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Ranking the smartest dog breeds, according to a psychologist

A psychologist says he has found the smartest dog breeds based on the time it takes to learn a new command and their level of obedience.

A psychologist says he has found the smartest dog breeds based on the time it takes to learn a new command and their level of obedience.

In his book “The Intelligence of Dogs,” Stanley Coren has showcased the results of a lengthy survey that includes 199 dog-obedience judges. Coren noted in his results that there are exceptions for every breed and that a specific dog’s “intelligence” can come down to the training methods used.

So without further ado, here’s the top 10:

  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

These breeds are considered the brightest working dogs, who tend to learn a new command in less than five seconds and obey at least 95% of the time.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are the least effective working dogs, who only obey about one-third of the time. They’re also slower at learning new tricks, with the average pooch picking up a trick after more than 100 repetitions. They include Basset hounds, bulldogs, and the lowest-rated breed, Afghan hounds.

To view the entire list and find out where your dog’s breed ranks, click here.

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