In 1994, a large intelligence study was conducted among 131 dog breeds. The psychologist Stanley Coren further expanded his work in 2006.
The result? The Border Collie is the most intelligent dog in the world among all breeds. The poodle takes second place and the German Shepherd dog takes third place. [1]
An average dog is said to understand around 160 words – some even up to 250. You can find a table below. Here you will learn about the 31 smartest dog breeds in the world.
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#31 Welsh Corgi Cardigan
The Welsh Corgi Cardigan is a short-legged dog with an active, alert nature. The four-legged friend is one of the smallest of 56 German Shepherd species. [2]
The small dog is very versatile. He is well suited as both a guard and a family dog. The animal is considered one of the most intelligent dogs.
The four-legged friend gets along well with children. However, he only gets along with other pets to a limited extent. The Corgi can also be very protective.
Fun fact: This breed was originally not used to herd animals, but rather to drive wild animals away from its owners' property.
#30 Vizsla
The Vizsla is a friendly, energetic dog from Hungary. The four-legged friend is easy to train, an excellent hunting dog and very versatile. [3]
The four-legged friend sheds little and is ideal for keeping as a family dog for active families. The animal is also one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world.
Vizslas come in two different varieties: with a short coat or a wire-haired variety with longer hair and a beard. The dog's coat color is always red-brown.
Fun fact: The eyes of these four-legged friends could also be called “chameleon eyes” because after birth they have blue eyes, which then turn orange-brown during puberty.
#29 Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel is a playful, curious four-legged friend. Among the 23 species of spaniels, this dog is the largest. He was bred for hunting. He barks a lot and hardly sheds anything. [4]
These four-legged friends are also suitable as family dogs. They get along well with children and other pets, are excellent swimmers and make great companions.
They are considered one of the smartest dogs among dog breeds. They learn quickly and can be trained very well. However, they need a lot of exercise and exercise.
Fun fact: This four-legged friend has a rat tail, which is very thin, long and hairless. That is why it is also known as “Rat Tail”.
#28 Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a small four-legged friend with no hunting instinct. It makes an ideal family or guard dog. With a body weight of 2 kg, it is one of the smallest Spitz species. [5]
The four-legged friend is one of the most intelligent dog breeds. He is easy to train and is very popular around the world as a lap dog. He is suitable for apartments, but barks a lot.
Pomeranians don't like to stay alone. They need a moderate amount of exercise and shed quite a bit. They can sometimes be intolerant towards small children.
Fun fact: The lips of many Spitz are arched quite far upwards at the back. It often looks as if the animals are smiling.
#27 Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a Swiss four-legged friend with a calm, good-natured nature. The large four-legged friend weighs up to 50 kg and is one of the most popular dogs. [6]
The animal is also one of the most intelligent dogs in the world. The Bernese Mountain Dog loves to dig and gnaw. He tends to bark, especially when he is alone.
The four-legged friend is easy to train and gets along well with strange dogs. He is an excellent family or guard dog. He shows himself to be loyal and loyal.
Fun fact: This breed sheds so much twice a year that you can stuff an entire mattress with it.
#26 Malinois
The Malinois is a German Shepherd breed from Belgium. He was bred as a working animal and is very suitable as a guard or family dog. In general, it can be used in a variety of ways. [7]
The four-legged friend is very trainable and is considered one of the smartest dog breeds in the world. The nature of the Malinois is alert, self-confident, active and sometimes stubborn.
As a family dog, the four-legged friends are loyal. They get along well with children. However, strangers are rather skeptical. Their hunting instinct is medium strong.
Fun fact: The Malinois is also very popular with the police and military. It is also used there for air missions.
#25 Weimaraner
The Weimaraner comes from Germany. It was bred as a hunting dog and was initially only allowed to be kept by the nobility. At that time there were only a maximum of 1500 registered animals. [8]
Today the beautiful dog with long ears is very popular worldwide. The four-legged friend lives up to 14 years and can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h. He is very active and energetic.
This intelligent dog is not suitable for couch potatoes. The four-legged friend has a strong hunting instinct and has difficulty staying alone. He sheds a lot and is easy to train.
Fun fact: These dogs have dark gray tiger stripes at birth. However, after a few days these stripes disappear again.
#24 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a patient, sociable four-legged friend. It comes from Canada and is the smallest of 6 retriever species. [9]
The four-legged friend was bred for hunting. His hunting instinct is very strong and he is easy to train overall. It is also one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world.
