Dog Intelligence

This is an overview. For a complete synopsis of the subject the book "The Intelligence of Dogs" by Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver is in my opinion, the best guide on the subject. Coren published a second edition in 2006.

Coren defines three aspects of dog intelligence in the book: instinctive intelligence, adaptive intelligence, and working and obedience intelligence. Instinctive intelligence refers to a dog's ability to perform the tasks it was bred for, such as herding, pointing, fetching, guarding, or supplying companionship. Adaptive intelligence refers to a dog's ability to solve problems on its own. Working and obedience intelligence refers to a dog's ability to learn from humans.

Methods

The book's ranking focuses on working and obedience intelligence. Coren sent evaluation requests to American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club obedience trial judges, asking them to rank breeds by performance, and received 199 responses, representing about 50% of obedience judges then working in North America. Assessments were limited to breeds receiving at least 100 judge responses. This methodology aimed to eliminate the excessive weight that might result from a simple tabulation of obedience degrees by breed. Its use of expert opinion followed precedent.

Coren found substantial agreement in the judges' rankings of working and obedience intelligence, with Border collies consistently named in the top ten and Afghan Hounds consistently named in the lowest. The highest ranked dogs in this category were Border collies, Poodles, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Dobermans.

Dogs that are not breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club or Canadian Kennel Club (such as the Jack Russell Terrier) were not included in Coren's rankings.

Evaluation

When Coren's list of breed intelligence first came out there was much media attention and commentary both pros and cons. However over the years the ranking of breeds and the methodology used have come to be accepted as a valid description of the differences among dog breeds in terms of the trainability aspect of dog intelligence. In addition, measurements of canine intelligence using other methods have confirmed the general pattern of these rankings including a new study using owner ratings to rank dog trainability and intelligence. 79 ranks are given (plus 52 ties), a total of 131 breeds ranked:

Brightest Dogs

Understanding of New Commands: Fewer than 5 repetitions. Obey First Command: 95% of the time or better.

Border Collie
Poodle
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Doberman Pinscher
Shetland Sheepdog
Labrador Retriever
Papillon
Rottweiler
Australian Cattle Dog

Excellent Working Dogs

Understanding of New Commands: 5 to 15 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 85% of the time or better.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Miniature Schnauzer
English Springer Spaniel
Belgian Shepherd Tervuren
Schipperke
Belgian Sheepdog
Collie
Keeshond
German Shorthaired Pointer
Flat-Coated Retriever
English Cocker Spaniel
Standard Schnauzer
Brittany
Cocker Spaniel
Weimaraner
Belgian Malinois
Bernese Mountain Dog
Pomeranian
Irish Water Spaniel
Vizsla
Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Above Average Working Dogs

Understanding of New Commands: 15 to 25 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 70% of the time or better.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Puli
Yorkshire Terrier
Giant Schnauzer
Airedale Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
Border Terrier
Briard
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Manchester Terrier
Samoyed
Field Spaniel
Newfoundland
Australian Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Gordon Setter
Bearded Collie
Cairn Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier
Irish Setter
Norwegian Elkhound
Affenpinscher
Silky Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
English Setter
Pharaoh Hound
Clumber Spaniel
Norwich Terrier
Dalmatian

Average Working/Obedience Intelligence

Understanding of New Commands: 25 to 40 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 50% of the time or better.

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Bedlington Terrier
Fox Terrier (Smooth)
Curly Coated Retriever
Irish Wolfhound
Kuvasz
Australian Shepherd
Saluki
Finnish Spitz
Pointer
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
German Wirehaired Pointer
Black and Tan Coonhound
American Water Spaniel
Siberian Husky
Bichon Frise
English Toy Spaniel
Tibetan Spaniel
English Foxhound
Otterhound
American Foxhound
Greyhound
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
West Highland White Terrier
Scottish Deerhound
Boxer
Great Dane
Dachshund
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Alaskan Malamute
Whippet
Chinese Shar Pei
Wire Fox Terrier
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Ibizan Hound
Welsh Terrier
Irish Terrier
Boston Terrier
Akita

Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence

Understanding of New Commands: 40 to 80 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 30% of the time or better.

Skye Terrier
Norfolk Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Pug
French Bulldog
Brussels Griffon
Maltese
Italian Greyhound
Chinese Crested
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Tibetan Terrier
Japanese Chin
Lakeland Terrier
Old English Sheepdog
Great Pyrenees
Scottish Terrier
Saint Bernard
Bull Terrier
Chihuahua
Lhasa Apso
Bullmastiff

Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence

Understanding of New Commands: more than 80 repetitions. Obey First Command: 25% of the time or better.

Shih Tzu
Basset Hound
Mastiff
Beagle
Pekingese
Bloodhound
Borzoi
Chow Chow
Bulldog
Basenji
Afghan Hound