The Intellegence of Dogs by Breeds

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I thought everyone would get a kick out of this scale. Although our beloved Doodles are not listed because this is Breed Specific, we all KNOW where Doodles rank, Genius Catagory!!

The Intelligence of Dogs


According to S. Coren, author of "The Intelligence of Dogs", there are three types of dog intelligence:
Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability). This is specific to the individual animal and is measured by canine IQ tests.
Instinctive Intelligence. This is specific to the individual animal and is measured by canine IQ tests.
Working/Obedience Intelligence. This is breed dependent.

Stanley Coren is a neuropsychologist and professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Coren has published articles in medical journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Public Health and Sleep. He has appeared on numerous television programs including Good Morning America, CNN, The Osgood Files and The Today Show. Dr. Coren is a fellow of the American Psychology Association, American Psychology Society and Canadian Psychology Association. He was recently awarded the Killam Memorial Fellowship.


1-10 Brightest Dogs
Understanding of New Commands: Less than 5 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 95% of the time or better.

1 Border Collie
2 Poodle
3 German Shepherd
4 Golden Retriever
5 Doberman Pinscher
6 Shetland Sheepdog
7 Labrador Retriever
8 Papillon
9 Rottweiler
10 Australian Cattle Dog


11-26 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 Tervuren
15 Schipperke/Belgian Sheepdog
16 Collie/Keeshond
17 German Shorthaired Pointer
18 Flat-Coated Retriever/English Cocker Spaniel/Standard Schnauzer
19 Brittany
20 Cocker Spaniel
21 Weimaraner
22 Belgian Malinois/Bernese Mountain Dog
23 Pomeranian
24 Irish Water Spaniel
25 Vizsla
26 Cardigan Welsh Corgi


27 to 39 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 TerrierBriard
31 Welsh Springer Spaniel
32 Manchester Terrier
33 Samoyed
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 Affenpincher/Silky Terrier/Miniature Pinscher
English Setter/Pharaoh Hound/Clumber Spaniel
38 Norwich Terrier
39 Dalmatian






40-54 Average Working/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
Smooth Fox Terrier
41 Curly-Coated Retriever/Irish Wolfhound
42 Kuvasz/Australian Shepherd
43 Saluki/Finnish Spitz/Pointer
44 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
German Wirehaired Pointer/Black & Tan Coonhound
American Water Spaniel
45 Siberian Husky/Bichon Frise/English Toy 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/Stafforshire 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

55-69 Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence
Understanding of New Commands: 40 to 80 repetitions.
Obey First Command: 30% of the time or better.

56 Norfolk Terrier/Sealyham Terrier
57 Pug
58 French Bulldog
59 Brussels Griffon/Maltese
60 Italian Greyhound
61 Chinese Crested
62 Dandie Dinmont Terrier/Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Tibetan Terrier/Japanese Chin/Lakeland Terrier
63 Old English Sheepdog
64 Great Pyrenees
65 Scottish Terrier/Saint Bernard
66 Bull Terrier
67 Chihuahua
68 Lhasa Apso
69 Bullmastiff


70-79 Lowest Degree of Working/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
73 Pekingese
74 Bloodhound
75 Borzoi
76 Chow Chow
77 Bulldog
78 Basenji
79 Afghan Hound

[April Cliber]

I keep our poodle in a puppy cut. When people come over they always say, "That's a poodle?!" He's so cute! Poodles are wonderful, fun, regal, intelligent dogs! I think their hair cut can leave a bad impression. I know it has a purpose, but as a family pet, I just don't think it's necessary. :o)

[Cam & Oski]

I see that beagles are nowhere on the list, LOL! That explains why our beagle growing up was the scourge of the house, almost untrainable, constantly digging her way out of the yard & then getting lost. Our neighbors all had our number memorized so they could tell us that they'd found our dog, AGAIN!

Jane: I think you're totally right about the willingness to please aspect making them "better learners." Oski's one of the smartest dogs I've met but the reason he was potty trained within the first week of coming home at 8 wks old was mainly because he wants to please us & is smart enough that if we're able to give him a clear sense of what we want, he just does it. Of course, that doesn't mean that he's a saint either. Like when he went through his puppy teething stage & was trying to gnaw on everything including a redwood sapling that we'd raised from the width of a pencil lead. We spayed it with bitter apple which didn't do anything. Why? Because he was smart enough to figure out that since he already had this terrible taste in his mouth, he might as well keep on chewing! Brat! I arbitrarily blame that on his poodle half because you have to be smart to be mischevious, right? LOL