Dogs aren’t just playmates; they can be study partners too! Dogs are often considered to be hardworking, protective, and loyal. However, a dog’s intelligence is often overlooked. This is because canine intelligence differs from human IQ.
Remember: dogs don’t need a degree to be considered smart. They have their way of being intelligent that doesn’t require knowing a foreign language or getting 100% on a Maths test. Smart dogs are those that are highly trainable, adaptive to their environment, and responsive to their instincts, as mentioned by the AKC.
Some dog breeds are highly intelligent, learning commands and tricks quickly. In this article, we’ll discuss the most intelligent dog breeds known to mankind.
Most Intelligent Dog Breeds For Any Student
1. Pug
The truth is, Pugs are notorious for their playful nature and goofy personality. They are like court jesters, amusing their families and loved ones with their hilarious pranks. However, Pugs are also smart. Just because they aren’t able to understand E = mc² doesn’t mean that these dogs are dumb.
Emotional Intelligence
A dog’s temperament and social nature tell us a lot about a dog’s emotional intelligence (EQ). This is called a dog’s adaptive intelligence. Pugs are like empathetic reservoirs. They can easily understand their owner’s emotions and act accordingly.
If they sense that their family member is feeling down, they’ll come up with some prank to cheer them up. Pugs are incredibly affectionate and social, doing well with not just humans but other dog breeds as well. Overall, they are very popular dogs.
Obedience/Working Intelligence
How quickly a dog picks up commands and tricks also shows a dog’s intelligence. Luckily, Pugs are highly successful in this category. Although one needs to be patient and use positive reinforcement methods, Pugs can be easily trained to follow complex commands and tricks.
2. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a well-loved pet amongst owners. They are affectionate, highly trainable, and incredibly smart, according to PetMD. Of course, this smartness comes up in different ways that humans usually don’t expect.
Emotional Intelligence
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is very attuned to their pet parents. They easily pick up on household routines and lifestyle patterns. As loyal companion dogs, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel makes it their business to read human emotions and adapt to its environment.
Obedience/Working Intelligence
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is not like other animals. Yes, it can read emotions fast and then adjust its attitude and behavior, but since they were initially bred to be lapdogs, their working intelligence is a bit low.
Complex tasks that require problem-solving skills, like guarding and herding, are beyond them. However, when it comes to learning new tricks or new commands, you can be sure that this dog breed won’t give you too much trouble. They are eager to please, therefore quickly learning what to do and what not to do.
3. Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers, or simply Labs, are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. This is because they are super smart, loyal, and affectionate. These dogs are also known for being good with strangers, often greeting them with a wagging tail and bright smile.
Emotional Intelligence
Labrador Retrievers have high emotional intelligence. They are one of the smartest dog breeds because they are loyal and get along well with everyone they meet. Owners never have to worry if their Lab can sense what they’re feeling. They will get excited with you and share your sorrows, too.
Obedience/Working Intelligence
They are highly trainable dogs. Due to their eager-to-please attitude, they will quickly pick up various commands and tricks. They are happy when their humans are happy. They can learn a new command in under 5 repetitions. They are capable of quick thinking, and their gentle nature makes them well-loved by everyone.
4. Shih Tzu
Here comes the Shih Tzu, a dog that neither barks too much nor has too much energy. A perfect combination of beauty and brawn, the Shih Tzu might just be the smartest dog amongst its kind.
Emotional Intelligence
Shih Tzu are very doting and caring. There’s a reason why they are considered excellent therapy dogs. They have an uncanny ability to connect with people, even better than most people.
Shih Tzus are like your best friend, always ready to hang out and spend time together. Shih Tzus are very calm and loving. They are the best remedies for depression and anxiety because they never let you feel lonely.
Obedience/Working Intelligence
Shih Tzus are very obedient dogs. Since they were originally bred for being lapdogs for Chinese Loyalty, they are not your average dog. This dog breed is a symbol of status, and it displays this in its stubbornness.
Although they can be easy to train, especially if one uses positive reinforcement methods, Shih Tzus have their own way of doing things. Training them takes patience and firm handling. But be careful not to be too strict. These dogs are very sensitive and react badly to harsh reprimands.
