It is the Afghan hound, an exotic breed originating in Afghanistan and considered one of the oldest in the world. This is what points out a ranking prepared by the psychologist specializing in dogs Stanley Coren, author of the book The Intelligence of Dogs. Canadian Coren conducted a comprehensive study of 133 breeds. He evaluated those with the highest and lowest levels of intelligence focused on obeying new commands and learning work-related tasks. The study concluded that, during training, dogs such as the Afghan hound and the bulldog did not seem to pay much attention to the handler, having difficulty understanding less complex orders. But it’s worth a warning: not all breeders agree with the results of this research – after all, it’s not possible to say that the lack of willingness to follow orders is synonymous with «dumbness». Furthermore, Coren’s study did not take into account the instinctual intelligence of each animal.
1. Afghan hound
Owner of a long coat and a very sharp muzzle, the Afghan hound has an independent spirit. He is not given to submissive or devoted attitudes. Therefore, he is a hard working dog to be trained, which is why he appears at the top of the smartest list.
2. Basenji
This hunting dog, originally from East Africa, is a mischievous, stubborn animal with great difficulty accepting orders, especially from strangers. Considered by many to be a dog with a “feline” personality, he rarely barks and is a lot of work to be tamed.
3. Bulldog
Known for its attachment to children, the bulldog is considered one of the least intelligent dogs because of its enormous laziness and love of idleness. As he is not at all submissive, he is a tough match for trainers, who achieve little success in training.
4. Chow chow
The thick coat and blue tongue are the hallmarks of the chow chow, which in some Asian countries is considered a fine delicacy… They are not necessarily “dumb” animals, but reserved, independent and not very active. In other words, they just do what they want.
5. Borzoi
With an aristocratic appearance, the borzoi was highly appreciated during the Middle Ages by Russian nobles because of its qualities as a running dog and in hunting wolves. It is a dog with a reserved nature and little used to receiving orders, which makes the task of taming it difficult.