Several dog breeds come in different shapes and sizes, but they each have their own set of characteristics.
Take a look at the dog breeds from smartest to least intelligent and find out which type is right for you!
To help make your decision easier here’s some information on dog intelligence.
The brightest dog breed would be poodles.
They tend to learn new things quickly and can easily solve problems on their own. On the other hand, border collies rank as one of the dumbest dog types due to their lackadaisical attitude towards learning new skills or solving problems.
This list will give you an idea of dog intelligence by dog breed.
Top 20 smartest dog breeds
1. Poodle.
These dog breeds are known for their intelligence, agility, and endurance.
They are typically found in dog shows.
2. Border collie.
Although they are not the brightest dog breeds, they are very good at obedience training and herding animals.
3. German shepherd.
They’re intelligent and trainable dog breeds with a high level of stamina, allowing them to be used as police dogs.
4. Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
This dog breed is suitable for people who don’t have much time to exercise because they’re very low energy dog breeds, but they’re very determined when they go on walks!
5. Saint Bernard.
Known as big dog breeds, these dog breeds were initially bred to help search and rescue lost travellers in the Alps.
6. Australian shepherd.
Dog breeds brought over by English dog breeders based on dog intelligence are now one of the smartest dog types. Still, this dog breed was developed in North America before being moved overseas.
7. Shetland sheepdog.
This dog breed originated from island dog breeds and was often used to herd sheep on the small islands that it developed from.
8. Papillon.
These dog breeds were initially bred as toy dog types, so they are tiny, but their intelligence is undeniable!
9. German shorthaired pointer.
These dog breeds were initially bred to track and point at animals.
10. Border terrier.
Originally from the border between Scotland and England, these dog types are very dog intelligent due to their love of problem-solving!
11. Jack Russell Terrier.
Jack Russells were originally used when fox hunting and dog shows, but they are very dog intelligent dog breeds in general.
12. Pembroke Welsh corgi.
This dog breed was initially bred to herd livestock and hunt vermin, but they’re great dog breeds for families due to their friendly nature!
13. Shetland sheepdog.
This dog breed was used to herd sheep on the Shetland Islands, so they’re called Shetland dog breeds.
14. Australian cattle.
This dog type was originally bred as a working dog, so they have very high levels of dog intelligence!
15. Doberman pinscher.
Originally from Germany, these dog intelligence dog breeds were used as protection dogs for many years.
16. Border terrier.
This dog breed has a lot of dog intelligence because it was bred to work independently at tracking and hunting prey!
17. Dachshund.
This dog type was originally bred with a dog intelligence breed to hunt badgers and other small animals underground.
18. Catahoula.
Since dog intelligence can also be found in dog personality, this dog type was bred to be incredibly dog smart due to its independence, dog friendliness and loyalty!
19. German wirehaired pointer.
This dog breed was used to dog intelligence dog breeds hunting deer and other large animals.
20. Papillon.
The papillon dog types were originally bred as toy dog breeds, but they have surprisingly high levels of dog intelligence!
Dog intelligence and what type is right for me
Dog intelligence is an important measure to consider when looking for a dog breed.
This is because not all dog breeds are the same, and their intelligence levels will vary from one to another.
Some dog breeds are highly intelligent while others aren’t as smart, but some prefer the more independent types of dogs.
But with those 20 dog intelligence and what type is right for me dog breed guide, you should be able to find your perfect fit!
Conclusion
Some dogs are smarter than others.
If you’re looking for a dog that will be easy-going and not too high maintenance, Poodles rank number one on the list of smartest dog breeds according to some rankings.
However, if you want an intelligent pet who will keep up with your active lifestyle and always have something new for you to learn together, Border Collie is probably the best pick.
You can also take this quiz from Animal Planet, which asks questions about your personality to determine what type of breed may be right for you!