They are skilled at problem-solving, quickly using this trait to make their lives easier. Since they live to please, they will do as they are asked. They also have excellent memory and recall abilities. They will learn a new trick in fewer repetitions than most dogs.
5. Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are small, compact dogs, weighing not more than 25 pounds. They are well-known for their affectionate demeanor. WebMD notes that a Boston Terrier is a non-sporting breed that is loving to family, other dogs, and children.
Even strangers are in love with Boston Terriers because they respond to them! This dog is everyone’s best friend and can also be your study partner.
Emotional Intelligence
For a dog breed that is known for its stubborn Terrier genes, the Boston Terrier is an excellent therapy dog. They will listen to you as you spill the tea, and the best thing is that they’ll never tell anyone your secrets.
This breed develops strong bonds with its people and can develop separation anxiety if left alone for too long. So, don’t worry about them not understanding you. Boston Terriers have a gentle nature and will gladly lounge on the couch with you.
Working/Obedience Intelligence
The Boston Terrier is good at dog sports, i.e., agility and flyball. You can also find them learning a new command or tricks with fewer repetitions. An intelligent dog breed, the Boston Terrier is highly cooperative and kind.
They were originally bred for dog fighting and vermin control. Because of this, they have a high working intelligence. However, nowadays this breed is used for companionship rather than anything else.
6. Poodle
The Poodle is not just a fashionista. This toy breed has brains! The Poodle, no matter what size they come in, is incredibly intelligent. It has a good head on its shoulders, not to mention a hilarious sense of humor. Poodles are energetic dog breeds that excel at obedience competitions and agility races.
Emotional Intelligence
The Poodle doesn’t just have a high IQ. It is also very emotionally intelligent. They are sensitive, adjusting to the moods of their owners. They know when to play and when to sit still and lounge on their owner’s laps.
Poodles can sense stress or sadness and immediately adapt. It is because of their sensitivity and empathy that they can form strong bonds with their pet parents.
Obedience/Working Intelligence
Alongside brains and fashion sense, this dog has quite an athletic body for someone of its size. Poodles are graceful dogs, moving with agility and charm. They are known to be good at fetching things like a frisbee, a rubber ball, or whatever toy you throw at them.
As mentioned before, Poodles are highly trainable, making it easy for them to win obedience competitions. They are also vigilant, becoming excellent guard dogs. They are also hypoallergenic and get along with everyone. Perhaps this is why they are considered the smartest dog breed.
7. French Bulldog
French Bulldogs, or “Frenchies,” are fun-loving dogs that are often used as service dogs and make loving family pets. Although they are not the smartest dog breed in the batch, they hold their place. They are socially aware, instinctively responsive, and possess high intelligence.
Emotional Intelligence
Due to their small size, this popular dog breed prefers to stay indoors. At home, it is everyone’s best friend: adults, strangers, and children. They are also very gentle; therefore, you can leave your kids with them for long periods.
French Bulldogs are sensitive to their company. Due to their protective instincts, calm nature, and love for their humans, they make excellent watchdogs as well. Unlike most breeds, they lead a dual life. They are both affectionate and aloof, switching up at random moments.
Obedience/Working Intelligence
Training is easy for Frenchies as long as you make it fun. Although they have high intelligence and can be trained easily, it is also important to remember that they are free thinkers. Therefore, don’t go signing up for any obedience or agility competitions just yet.
Like most breeds, the French Bulldog does very well with basic commands like “come”, “sit”, “heel”, etc.
Conclusion
When someone uses the word canine intelligence, it means whether or not the dog is capable of problem-solving skills, how well it understands the emotions and adjusts itself to the household routine, and finally, how quickly it picks up new commands.
A dog’s cognitive abilities are very different from a human’s cognitive abilities. Popular dogs such as Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Shetland Sheepdogs, Border Collies, and Doberman Pinschers are all considered to be part of the most intelligent dog breed club.
Normally, search and rescue dogs, service and therapy dogs, herding breeds, guide dogs, or hunting dogs are incredibly intelligent. These clever dogs have a high intelligence and training level because of the work they were originally bred for.
However, they also require lots of mental stimulation and physical exercise to keep themselves busy. Getting bored or having too much energy at the end of the day is destructive for them and for their owners as well. Therefore, ensure that these “smartest dogs” are properly stimulated.
