The 35 Smartest Dog Breeds According To Veterinarians

The French Poodle is one of the most easily recognizable dog breeds around and their unique features and high levels of intelligence won them the honor of being called the national dog of France!

Poodles are known for being calm, patient and intelligent dogs that are easy to train and simply loved to be groomed. They’re not only considered to be highly loyal companions but also have a daring sense of style about them when groomed which really makes them stand out in the best of ways.

English Springer Spaniels were bred in and are native to, well, England! They were originally bred as dogs used for hunting game such as birds, rabbits, and even fish.

Because of this, they are incredibly clever dogs who respond well to training and are known for having a particularly good sense of memory. However, due to the fact that these dogs were originally bred for sport, when left alone for too long they can become hyperactive and mischievous, so it’s best to walk them often.

The Australian Cattle Dog has been bred specifically with the intention of being a herdsman’s dog and are thought to be highly intelligent and quite independent.

However, due to the nature of the dog’s genetics, they tend to require a certain degree of training before they’re really suitable for domestic use. This is because they’re highly energetic dogs and lots of long walks, healthy food and games to play in order to keep them calm or healthy – otherwise they can get quite disobedient.

The Miniature Schnauzer is a dog that was originally bred in Germany. The Minature Schnauzer is essentially a mixture between three common German breeds, namely the Affenpinscher, Miniature Pinscher, and Poodles.

At first, they were bred in order to help keep the growing rat population under control in early German society but later began to develop the characteristics often associated with guard dogs. They’re also highly intelligent dogs and know how to discern between a serious threat and something that’s safe so can keep your house protected properly.

Belgian Malinois are known for being some of the hardest working dogs around and have been bred to be herders.

As a breed, they look similar to the German Shepherd but have a much more square form and a shorter coat than the German Shepherd, although their colors are often similar. They are considered to be kind and trusting dogs who are incredibly loyal. They are also incredibly friendly and are a joy to have around your home – after they’ve been trained of course!

The Golden Retriever is a breed of dog that is highly popular in American culture and is officially ranked the most popular dog in the US. Golden Retrievers are known for being highly sociable, friendly and very smart despite their ‘laidback’ attitudes.

The Golden Retriever has become a symbol of suburban and rural living and the breed has even made its way into popular culture with movies such as Airbud and Fluke. If you’re raising a family and need a dog for protection Golden Retrievers are perfect!

Doberman Pinschers are often regarded as being tough and fear-inspiring dogs and sometimes just looking at them can send shivers down your spine. There’s a reason why they are the way they are though.

Doberman’s were originally bred as guard dogs by a German tax collector named Karl Friedrich Louis Doberman. As a result, they’re tough, loyal and intelligent guard dogs. However, it’s important to train a Doberman from a very young age to ensure that they aren’t aggressive later in life.

The Schipperke was a breed of dog that was only formally recognized in the late 19th century and is native to Belgium. Over the years, many have debated as to whether this dog is actually a spitz (a small breed of dog) or a shepherd dog.

Formally though, they are generally regarded as being small sheepdogs because they are fast, clever and highly responsive. In the 19th and 20th century, they were often seen on boats earning the nickname ‘little boatmen’, but the term ‘schipperke’ directly means shepherd in Flemish.

A Keeshond and a Schipperke are not that far apart from one another, although they tend to have slightly different temperaments and a different type of coat.

This breed was also popular as a boat dog due to their ability to hunt rats but had a lot less shepherding experience than the Schipperke. As a result, they’re a lot calmer in general and are known for being clever, quick to react and are great around children. This makes them the ideal small house dog if you don’t have a large yard or home.

The Rottweiler is a dog that can seem really scary but once trained they’re incredible companions. They’re originally considered to be herding dogs and can be traced all the way back to the Roman era.

They became popular again during the 18th and 19th century as they were used largely for herding, but also for pulling carts of butchered meat into towns which is how they earned their name. Rottweilers make for great guard dogs and are incredibly friendly once they’re trained properly and get enough exercise regularly.

The humble Papillion is a highly intelligent and self-assured breed of the spaniel that has been traced back to as far as 1500 AD during the Renaissance, where they were often featured in paintings of the time.

Being a small breed of dog, they were considered easy to domesticate and because of their unique ears, they were considered to be almost like stylish accessories rather than pets. Papillions are very sociable dogs once they’ve been trained and socialized, otherwise, they can be quite aggressive.

The Belgian Tervuren is a breed of shepherd dog that was named after a town in Belgium. However, before 1959, the breed was only known as the Belgium Shepherd but this was changed when it was categorized separately.

