Clever Boy! These are Smartest Dog Breeds in the World

We all know that dogs are incredibly good-natured and loving, offering unconditional love to their owners throughout their life in a way purer than any human could hope to master.

But because they are so amiable and eager to please, we sometimes assume dogs are a little more simple-minded than, say, their haughty feline counterparts. But actually, many dogs are pretty brainy, boasting a high level of intelligence to rival their cuteness.

Let’s take a look at 30 of the smartest dog breeds in the world.

Bernese Mountain Dog

These big fluffers look a bit like gentle giants, but don’t let their lumbering gait and oafish looks fool you. The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of the cleverest hounds out there, and they learn complex training and commands incredibly quickly.

They also have a super high emotional intelligence, forming deep bonds with their human owners, and are especially good with children.

One of the most loyal domestic dog breeds, winning over the sharp mind of a Bernese Mountain Dog means you’ll have a friend for life.

Image via Ocmey / Wikipedia

Old English Sheepdog

The squishy fluff of this adorable pup’s face is sometimes so luxurious that even their eyes disappear into the mounds of fur.

Something this cute and fluffy seems impossible to think that it could come alongside a sharp mind and high intelligence, but that’s the truth in this case.

The Old English Sheepdog is renowned for understanding commands super quickly, and being able to execute them independently once trained.

These super smart doggos are ideally suited for life on a farm or other rural environment, where they make an essential part of any hard-working farm family.

Image via Squigman, AKS.9955 / Wikipedia

Bearded Collie

While some super smart dogs’ intelligence means they are quick to understand commands and perfect for training, in other cases it can actually pose more of a challenge.

The Bearded Collie, for example, is so smart that it’s renowned as somewhat of an independent thinker, so it can sometimes be difficult to get them to concentrate and listen to their owner’s instructions.

These high energy fluffballs are super affectionate and form deep, lasting bonds with their owners. You just have to make sure you have the stamina to match them!

Image via PierreSelim McBeard Man / Wikipedia

Jack Russell Terrier

These tiny but mighty pooches are well-known for their tough and feisty attitudes, and learning to control their wild nature can be quite the challenge.

But once you have mastered training these pups, their intelligence and stamina will amaze you—retaining heaps of information and pulling off complex tasks at a moment’s notice.

Full of energy and lacking in any fear, this is a dog that needs lots of attention and exercise—both physically and mentally. If you can put the effort in, you’ll reap the rewards of this darling addition to the family.

Image via Plank / Wikipedia

Weimaraner

Just look at this pooch standing to attention! You can see in his alert face and perked up ears that he’s ready to listen and is aware of everything that’s going on around him.

And it’s no surprise—this is a Weimaraner, well known for their intelligence and independent thinking, as well as their second to none stamina and energy.

These guys can be tough to train as they simply often feel they know better than you, but once you pull it off, they’ll be your companions for life, pulling off complex hunting commands and retrieving tasks.

Image via Wikipedia

English Springer Spaniel

These adorable pups are so intelligent, that they’re basically like people—in fact you could probably say that they’re quite a bit smarter than a lot of people.

The English Springer Spaniel is so advanced that they actually know how to adapt their personality to different people and environments—in a hunting context, they’ll spring straight into action and follow commands meticulously.

But at home, they melt right into a soft, cuddly puppy, perfect for cozying up with the rest of the family.

Image via Hbo340 / Wikipedia

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Not every dog is clever and refined enough to be fit for a queen! But these lovable pups certainly are—corgis are renowned as the dog of choice for the Queen of England, and in fact her family have kept these dogs in the royal grounds for generations.

Known for their natural high levels of intellect, these super-alert pooches never miss a trick, and know everything that’ going on around them.

Though they are weeny, their high attention levels mean they’ll always be able to spot an intruder and raise the alarm—protecting their owners and their royal palaces.

Image via Pmuths1956 / Wikipedia

Irish Setter

The Irish Setter is a unique kind of dog in that its beautiful, majestic body is incredibly strong and tough, but its deep intelligence means it knows how to control its own strength.

It can be incredibly gentle, picking up a bird in its mouth and delivering it unharmed to its owner—but also packs a huge amount of strength when it wants to.

As well as an accomplished hunting dog, capable of following complex demands, it’s also an incredibly loyal family dog, super friendly and great around young children—even being used as a therapy dog in many schools.

Image via Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez / Wikipeoda

Rottweiler

People often think of a rottweiler as a bit of a brute, and there’s no denying they’re pretty strong and tough. But just because they pack a fierce punch, doesn’t mean that they don’t have a lot going on between their ears.

Rottweilers are a lot more intelligent than people give them credit for, forming lifelong bonds with their owners and being incredibly protective.

One famous rottweiler, Stinky, was inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame in 2011 for his incredible actions as service dog of the year.

Image via Phil Sangwell / Wikipedia

German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointers are so called because they point their heads and necks outward while scoping around for important information or possible prey. These majestic mutts are always on high alert and have super sharp minds, with strong attention spans and quick reactions.

