Canine IQ tests are some scientific methods that define a dog’s trainability along with its temperament. According to Dr. Stanley Coren, there are three types of dog intelligence: instinctive smartness, adaptive smartness, and obedience/working smartness.
Canines with more robust cognitive skills respond quickly to commands, and sometimes they anticipate commands before commanding.
However, this is not only thing to measure their trainability. There are some factors that contribute to a breeze training sessions, including temperament, history and the way of training your pooch.
For anyone serious about a responsible dog ownership choosing a dog, that enjoys learning can transform everyday training into rewarding bond building experience.
Fun Fact: Your process of training can be easier with a fast learner dog when you include games, rewards, and hidden treats.
Smartest Dog Breeds – Mastering Training Challenges
1. German Shepherd
German Shepherds were used to herd sheep as their name reflects, a famous job back in the past. Thus, the smartness comes from their ancestors and it has been amplifying with time. GSDs are recognized as one of the most popular dog breeds due to trainability and intelligence.
These intelligent dogs excel in obedience and protection work, and can be trained for many purposes, depending upon the need of their owners. As guard dogs, they can be your devoted family companions, who never hesitate risking their lives to save their favorite ones’.
German Shepherds are highly trainable dogs with adaptive intelligence. To have a well behaved GSD by your side, start its training at early age with positive reinforcement techniques. They can also work in fields, especially as police dogs, military dogs, and detection dogs.
2. Border Collie
Border Collie is marked as the smartest dog breed in the canine world. These medium sized dogs were originally bred for herding, and is blessed with a classic stare. With gentle temperament and uncanny abilities, these dogs are also highly energetic, and athletic, best suited to active owners.
Border Collie loves having some serious kind of job to do. After work, these affectionate dogs do not mind cuddling time with their people. Ample amount of regular exercise and mental challenges keep your Collie happy, healthy.
Being a remarkable active and intelligent dog, the Border Collie excels in many dog sports like herding agility and obedience competitions. These sharp minds enjoy learning new commands, due to their attuning with their humans, and are adept at problem solving skills.
3. Poodle (Standard)
Poodle makes its canine intelligence at 2nd number after the Border Collie. This dog was used for retrieving purposes in the past by fishermen over 400 years ago, and today these intelligent dogs are bred in three sizes (Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodle), with same sharp minds.
Curly coated Poodles are lively and easy to train dogs, which shape them as an ideal choice for first time owners. Their athleticism needs serious physical and mental stimulation, otherwise they become destructive. They excel in learning commands, especially advanced tasks, scent work and obedience.
These fun loving dogs respond best to positive training at early age, as they carry independent thinking in adulthood.
4. Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are considered friendliest dogs who adore spending time with their pet parents and remain playful and gentle towards kids. With that said, they thrive in obedience intelligence and learn quickly.
Their sharp problem-solving skills, excellent memory, and strong desire to please make them exceptionally quick learners. Whether tackling advanced obedience commands, agility courses, scent work, or complex service-dog tasks, Labradors thrive in structured training environments.
This intelligent breed should be mentally challenged, or they destroy your things. With emotional intelligence, they make great companions for people seeking therapy. Basic obedience trials are necessary for having a well mannered adult.
5. Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are celebrated for their amiable, outgoing personalities and intelligence. They were originally bred for sporting games, and currently offering their services in fields and homes with equal enthusiasm and devotion, says the AKC.
Golden Retrievers are eager to please dogs and carry exceptional cognitive ability, mimicking human children particularly toddlers. Their athletic and fun nature remains same even in the senior years. This intelligent dog breed understands gestures and body language if their family members.
Obedience intelligence can further be strengthened by introducing them in early training sessions. These water dogs have dense double coat which sheds profusely. Goldens make wonderful companions for active families, as they carve outdoor adventures, and love swimming hiking and hunting.
6. Havanese
Native to Cuba, Havanese dogs mark their name as affectionate and trainable companions in dog world. They were bred for companionship and kept by the aristocracy and royalty. So, in working department they may not thrive well, but are known as emotionally intelligent little dogs.
Havanese as a empathetic companion, excel in learning human commands, and show remarkable adaptive intelligence as well. They are considered sensitive dogs as well, due to which consistent training involving positive reinforcement methods work for them.
If you are going somewhere, make sure they should not be left alone for longer time span and be provided with puzzle toys or any other companion pet to avoid separation anxiety in them, mentioned by PetMD. Laid back households as first time dog owners, can opt Havanese without any hesitation.
7. Border Terrier
A breed standing high in instinctive intelligence, the Border Terrier is another small, smart dog that learns commands quickly. They do have exceptional observance, and enjoy training by excelling in new tasks, but with consistency and positive reinforcement.
Border Terriers should be trained off-leash in secured yards, as they do not like being caged. They need at least half an our of physical activities with their owners in order to stay happy and healthy. Mental enrichment is also vital for this smart breed.
According to Purina, they do get along beautifully with kids and other family dogs, thanks to their natural ability to adapt and love. Typically border terriers are easy going, but due to independent thinking, structured training becomes necessary for them.
8. Doberman Pinscher
Loyal and easy to train, the Doberman Pinscher tops the canine intelligence with their sharp mind. These multi purpose fast learners master tricks in no time and mostly thrive in law enforcement agencies.
Dobies are highly protective and curious dogs, and make wonderful guard dogs in family life as well. But due to boundless energy and intellect, these furry faces need ample amount of activities and are best suited to experienced owners only.
These perceptive dogs excel in dog sports such as obedience, tracking and agility. Owing to strong prey drive they do not prefer living with small animals having swift movements. To redirect undesired behaviors, and encourage good ones, early socialization and consistent training are the key.
9. Shetland Sheepdog
Back in past this smart dog breed was used for herding, and today Shetland Sheepdog still loves to herd the people it loves the most. This agile and intelligent dog outshine other dogs in competitions, reflecting its abilities of intellect and cleverness.
Shelties excel in learning new tasks ad solving complex puzzles. Apart from their love of herding, agility and obedience, they also work as therapy dogs. They make strong bonds with their families and are better suited to experienced pet parents.
Shelties are eager to please dogs which makes their training sessions easier. Early socialization is necessary to refine their guarding instincts, and barking nature. They are reserved to strangers and can be trained to watch over families.
10. Papillon
Do not be fooled by small stature and butterfly like ears. Papillons carry big personality with their sharp minds. They ae quick learners and also do not demand high maintenance, making an ideal dog for new owners.
Their playful and loving aura gets along with kids. Adaptable nature of this elegant small dog makes him fine companion for people of all ages, either living in hot or cold climates. These intelligent dogs thrive as service dogs, and therapy dogs.
Papillons’ energy levels can be satisfied through leashed walks, or running in fenced yards, and playing with puzzle toys. They are prone to separation anxiety, and develop destructive behaviors if not kept busy. Since they have strong desire to please their humans, training session become fun for both.
Conclusion
The intelligent breeds we have provided you with do not just learn commands quickly but also understand the purpose. All of this come from their sharp cognitive skills and a strong desire to work with their humans.
Pet owners should know about temperaments and mental needs of their canine friends. When properly engaged these furry friends show exceptional problem solving skills, responsiveness and obedience, shaping them for advanced obedience.
Australian Cattle Dog and Miniature Schnauzer also rank as intelligent dogs in canine world.
