Smart dog breeds
A dog's intelligence isn't measured with an exam; the closest thing the deck has is how fast it learns and how much of a mental challenge it needs. These 10 breeds score 4 or 5 on both.
How this list was built
The rule, out in the open
- Trainability ≥ 5/5
- Mental stimulation it needs ≥ 4/5
10 of 30 directory breeds qualify · 20 don't · 0 have no data for a field in the rule (left out, named below)
The numbers come from the Lord Chucho deck: the scale published by the AKC and the books in our library, with a citation on every bar. Where there's no data, there's no breed: we'd rather leave the gap than make it up.
A dog that learns on the fly also learns to open the pantry. If its head isn't busy, it will find something to do — and you won't like it.
With their bars and their citations
The 10 breeds that qualify
German Shepherd Dog Pastor Alemán
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: Dogs Unleashed (Tamsin Pickeral) · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs5/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Poodle Caniche (French Poodle)
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs5/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Rottweiler
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs5/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Border Collie
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs5/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
Weimaraner
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs5/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
Labrador Retriever
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs4/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Golden Retriever
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs4/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: Dogs Unleashed (Tamsin Pickeral) · confidence high
Miniature Schnauzer Schnauzer Miniatura
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs4/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: The Dog Encyclopedia (DK Publishing) · confidence high
Doberman Pinscher Dóberman
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs4/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Belgian Malinois Pastor Belga Malinois
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Trainability5/5negotiates every commandlearns on the flySource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Mental stimulation it needs4/5content without a jobneeds a jobSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
And for your life, which one?
A list narrows things down; the recommender crosses your home, your energy, your kids and your neighbors with these same data, in seven questions.
Other collections
More breeds for…
- Small 13
- Medium 8
- Large 12
- for kids 16
- Calm 10
- Affectionate 22
- for apartments 7
- that (almost) don't shed 10
- Guard 11
- Large calm 3
- The most common in Mexico 11
- that bark little 8
- Small calm 4
- Easy-to-train 20
- for first-time owners 12
- for older people 5
- for running 6
- that get along with cats 11
- for a house with a yard 13
- for hot climates 9
- All collections →