They are so intelligent, that they can actually be quite difficult to train, as they have such independent minds and can easily stray into doing their own thing.

But once you’ve got the training down, they’re awesome hunters with boundless energy and precision.

Image via Metsosuon / Wikipedia

Alaskan Husky

Hailing from the treacherous cold and deep snows of the wilderness, the Alaskan Husky could only have survived with super sharp wit and an incredible ability to form strong bonds and pack mentalities.

These super tough and majestic hounds are a sight to behold, and not just because of their beauty—their obvious grace and intelligence command an immediate respect to anyone who encounters them.

Highly social animals, the Alaskan Husky has its own methods of communication and breed hierarchy—making them ideally suited to the wild, as well as the dogsledding skills they have become famous for.

Image by Monika Stawowy / Unsplash

Siberian Husky

Another husky on our list, the Siberian cousin is just as intelligent as its Alaskan counterpart, and equally advanced at developing relationships and social hierarchies within its breed. They are not quite as used to humans however, so it’s less easy for them to form meaningful bonds with their owners.

Siberian Huskies will train well and get the job done, but they won’t be snuggling at your feet at the end of the day—these independent thinkers prefer to be left to roam alone.

Image via Siberian Husky / Wikipedia

Alaskan Malamute

This dog is so incredibly fluffy and friendly that it’s hard to associate them with a super advanced intellect, as they look like they are just made of soft hugs and nothing else. But underneath that luxurious and welcoming fur, they are pretty smart guys, keeping awake and alert at all times.

The Alaskan Malamute is also a distant relative of the Alaskan and Siberian Huskies, so it’s no surprise that the three breeds share some similar traits of quick thinking and social aptitude.

Image via SCMW / Wikipedia

Collie

Probably one of the most famous dogs in the world, collies became a household name thanks to the super success of the classic dog adventure rescue TV show Lassie.

Lassie was known throughout the world for her classic adventures, saving the day time and time again thanks to her super smart wit and incredibly advanced intelligence—often communicating clearly with humans to get the rescue missions going.

And this wasn’t entirely fiction—in real life collies are known to be super smart and capable, too.

Image via Karen Arnold / Wikipedia

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

These dogs hail from Chesapeake Bay in the United States, and are well known for their skill and prowess as a fowl hunting dog.

They are so intelligent that they help hunters in tracking down and finding their prey, and their alertness and quick reaction times are second to none.

As can be common in super-smart dogs, they don’t always enjoy submitting to authority, so can be a bit of handful to train—but once you’ve mastered their control, they are a worthy companion for life.

Image via Wikipedia

Australian Shepherd

Look at these happy faces! The Australian Shepherd is certainly a breed characterized by its enthusiasm and eagerness to please, but don’t think for a second this means it’s a simple-minded sycophant.

No, this lovable ball of fluff is incredibly intelligent and hardworking, and has a natural tendency to herd small animals—including human children!

As with some of the other dogs on our list, the Australian Shepherd’s cleverness sometimes makes it a bit hard to control, as they think they know better than their human counterparts.

And hey, maybe sometimes they do!

Image via Bonnie van den Born / Wikipedia

Saint Bernard

Another popular dog breed made especially famous by an iconic movie; the Saint Bernard dog breed is well known thanks to the classic 1992 adventure comedy Beethoven.

The main character, the dog of the same name, was famously clever and helpful, beating out evil baddies who wanted to kidnap him and tear apart his family.

And in real life, Saint Bernards are no different—they are known for their unwavering loyalty and super accurate memory, retaining what they’ve been trained for years on end.

Image via Blanky / Wikipedia

Akita Inu

This Japanese dog is especially popular in the United States. Legend has it that they came to the U.S. thanks to famous writer Helen Keller, who was gifted two of the pups from the Japanese government. Like their famous owner, the Akita Inu is incredibly intelligent and a super-fast learner.

Their sharp minds lead them to be sometimes suspicious of new people, and they aren’t great with authority when they don’t agree with the commands they’ve been given. But once you’ve gained this snow-white beauty’s trust, it will be a loyal member of your family for years to come.

Image by Jae Lee / Unsplash

English Setter

This strange looking dog is a lot smarter than its somewhat silly appearance might suggest. Despite its shabby looks, the English Setter is famous as a quick-witted hunter with a strategic mind. Add to that its incredibly heightened sense of smell, and you’ve got an all-round superior hunter and tracker.

The dogs’ high level of intelligence means they are sometimes hard to control, but they are incredibly loyal and great for big families. As long as you can keep up with its boundless energy, that is!

Image via Томасина / Wikipedia

Great Dane

Many people know the Great Dane from the super popular Scooby Doo franchise, featuring the super silly dog of the same name. However, it may surprise you that this long, lollopy face is actually the sign of great intelligence.

We all know that Great Danes are mega massive, so it makes sense that their brains will also be big—they are in fact the same size as humans’ brains!

