Intelligent Dogs: Are Some Dog Breeds More Intelligent Than Others? This question is both good and interesting. The answer, however, is far more complex and relies heavily on how we define animal intelligence.
Evaluating a dog’s intelligence can be very complex and can be measured in numerous ways, resulting in a wide variety of conclusions, even within dogs of the same breed.
Over thousands of years, humans have bred dogs to perform various functions that benefit and assist them in conducting numerous daily tasks, such as hunting, herding, and livestock guarding.
Bred to herd sheep, Border Collies surpass most other breeds when executing this task. That does not necessarily mean a Border Collie is more intelligent than, let’s say, a Jack Russel, which is not particularly good at sheep herding.
The Jack Russel has a different talent; he was bred to hunt and will outshine certain other breeds in this field of intelligence. Discussing or debating intelligence within different dog breeds can be pretty confusing, especially if we lack a clear understanding of how we define intelligence. It is imperative to understand and remember that each breed of dog has their unique talents (intelligence) suited for specific tasks.
Research conducted over many years has yielded some fascinating results. Through the domestication process, dogs have become very adept at reading human emotions. They are far better at reading human body language, especially emotions displayed by facial expressions, than humans are at reading a dog’s feelings and emotional needs. Dogs are the only non-primate animals capable of doing this, and it may be the result of the domestication process and their ability to live compatibly and harmoniously with humans.
Although all dogs possess a certain degree of intelligence in various categories, large-breed dogs have a greater capacity to perform better in intelligence tests. Their ability to remember and store information is more extensive. It is not an indicator that small-breed dogs are less capable; they use their talents in other ways. Most small-breed dogs have far better hearing, for example, which makes them more alert, especially to unusual or disturbing sounds, and thus makes them excellent watchdogs.
Intelligent dogs research
Having said all this, the answer to whether some breeds of dog are more intelligent than others is yes. Results of research and tests conducted by Dr Stanley Coren, PhD, from the University of British Columbia in 1990 and again in 2006, clearly showed that certain breeds display a higher level of intelligence than others.
He tested 120 dogs using Instinct, Adaptive Problem Solving and School Learning as the basis of his tests. The results showed that the top six breeds were :
Border Collie – They learn faster and understand more commands and words than other breeds. They also demonstrate a high capacity for problem-solving.
Poodle – They have a greater capacity for remembering and executing instructions.
German Shepherd – They are sturdily built dogs that learn and follow instructions quickly and have the capability of assessing a situation before acting.
Golden retriever – They are very affectionate dogs and learn commands quickly. They also display strict discipline when executing commands.
Doberman Pinscher – They are highly alert and relatively easy to train. They have a high protective instinct, making them an ideal breed for security work.
Shetland Sheepdog – These dogs are excellent working dogs and display a high capacity to execute complex herding commands.
Although certain breeds exhibit a higher level of intelligence, all dogs are quite capable of learning and understanding the majority of commands needed to live and coexist happily with and around human families. Even though your best friend may not be able to herd a flock of sheep into a pen, he is still very capable of reading your feelings and knowing when you need to be comforted – now that is intelligence!