We've all heard about the varying degrees of canine intelligence, but it's true that some breeds are more naturally gifted than others. Stanley Coren's dog intelligence ranking demonstrates this.
Stanley Coren is a psychology professor and neuropsychological researcher highly acclaimed for his research and understanding of canine behaviour and the human-canine bond.
In 1994, Professor Coren published his book The Intelligence of Dogs, which became his most famous piece of research. Republished in 2006, the book ranks over 100 different dog breeds according to their intelligence.
It's important to remember that, just like all children, every dog is unique and intelligence will vary from animal to animal. However, Professor Coren's research determined that the obedience intelligence in dogs, that is the ability with which they can be trained, does indeed vary.
This variance tends to align with the types of dogs breeders set out to create. For example, working, herding, guarding, hunting, and sporting dogs all require different levels of intelligence and training.
According to Professor Coren, 51% of a dog's intelligence stems from its genes while 49% is based on environmental circumstances.
Included in the 2006 republication of The Intelligence of Dogs are three types of canine intelligence: instinctive, adaptive, and working and obedience. Together, they evaluate the animal's problem solving capabilities, obedience, memory, social training and powers of observation.
The latter of the three categories, namely working and obedience intelligence, was, and is still today, the most widely discussed when considering canine intelligence. After all, it relates to a dog's ability to learn from humans, therefore would naturally be used by us as a point of reference.
Below you will find Professor Coren's dog intelligence ranking from the republished edition of his work in which 131 breeds are ranked.
Stanley Coren's dog intelligence ranking
Understanding of New Commands: Less than 5 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 95% of the time or better.
1. Border Collie
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
10. Australian Cattle Dog
Excellent working dogs
Understanding of New Commands: 5 to 15 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 85% of the time or better.
11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
12. Miniature Schnauzer
13. English Springer Spaniel
14. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren)
15. Schipperke, Belgian Sheepdog
16. Collie, Keeshond
17. German Shorthaired Pointer
18. Flat-Coated Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, Standard Schnauzer
20. Cocker Spaniel
22. Belgian Malinois, Bernese Mountain Dog
24. Irish Water Spaniel
26. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Above average working dogs
Understanding of New Commands: 15 to 25 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 70% of the time or better.
27. Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Puli, Yorkshire Terrier
28. Giant Schnauzer
29. Airedale Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres
30. Border Terrier, Briard
31. Welsh Springer Spaniel
32. Manchester Terrier
34. Field Spaniel, Newfoundland, Australian Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Gordon Setter, Bearded Collie
35. Cairn Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Irish Setter
36. Norwegian Elkhound
37. Affenpinscher, Australian Silky Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, English Setter, Pharaoh Hound, Clumber Spaniel
38. Norwich Terrier
Average working and obedience intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 25 to 40 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 50% of the time or better.
40. Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Fox Terrier (Smooth)
41. Curly Coated Retriever, Irish Wolfhound
42. Kuvasz, Australian Shepherd
43. Saluki, Finnish Spitz, Pointer
44. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, German Wirehaired Pointer, Black and Tan Coonhound, American Water Spaniel
45. Siberian Husky, Bichon Frise, King Charles Spaniel
46. Tibetan Spaniel, English Foxhound, Otterhound, American Foxhound, Greyhound, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
47. West Highland White Terrier, Scottish Deerhound
48. Boxer, Great Dane
49. Dachshund, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
50. Alaskan Malamute
51. Whippet, Chinese Shar Pei, Wire Fox Terrier
52. Rhodesian Ridgeback
53. Ibizan Hound, Welsh Terrier, Irish Terrier
54. Boston Terrier, Akita
Fair working and obedience intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 40 to 80 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 30% of the time or better.
55. Skye Terrier
56. Norfolk Terrier, Sealyham Terrier
58. French Bulldog
59. Griffon Bruxellois, Maltese
60. Italian Greyhound
61. Chinese Crested
62. Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, Tibetan Terrier, Japanese Chin, Lakeland Terrier
63. Old English Sheepdog
64. Great Pyrenees
65. Scottish Terrier, Saint Bernard
66. Bull Terrier
68. Lhasa Apso
Lowest degree of working and obedience intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 80 to 100 repetitions or more.
Obey First Command: 25% of the time or worse.
70. Shih Tzu
71. Basset Hound
72. Mastiff, Beagle
76. Chow Chow
79. Afghan Hound
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Source: The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren
How does your dog stack up?