Great Danes are incredibly fast learners and super adaptable to their environments, which is impressive considering their massive size.

Image via Fainomenon / Wikipedia

Brittany

You can see in the Brittany’s eyes that this is a dog breed of a deep-thinking nature. An old soul and a seriously loyal companion, this breed’s intelligence and eagerness to learn make them easy to train and a delight to welcome into families of all sizes.

They are incredibly sweet natured and thoughtful, but this also has a flip side—like deep thinking humans, they can be pretty sensitive, so make sure you handle them softly and with kind words.

Their high intelligence and self-discipline make them the perfect breed to compete in field sports and contests.

Image via Pharaoh Hound / Wikipedia

Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog is a breed that can only be described as a “doer”. Their high intelligence and powerful energy reserves means that they are always keen to be doing something useful or exciting—which makes them the perfect kind of dog for competing in obedience competitions.

They learn so quickly and are so easy to please, that they will impress any judging panel with their quick responses in training!

Just remember that they need this kind of stimulation all the time, so you have your work cut out for you keeping them occupied!

Image via Eva holderegger walser / Wikipedia

Papillon

This is probably the smallest and dinkiest dog on our list. The wee dogs sometimes get a bit of a bad rep, because their high-pitched yapping and sometimes what seems like over the top energy can make them seem a bit wild and perhaps not as intelligent or self-disciplined as some other dogs.

But the Papillon, in fact, is one of the cleverest dogs out there, despite its weeny size and cartoonish appearance. Papillons are incredibly loyal and have fantastic memories, meaning that if you train them properly, they’ll stay trained forever.

Image via Gvdmoort / Wikipeda

Doberman Pinscher

The sight of these ferocious looking dogs can strike fear into the hearts of many. Often used as police dogs, Dobermans are a pretty fierce breed, known for their tough exteriors and aggressive tendencies. When trained properly, they make incredibly loyal companions and guard dogs.

They are easy to train in the sense that they are super intelligent and learn quickly, but their superior intellect can also pose a challenge—they have quite an independent way of thinking, so need to be given a firm sense of authority.

Image via David Iannotti / Wikipedia

Shetland Sheepdog

Another dog on the smaller side of our list, the Shetland Sheepdog is unbelievably cute and looks like a walking cuddly pillow. But beneath that cuddlesome exterior, is a surprisingly sharp mind and high intelligence.

The Shetland Sheepdog is incredibly eager to learn and picks up training pretty fast, so they are great for family pets and working on farms.

Not only do they learn quickly, they are naturally very obedient, so you won’t have any trouble getting them to listen to your authority.

Image via Alicepearsons / Wikipedia

Golden Retriever

The fifth highest spot for most intelligent dog goes to the Golden Retriever. Long beloved across America for its glossy coat and amiable, good natured personality, this breed is a favorite for families of all ages and sizes.

But it’s not just their cuddliness that makes the Golden Retriever such a perfect option. Their friendliness and docile nature stems from a high level of innate intelligence, meaning that they can relate to different types of people very easily.

Golden Retrievers need a lot of attention, company and love—definitely not a part time pet.

Image by Helena Lopes / Unsplash

Labrador Retriever

Just look at the love in those eyes! The Labrador Retriever is another breed that’s perfect for training and as a beloved family pet. Super keen to please and always hungry for love, this is one dog that will always be waiting at the door with joy when you come home, even if you’ve only been gone a few minutes.

Not only they are such kindhearted souls, but they also have an exceptionally high level of intelligence, particularly skilled in communication—both with humans and with other dogs.

Image by Jen Vazquez Photography / Unsplash

German Shepherd

Number three on our list goes to the famous German Shepherd, best known as a tough-nosed—literally—police dog. These super intelligent dogs are bred especially for their clever nature and incredibly strong sense of smell—which is why they are often used as sniffer dogs, to trace and detect illegal substances or track down missing people.

Incredibly eager to please, these guys are a delight to train and the perfect addition to any family (or police force, for that matter).

Image by Sofia Guaico / Unsplash

Poodle

Possibly one of the silliest looking dogs in existence, this dog resembles a living stack of cotton wool more than giving off any sort of genius vibes. But don’t judge a book by its fluffy cover—the poodle is actually one of the cleverest dog breeds out there.

They are incredibly alert, picking up even the most complex of commands really quickly and with minimal repetition. They also have a natural sense of self discipline, meaning that they are naturally hard workers and thus predisposed to obeying their owners in however they train them.

Image via Tim Wilson / Wikipedia

Border Collie

One of the smartest pooched out there is in fact the Border Collie, well known across the world for its sweet nature and quick mind.

Not only do Collies pick up complex tasks quickly and easily, they also have the mental stamina to deal with multiple and specific commands at once.

Regularly victorious at obedience competitions and sheepdog trials, the Border Collie is regularly ranked as the cleverest breed of all domesticated dogs.