Dogs

The Intelligence of Dogs

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The Intelligence of Dogs is a book by Stanley Coren.

Methodology

The author used "understanding of new commands" and "obey first command" as his standards of intelligence. He surveyed dog trainers and compiled this list of dog intelligence.

1-10 Brightest Dogs
11-26 Excellent Working Dogs
27-39 Above Average Working Dogs
40-54 Average Working/Obedience Intelligence
55-69 Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence
70-79 Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence

Criticism

Intelligence is a complex subject. A breed of dog that does not learn very quickly may have other talents.

It is important to remember that intelligence should not be judged only by the willingness to follow obedience commands. The willingness or ability to be obedience trained may reflect a desire to please or a dependence upon humans, as well as intelligence. Many long time livestock guardian breed owners believe that working breeds such as the Great Pyrenees or the Kuvasz are not easily trained because they do not see the point of such commands as “sit” or “down”. Hounds may also suffer from this type of ranking; several rank in the bottom tier of this list (such as Beagles, Bloodhounds, and Basset Hounds). These dogs are bred to have more of a "pack" mentality with other dogs and less reliance on a master's direct commands. While they truly may not have the same kind of intelligence as a Border Collie, they were not bred to learn and obey commands quickly, but to think for themselves while trailing game.

Ranking of dogs by breed

Brightest Dogs

Border Collie
Poodle
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Doberman Pinscher
Shetland Sheepdog
Labrador Retriever
Papillon
Rottweiler
Australian Cattle Dog
Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)

Excellent Working Dogs

Above Average Working Dogs

Average Working/Obedience Intelligence

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Bedlington Terrier
Fox Terrier (Smooth)
Curly Coated Retriever
Irish Wolfhound
Kuvasz
Australian Shepherd
Saluki
Finnish Spitz
Pointer
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
German Wirehaired Pointer
Black and Tan Coonhound
American Water Spaniel
Siberian Husky
Bichon Frise
English Toy Spaniel
Tibetan Spaniel
English Foxhound
Otterhound
American Foxhound
Greyhound
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
West Highland White Terrier
Scottish Deerhound
Boxer
Great Dane
Dachshund
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Alaskan Malamute
Whippet
Chinese Shar Pei
Fox Terrier (Wire)
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Ibizan Hound
Welsh Terrier
Irish Terrier
Boston Terrier
Akita Inu

Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence

Skye Terrier
Norfolk Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Pug
French Bulldog
Brussels Griffon
Maltese
Italian Greyhound
Chinese Crested Dog
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Tibetan Terrier
Japanese Chin
Lakeland Terrier
Old English Sheepdog
Great Pyrenees
Scottish Terrier
Saint Bernard
Bull Terrier
Chihuahua
Lhasa Apso
Bullmastiff

Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence

See also

External links

The Intelligence of Dogs

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