Top 31 most intelligent dog breeds in the world

These intelligent dog breeds can learn and respond to commands easily, and they’re typically considered as one of the best dog breeds for families with children because they’re so easy to train.

Dogs are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. They are ranked as the second smartest domesticated animal in the world, with only cats being ranked higher.

The intelligence of a dog is roughly as sophisticated as a 2.5-year-old baby’s. Dogs can learn new tricks by watching other dogs or people, they can remember things that happened to them in the past, and they can solve problems on their own.

Dogs are among the few species that understand pointing – when you point at something, your dog will look in that direction – and they are also among the few species that understand what an object is for.

Intelligence is not a single trait but a complex set of abilities that are measured on different scales. There are a number of ways to measure intelligence in dogs. The most common is by using an IQ test that measures their ability to learn new commands, obey first commands and understand new commands. Other measures include obedience training and herding skills.

Raising a smart dog can be quite difficult. It is important to note that there are many different factors that can affect the intelligence of a dog. For example, the breed of the dog can have an impact on its intelligence level, as well as its environment and upbringing.

It is also important to note that a dog’s intelligence does not always correlate with obedience. Dogs with high IQs may not always obey commands from their owners, and vice versa.

Creativity is the key to keeping your dog’s mind stimulated. There are many ways to do this, but here are some creative ways to stimulate your dog’s mind so they don’t get bored and misbehave.

  • Take them on a walk in a different place
  • Play with them with a toy they have never seen before
  • Give them their favorite treat inside of an old shoe
  • Hide their favorite toy in the grass
  • Play hide and seek with them
  • Training your dog in obedience
  • Teaching your dog new commands
  • Training your dog in herding or working

Top 31 intelligent dog breeds

1) Border collie

Border collies are intelligent and smart animals. They have an IQ of about 160. They are also obedient animals and can be trained to do many tasks, like herding sheep or understanding new commands.

Border collies are one of the smartest domesticated animals in the world. Border collies can also be trained to do many different tasks, such as herding sheep or understanding new commands from their owners.

Border collie
Border collie

2) Poodle

The poodle is a highly intelligent breed of dog that has a reputation for being easy to train. Poodles are also known for their herding ability, as well as their intelligence and high level of obedience.

In the past, the poodle was employed by hunters to retrieve waterfowl and other game from lakes and ponds. Today, this breed is often used as a guide dog or therapy dog because it can be trained easily. The poodle is also used in various types of performance events such as agility competitions and obedience trials.

Poodle
Poodle

3) German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a dog that is intelligent and smart. They are obedient and trainable. The German Shepherd has a high IQ, ranked 3th in the list of smartest dogs. They are very good at herding and working. They have an understanding of new commands, obey first command.

German Shepherd
German Shepherd

4) Golden retriever

Golden retrievers are very popular in America, as they are intelligent and obedient dogs that can be trained to do a variety of tasks. They rank at number six on the list of most popular breeds in America, with over 40% of households owning one. 

Golden retrievers have an average IQ of 130, which is higher than the average dog’s IQ. These retriever dogs were originally bred to herd sheep, but now they’re primarily used for companionship and show purposes.

Golden retriever
Golden retriever

5) Doberman Pinscher

Dobermans are intelligent dogs. They are smart and rank in obedience, trainability, and herding. They have a high understanding of new commands and obey the first command. The Doberman Pinscher has an IQ of between 130-160.

Dobermans are ranked number one for obedience and trainability, making them the perfect family dog.

Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinscher

6) Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog is an intelligent breed that is easy to train. They are ranked as the 6th smartest dog in the world, with an IQ of 138, which makes them a very obedient dog.

The Shetland Sheepdog was originally bred to herd and watch over sheep on farms in Scotland and England. Today, they are still used for this purpose but also as family pets, working dogs on farms, or therapy dogs in nursing homes or hospitals.

Shetland Sheepdog
Shetland Sheepdog

7) Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers are intelligent and smart dogs. They rank at the top of the intelligence list in dog breeds. They are obedient, trainable and herding dogs. 

Labradors have a high understanding of new commands and obey the first command. However, they do not generally obey commands when told to do so more than once. 

Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever

8) Papillon

Papillon dogs are ranked as one of the smartest dog breeds in the world. They have a high IQ score and can comprehend new commands, which makes them obedient and herding.

Papillon
Papillon

9) Rottweiler

Rottweilers are one of the most intelligent breeds in the world. They have a high rank in obedience and herding, which means they are very good at understanding new commands.

Some of their talents include:

– Rottweilers are great guard dogs that can be trained to obey first command.

– They are also good at herding and can be used as police or search and rescue dogs.

– Rottweilers are very intelligent and rank number 9 on the list of smartest dog breeds.

– They have a high IQ of 110, which is higher than most breeds on the list.

Rottweiler
Rottweiler

10) Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog is a herding breed and was originally bred to herd cattle. They are also known as “Blue Heelers” because they were often used by police officers in Australia.

These dogs are very obedient and trainable, but they will only obey a command if it’s their first command. They have an intelligence quotient (IQ) that ranges from 120-140, which makes them one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world.

Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Cattle Dog

11) Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are intelligent and trainable dogs. They rank among the top 11 most intelligent dog breeds in the world.

PWCs have a high IQ and they can learn new commands quickly. They are also obedient and will obey first command, but they need to be trained with consistency to make sure that they don’t forget what you’ve taught them before.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgi

12) Miniature Schnauzer

The miniature schnauzer is a dog breed that was originally bred to be a herding dog. They were also used as hunting dogs and farm dogs. Today, they are mainly kept as family pets because they have been known to be intelligent and obedient animals.

The miniature schnauzer has a high IQ which makes them easy to train. They can learn new commands after just one time being told what they should do, which is much faster than other breeds of dogs who need to be told at least three times before they obey the command.

Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzer

13) English Springer Spaniel

The English Springer Spaniel is a loyal and obedient dog who is eager to please its owner. The breed is intelligent and smart, which makes it easy to train. The English Springer Spaniel can be trained for obedience, herding, and working.

The breed has an understanding of new commands and will obey the first command given by their owner. They are ranked number 13 in intelligence out of 155 breeds according to the American Kennel Club’s intelligence ranking system.

English Springer Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel

14) Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren)

The Belgian Shepherd Dog is a smart, obedient, and hardworking dog that makes an excellent addition to any family.

They are ranked second in the world for obedience and are one of the easiest breeds to train. They are also very intelligent and can be taught new commands easily.

Belgian Shepherds have an intense work drive and need plenty of exercise to avoid becoming bored or destructive. These dogs make excellent family pets because they are devoted to their owners and make good companions for children.

Belgian Shepherd Dog
Belgian Shepherd Dog

15) Schipperke

Schipperkes are intelligent, smart and rank obedient dogs. They need to be trained from a young age and will obey the first command given. They are herding dogs that have a working understanding of new commands. Their IQ is about one hundred and fifty which is about average for a dog breed.

Schipperke
Schipperke

16) Belgian Sheepdog

Belgian sheepdogs have a very high intelligence rank, and are one of the smartest breeds. They are very obedient, and trainable. They are also herding dogs, so they understand new commands and obey the first command.

Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Sheepdog

17) Collie

Collies are a type of herding dog. They are intelligent and can be trained to do many different tasks.

Collies have an average IQ of 120, which is one of the highest for dogs. They also have high obedience rates and rank as one of the most obedient breeds. Collies are known for their herding skills and can be trained to herd sheep, cattle, or ducks.

Collie
Collie

18) Keeshond

The Keeshond is a medium-sized dog breed from the Nordic countries.

Keeshonden are intelligent dogs that can be easily trained. They are known for their herding skills, which makes them popular as working dogs. They have a high rank in obedience and are easy to train because they want to please their owners. Keeshonds also have a high understanding of new commands, obeying first command and they have an IQ of 125.

Keeshond
Keeshond

19) German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointers are one of the most intelligent breeds of dogs in the world. They are very smart and obedient dogs, and they can learn new commands with ease. They also have a high understanding of new commands and obey the first command. Their IQ is about 125-130, which means they are one of the smartest breeds around!

German Shorthaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointer

20) Flat-Coated Retriever

The Flat-Coated Retriever is a breed of dog that was bred to hunt waterfowl. They are intelligent and obedient dogs that are excellent at retrieving games. They are also one of the breeds used by the United States Army for search and rescue missions.

In order to train Flat-Coated Retrievers, new commands must be introduced gradually so that they can adjust to the changes in their environment. The dogs also need to be trained with patience as they can sometimes take a while before they obey a command.

Flat-Coated Retriever
Flat-Coated Retriever

21) English Cocker Spaniel

The English Cocker Spaniel is a popular breed of dog that has been used in many different roles. These include hunting, herding, and as a sporting dog. They are intelligent and obedient dogs that are easy to train.

The English Cocker Spaniel is ranked as the 21th smartest breed of dog in the world with an IQ level of 116. This breed ranks high in obedience and is easy to train due to their intelligence level.

English Cocker Spaniel
English Cocker Spaniel

22) Standard Schnauzer

Standard Schnauzers are intelligent and smart dogs that have rank obedience. They are herding dogs that were originally bred to work.

They have a rank obedience and were originally bred to work. These working dogs can be trained to understand new commands after their first command is obeyed.

Standard Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer

23) Brittany

Brittany is an intelligent dog who can carry out commands. She has a high IQ and she understands new commands very quickly. Brittany obeys the first command that she hears and she can herd sheep like a pro!

Brittany dog
Brittany dog

24) Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel is a breed of hunting dog that originated in England. They are known for their long, soft, wavy coat and friendly disposition.

Cocker Spaniels are intelligent dogs and can be trained to obey commands. These dogs are good at herding and rank high in obedience. Working Cockers have an understanding of new commands and obey the first command before they’re told to do anything else. Their IQ is very high!

Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel

25) Weimaraner

Weimaraner is a very intelligent, smart and obedient dog breed. They are ranked as the 25th most intelligent dog breed in the world. They have a high rank of obedience and trainability. 

Weimaraners are also very good at herding. When they have been trained to obey the first command, they can understand new commands with ease and obey them as well.

Weimaraner
Weimaraner

26) Belgian Malinois

Belgian Malinois are very obedient dogs and rank high in obedience training. They obey commands first before they do anything else. This is due to the fact that they want to please their owners.

Belgian Malinois can be trained to do a variety of tasks such as herding sheep or any other type of livestock, search-and-rescue operations, police work, military work, and more.

Belgian Malinois
Belgian Malinois

27) Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese mountain dogs are intelligent, smart and rank in obedience. They are one of the most obedient dog breeds and have an understanding of new commands. They are also herding dogs and have been trained to obey first command. Bernese Mountain Dogs have an IQ of 130, which is considered very high for a dog breed.

Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese Mountain Dog

28) Pomeranian

Pomeranians are intelligent and have a high rank in obedience. They are usually trained to herd, but they can also be trained to do other things such as search and rescue, tracking, and detection work.

Pomeranians are very smart and they obey their first command. They also have a high IQ of 100. This makes them very obedient to new commands that their owners give them.

Pomeranian
Pomeranian

29) Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish Water Spaniel is a working dog, bred for herding livestock, but also used for hunting. They are intelligent and have a high level of obedience. They can be trained to obey first commands and to understand new commands.

The Irish Water Spaniel has an IQ of 140, which is considered the highest among all dog breeds.

Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Water Spaniel

30) Vizsla

The Vizsla is a medium-sized dog that has a short, close coat. These dogs are intelligent and quick to learn, with an excellent understanding of new commands. They can be trained to herd sheep and other livestock.

Vizsla
Vizsla

31) Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a breed of herding dog known for its herding instincts and intelligence.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi are considered to be very trainable, and they can learn new commands within a few repetitions.

A Cardigan Welsh Corgi’s obedience depends on their owner’s discipline and understanding of new commands.

Some Cardigans have worked as seeing-eye dogs, therapy dogs, police dogs, hearing-ear dogs, guide dogs for people with disabilities, search-and-rescue dogs, or detection dogs for drugs.

Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Published by

Henry Mark

Mark is Editor at dognamesbest.com covering Information about breeds, naming dogs. He's a graduate in veterinary medicine at the agricultural academy.