Pets sometimes behave so cleverly that people feel they can understand human language. At other times, their silly behavior makes owners question how much intelligence they really have. So do you know which dog is considered the smartest in the world? If you want to know where your own dog stands, take a look at the ranking below.
Smart Pet Dog Breeds
When talking about intelligent pet dogs, the Border Collie must come first. Originating from the Scottish border region, it was bred as a herding dog and has very high intelligence. It is naturally bright, observant, able to read human expressions, notice changes in the owners mood, and carry out commands accurately and completely.
The Poodle comes next. It ranks just behind the Border Collie in intelligence. Poodles have a cute appearance and many grooming styles, but beyond that they are clever, highly trainable, loyal, and obedient to their owners.
The German Shepherd is also very intelligent and brave, with rich emotional capacity. For a long time this breed has been chosen as an excellent military or police dog because of its keen senses and high alertness, and it is widely used in military and law enforcement work.
Dog Intelligence Ranking
Some dogs have truly high intelligence. They can understand commands from their owners and even read human emotions, which is one reason why smart dogs are so popular. The breed ranked number one is the Border Collie, followed by the Poodle, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Doberman, Shetland Sheepdog, Labrador Retriever, Papillon, Rottweiler, and Australian Cattle Dog.
Some rankings surprise people. For example, the Siberian Husky is often placed around number 74. Even though it is not considered highly obedient in intelligence tests, its quirky and dramatic personality still makes it beloved by many owners.