10 Smartest Dog Breeds.

To buy "Facts about Animals" a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnimalsandFacts
To become our contributor: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnimalsandFacts/wishlist

What makes a dog "smart?"

Coren evaluated breeds' levels of intelligence based on instincts, obedience, and ability to adapt. But pet behavior specialist Sarah Hodgson says it's all relative. "Some are socially and emotionally dependent on people, so they are easier to train and far more receptive to our vision of what they should do," she says. "But they have little intuitive smarts." One example is a hound because although they're not receptive, they have superior senses of sight and smell. Similarly, terriers might not take directions well, but they have excellent hearing.

Do dogs have an IQ?

Not exactly. As Hodgson explained, "IQ" depends on your observing quality. In Coren's book, you can have your dog take an IQ test he created based on his analyses. For example, if your dog can learn a new command in fewer than five repetitions, you can consider him among the Mensa members of pups.

Are bigger dogs smarter than small dogs?

It hasn't been confirmed as a fact, but research suggests that bigger dogs could be more intelligent. If you look at this list, you'll find that the only tiny pup is the papillon. Coren recently posed this question in a post for Psychology Today, aptly titled "Are Big Dogs Smarter Than Small Dogs?"

"Data were obtained from 1,888 dogs, and the results were unambiguous," he shared. "There was a clear trend indicating that larger dogs could accurately remember over a longer period than their smaller counterparts." Keep in mind, however, that some companion dogs were bred to have particular traits, like being calm and non-confrontational. Hodgson adds that many small breeds are bred down from larger breeds, and thus have similar drives, instincts, and yes, smarts.

Introducing a new member to your family never goes without some serious thought. And when it comes down to selecting a pup that will be a great fit for your family, there’s so much to consider. First, you have to decide if you want to adopt a young pup or a senior sweetie. Then, of course, comes size. Are you looking for a small dog to fit your apartment lifestyle, a cuddly medium-sized dog to cuddle with, or a large pooch who is really a gentle giant? There are other factors you'll want to consider as well: the dog's overall health, maintenance, and shedding. And, if it is extremely important to you to have a puppy companion that will quickly pick up on your commands, you're going to want to look into some of the more intelligent breeds.

So we've compiled a list of the top 10 smartest dog breeds to help you find your new family member. How do we know? Well, psychologist Stanley Coren cataloged several of these breeds as the most intelligent in his book The Intelligence of Dogs, which has stood the test of time as a landmark piece of literature on the subject. According to Coren, a dog’s smarts can be identified by its ability to carry out specialized tasks, its level of obedience as well as its general working intelligence. With his data, along with other information from popular pet sites, we've put together this list.

1Border Collie
The valedictorians of the dog world, these herders took the top spot in Stanley Coren's intelligence rankings, meaning most can learn a new command in under five repetitions and follow it at least 95% of the time.

Height: 18-22 inches
Weight: 30-55 pounds
Life expectancy: 12-15 years.
2. Poodle
Nowadays, you can adopt cockapoos, wheedles, and Goldendoodles, to name a few, but breeders love regular ol' poodles for more than just their hypoallergenic qualities. The curly-coated cuties also took the silver medal for working intelligence in Coren's survey.

Height: 10-22 inches
Weight: 6-7o pounds (depending on variety)
Life expectancy: 12-15 years.

3. German Shepherd
German Shepherds happily serve as police dogs, seeing eye dogs, medical assistance dogs, and therapy dogs, so it's no surprise that consistent obedience comes standard with this breed.

Height: 22-26 inches
Weight: 50-90 pounds
Life expectancy: 7-10 years.

4. Golden Retriever.

That's right – one of the nation's most beloved family pets also took home straight A's in this intelligence survey. While the breed was originally intended for hunting, goldens also enjoy acting like straight-up goofballs once in a while (which you already know if you have one of your own).

Height: 23-24 inches
Weight: 65-75 pounds
Life expectancy: 10-12 years