These dogs are very intelligent and responsive – not to mention fast and agile. They crave a lot of intense exercise and are known for making excellent show-dogs due to their energetic nature and trainability. If you live in a more spacious area – these dogs are perfect for you!

The Weimaraner is considered to be a calm and trusting dog that is as loyal as a dog can be. They were originally bred for hunting during the 18th and 19th century, making them fast, agile and clever dogs – so long as they have the right training.

In general, the breed is considered to be a very calm one and domesticating Weimaraners can be quite easy – especially if you raise them from a puppy. Their passive nature and a good sense of smell make them incredibly good guard dogs.

The Brittany Spaniel was also originally bred to be a hunting dog and was popular among French Aristocrats in the early 18th and 19th century.

They were originally considered to be good ‘pointer’ dogs because of their speed, agility and keen sense smell, which meant they could flush out the game for hunters to shoot. Spaniels are incredibly responsive dogs and are considered to be calm and sociable in general. They tend to do well when domesticated so long as they get enough exercise, food and loving attention!

The Long-Haired Collie is probably one of the most easily-recognizable breeds of dog in the world, thanks to the now famous show and book series known as Lassie.

Long-Haired Collies were originally bred as herding dogs in Scotland but were subsequently bred with other varieties of sheepherding dogs to form the version that we know today. They are kind, loving and passive creatures that respond very well to training and are considered to be quite intelligent on their own as well.

The Shetland Sheepdog looks a lot like a miniature version of the Long-Haired Collie and this is because they were originally bred in the same area. However, much like the Shetland Pony and Shetland Sheep, it is a hardy yet tiny creature.

Shetland Sheepdogs are perfect companions because they’re vocal, responsive, intelligent and incredibly loyal to their owners. They’re even referred to as ‘shadows’ because of their attachment to their owners. If you’re looking for a four-legged friend or a new family member – these make a perfect choice.

Believe it or not, but the Welsh Corgi was actually originally used as herding dog! Despite its small size, the dog’s agility, speed, and endurance make it ideal as a ‘heeler’, or a dog that nips at the heels of larger animals to steer them.

The Welsh Corgi is essentially a cross between the original Welsh Corgi and the Swedish Vallhund – hence their similar features. They’re highly sociable dogs known for their unique sense of personality and distinct loyalty. They’re also pretty clever – especially when trained.

Labrador Retrievers were originally bred to be hunting dogs and their job was to essentially bring back the game after being hunted. Because of this long history of conditioning, Retrievers have become synonymous as guide dogs and are often used to help those afflicted by blindness, autism or other disabilities.

They are incredibly intelligent and sensitive dogs that are known for their loyalty and independence. As a dog, Labrador Retrievers are incredibly easy to train and are considered highly responsive. They make great family additions or guard dogs.

The English Cocker Spaniel is one of the oldest dogs that are considered to be native to England and have made appearances throughout history for the last 500 years.

The dogs were also originally trained to be hunting dogs and have since become incredibly popular domesticated animals. They are known for their intelligence and their loyalty and with a bit of training, make either great show dogs or hunting dogs to this day. So long as you train yours, owning an English Cocker Spaniel can be a real joy!

While the name might seem a bit long, this breed is actually only really a medium-sized one. The Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever earned its name by being able to lure fowl towards the hunters shooting range.

In general, these dogs are considered to be intelligent, responsive, calm-natured and easy to please. This makes them ideal for domestic use or in a more rural setting. While they may look a lot like small Golden Retrievers, they were bred for a different reason.

Originated from the Swiss Alps, Bernese Mountain dogs grow up to be mountainous dogs. They were originally used for farm work, but their duties weren’t simply to stand guard.

Because this breed, as well as their other Swiss cousins, were so large, sometimes they were even used to do actual farm labor. As gentle giants, they have historically been well-suited to activities like pulling carts. Though they show some aptitude at herding, their true sport is cart-pulling.

Pomeranian’s may be small, but don’t let their size fool you, because it says nothing about their intelligence. The little fluff balls are a great choice for those looking for a smaller dog that is relatively easy to train.

Their ancestors and many of their cousins are much larger dogs, something that the pint-sized pups don’t always remember. While they aren’t the most typical choice for such tasks, Poms are great at tracking, though they are definitely house dogs by nature.

Irish Water Spaniels may be one of the most unique dogs in the spaniel family, if only for the purplish color of their coats.

Much like their cousins, the Irish Water Spaniel displays a wide set of skills including hunting, tracking, and agility. However, as their name suggests, these spaniels are some of the best when it comes to their strength as swimmers. With high natural intelligence, these dogs love to be challenged physically and mentally.