This retriever is very suitable as a family dog. He gets along very well with children and dogs. He also enjoys extensive exercise and loves digging and gnawing.
Fun fact: The barking of these dogs sounds neither “woof-woof” nor “woof-woof”. Rather, their barking sounds like screaming.
#23 American Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel is considered one of the smartest dogs in the world. He is very easy to train and is very popular as a family dog. The four-legged friend is open and happy.
Since this Cocker Spaniel was originally bred as a hunting dog, it has a particularly fine nose and a very strong hunting instinct. He also likes to bark. [10]
The four-legged friend has long fur and sheds a moderate amount. However, it is considered to require high maintenance. Many Cocker Spaniels are prone to chronic ear infections.
Fun fact: These dogs can run even on ice because their paws have small lamellas.
#22 Epagneul Breton
The Epagneul Breton is a small hunting dog breed from France. The four-legged friend is very nimble, cheerful and adaptable. He has a strong hunting instinct and sheds little.
The four-legged friend comes from Brittany and is one of the 30 most popular dog breeds worldwide. It is persistent and is therefore particularly suitable for active people.
This intelligent dog breed gets along very well with children. This human-oriented four-legged friend is open-minded and friendly even towards strangers. [11]
Fun fact: For these four-legged friends, age is secondary. Even 15-year-old dogs of this breed often behave like rambunctious puppies.
#21 Schnauzer
The Schnauzer is a strong, stubborn four-legged friend from Germany. The large dog is also known as the “Munich Schnauzer”. He has a strong hunting instinct and barks a lot.
The four-legged friend belongs to the medium-sized type of the three Schnauzer species. He is known for his long beard and long eyebrows. He was bred as a workhorse. [12]
He is considered one of the most intelligent dogs in the world and can be used as a family dog. He is friendly with children and his own family, but is skeptical with strangers.
Fun fact: 90% of people who see a schnauzer for the first time think it must be a male dog. None. The females of this breed also have a long beard on their faces.
#20 English Cocker Spaniel
The English Cocker Spaniel is a breed of dog from England. The four-legged friend was bred for hunting, but is now primarily kept as a family dog. [13]
The four-legged friend is easy to train and is one of the smartest dog breeds in the world. His personality is friendly, energetic and happy. He is very trusting and loves children.
This spaniel gets along well with strangers or other dogs. He sheds a moderate amount, needs a lot of exercise and tends to be overweight. He reacts sensitively to criticism.
Fun fact: The English Cocker Spaniel is so trainable that it can easily be trained to bring various things out of your home.
#19 Flat Coated Retriever
The Flat Coated Retriever was bred for hunting. The English dog breed feels very comfortable on both land and water. The animals are excellent swimmers.
Today the four-legged friend is primarily used as a family dog. He is also rarely used as a drug detection dog. This dog is considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds.
This type has the longest fur among the retrievers. The four-legged friend sheds a moderate amount and needs a lot of exercise. This sociable, outgoing dog cannot tolerate loneliness.
Fun fact: Colloquially, these furry friends are often referred to as “Peter Pan dogs”. Because they need a full 5 years to grow up. For comparison: Other breeds, however, mature in just a few months. [14]
#18 German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a bred hunting dog with an extremely good nose. This also makes it very popular as a police dog breed. The four-legged friend is cooperative, courageous and loud.
He has a very strong hunting instinct, needs a lot of exercise and can be used individually. These dogs are also suitable as guard or family dogs. [15]
Four-legged friends are among the most intelligent dogs in the world. They are highly trainable and are very good swimmers. The animals are often skeptical towards children.
Fun fact: Not for the lazy! This breed wants to race every day! The four-legged friend is one of the most active and energetic dog breeds in the world.
#17 Wolfspitz
The Wolfsspitz is a dog breed from Germany. The playful four-legged friend has almost no hunting instinct and is considered a quick learner and one of the smartest dogs. [16]
At up to 30 kg, the four-legged friend is the largest of the five Spitz species from Germany. The animal makes an excellent family dog with an extroverted, obedient nature.
The four-legged friends enjoy the attention and can sometimes be very stubborn if they are untrained. The friendly four-legged friends are not suitable as guard dogs.
Fun fact: Woody the Woodpecker alert! When these dogs are left alone, they like to pass their loneliness by gnawing on your furniture.
#16 Long-haired collie
The long-haired collie comes from Scotland. The…