire to please or a dependence upon humans, as well as intelligence. Many long time livestock guardian breed owners believe that working breeds such as the Great Pyrenees or the Kuvasz are not easily trained because they do not see the point of such commands as “sit” or “down”. Hounds may also suffer from this type of ranking; several rank in the bottom tier of this list (such as Beagles, Bloodhounds, and Basset Hounds). These dogs are bred to have more of a "pack" mentality with other dogs and less reliance on a master's direct commands. While they truly may not have the same kind of intelligence as a Border Collie, they were not bred to learn and obey commands quickly, but to think for themselves while trailing game.

Ranking of dogs by breed

Brightest Dogs

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
    Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)

Excellent Working Dogs

11. Miniature Schnauzer
12. English Springer Spaniel
13. Belgian Tervueren
14. Schipperke
15. 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

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

Average Working/Obedience Intelligence

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
    Fox Terrier (Wire)
52. Rhodesian Ridgeback
53. Ibizan Hound
    Welsh Terrier
    Irish Terrier
54. Boston Terrier
    Akita Inu

Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence

55. Skye Terrier
56. Norfolk Terrier
    Sealyham Terrier
57. Pug
58. French Bulldog
59. Brussels Griffon
    Maltese
60. Italian Greyhound
61. Chinese Crested Dog
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

70. Shih Tzu
71. Basset Hound
72. Mastiff
    Beagle
73. Pekingese
74. Bloodhound
75. Borzoi
76. Chow Chow
77. Bulldog
78. Basenji
79. Afghan Hound

See also

• Dog intelligence
• Working dog
• List of dog breeds

External links

• The Intelligence of Dogs

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