Some dogs are just born to hunt, and the Vizsla is one such breed. For a sporting dog with roots in Hungary, the Vizsla has been popular for its medium size.

Despite their intellectual prowess in a variety of fields, the Vizsla’s affectionate nature made them a favorite housepet as well. Like other sporting dogs, Vizslas need to be constantly stimulated while they’re young, otherwise, they’ll harness their energy towards destruction. However, with good training, they’re even great with kids.

Popularized as a dog often found in firehouses, many of the Dalmatian’s better traits are already well known, though they almost didn’t manage to earn the reputation. While Dalmatians do display above average intelligence, early breeders didn’t think so because of their genetic predisposition to deafness.

However, as their popularity spread, Dalmatians were frequently chosen to be guard dogs, not just for the fire services, but also for the brewing industry. Following 101 Dalmatians, the breed saw a rise in popularity.

The adorable and fluffy Bichon may be underestimated when it comes to its intelligence, however, its agility, especially on its hind legs made the breed a popular choice for circus performances.

Though they shouldn’t be your first choice when it comes to sports, Bichons love to do tricks, which they pick up on fairly quickly. That being said, the happy energetic little pups also make a good therapy dog, as they can be very gentle and loving when given proper attention.

In case their thick, white fur didn’t give it away, the Samoyed is a dog that first sprang up in Siberia. Unlike the numerous breeds that were training to herd sheep, Samoyeds were bred to work with reindeer herders.

They may be big, but Samoyeds are known for always having a smile on their faces, which makes them less than stellar guard dogs. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t smart! Samoyeds may have left their sledding days in the past, but they still love to pull things.

These pint-sized puppers are usually better known for their looks than for their intelligence, but that shouldn’t be the case. Though Yorkies love people, they’re still highly independent dogs, which makes training them easier than expected.

Despite their stature, these terriers were originally bred to work, meaning that they need plenty of stimulation in order to keep them content, both for their sakes and their owners’ sakes. Shower them with attention, and Yorkies will shower you right back with affection.

Early on, American Eskimo dogs were frequently adopted by circuses, not for their ability to pull a sled or survive in the cold, but because they were so good at learning new tricks.

American Eskimo Dogs are so easy to train, that they can sometimes learn new tricks just from observing another dog being taught. It was an Eskie who managed to learn to walk a tightrope, a feat that at the time hadn’t been completed by any other dog.

The Belgian Shepherd and the Belgian Tervuren were two dogs that were often mistaken for one another during the late 18th century, through until the early 20th century.

While the dogs do have very similar features and even share many of the same characteristics, they were registered as different breeds during the early 20th century due to their varying origin. They are intelligent dogs that are known for being obedient, alert and responsive making them the ideal family guard dog and walking companion.

The German Shepherd is one of the most popular breeds around today and this is largely because of their high levels of intelligence, obedience, and self-assurance.

In fact, the German Shepherd has been bred precisely for these reasons and is said to be able to process a command and react to it correctly after only 5 repetitions. Once trained, they are incredibly well-natured dogs that are loyal to their owners and make excellent guard dogs. They are frequently used by police – so guarding your home shouldn’t be a problem.

Much like the German Shepherd, the Border Collie is also a well-known breed of herding dog that was originally bred for intelligence and obedience.

Border Collies are thought to be highly loyal and responsive dogs, however, they do require a certain degree of training before they’re really suitable for domestication. Border Collies are also highly energetic dogs that require a lot of exercise on a daily basis because without this, they are known to become aggressive and mischevious – so be sure to walk them regularly!

The German Shorthaired Pointer was originally bred to be able to outrun fast game and made for an excellent hunting companion.

However, in more recent years, the dog has been domesticated making it an ideal addition to the family home because they are considered to be calm in nature, fun-loving and quite boisterous when excited, but are otherwise loyal and friendly – granted that they’ve been socialized and trained. They are considered to be excellent guard dogs and will keep you and your family safe.

If you had any questions about the inherent skills of the Bouvier des Flandres, all you need to do is turn to its name, which literally translates to “cow herder of Flanders.”

These dogs are impressive workers who can be trained not only to herd cattle but to guard the farm and even pull carts with their exceptional strength. In the early 20th century, the Bouvier was a popular choice for military training, especially during World War I.

The Bloodhound is an easy dog to recognize due to their unique skin and characteristics. The dog was bred originally as a ‘scent’ dog because of its incredibly keen sense of smell.

They were frequently used for hunting game but eventually became popular as law enforcement dogs due to their impressive tracking ability – however, in general, Bloodhounds are considered to be calm and passive dogs that are intelligent and responsive. They would make ideal pets for the home and double up as great guard dogs!