Are you searching for the ideal companion or curious about which breeds have the smartest minds? Fortunately, there is plenty of information available. In 1994, neuropsychologist Stanley Coren published The Intelligence of Dogs, which evaluated 110 breeds based on their natural history, evolutionary relationship to humans, and trainability.

Though rankings aren’t an exact science, the dogs that made a list have earned a reputation for being highly intelligent. These pups can solve puzzles, learn new tricks and even communicate with their owners!

Border Collies
The border collie, the world’s premier sheep herder, is renowned for its sharp intellect and powerful instincts. Additionally, these dogs are known for their speed and agility – making them popular choices in dog sports like agility.

Shetland Sheepdogs
The Shetland sheepdog is an intelligent herding breed renowned for its strong desire to protect and quick learning ability. These intelligent dogs make great family companions and can be taught how to work with children or other animals.

Labrador Retrievers
The Lab is the breed of choice for many families as a highly intelligent, loyal canine who makes an ideal family companion. Not only is the Lab easy to train and able to perform various tasks with ease, but it’s also known for its loyalty towards its family – making them ideal pets for households with kids.

Shetland Sheepdogs
Popular in the UK, the Shetland sheepdog is an intelligent herding breed with an acute sense of smell and attentiveness to its owner’s needs. These dogs often become police dogs, seeing eye dogs, or medical assistance dogs – making them great choices for people leading busy lifestyles.

Miniature Schnauzers
Bearded brainiacs, also known as miniature schnauzers, have been used for centuries on farms to snuff out vermin and pests. These breeds are renowned for their working intelligence; they can learn a new command in just 5-15 repetitions and tend to obey commands on their first try.

Poodles
Poodles, commonly known as curly-haired canines with soft fur, have become a beloved breed among breeders for their low shedding and hypoallergenic qualities. Coren’s assessment of them revealed that they scored silver in working intelligence, meaning they are highly responsive to owners’ cues.

Shetland Sheepdogs
A herding breed, the Shetland Sheepdog is a loyal and loving companion with high intelligence. They make ideal pets for those with busy lives due to their high level of activity and devotion towards their owners.

Welsh Corgis
Beloved members of the British royal family, Welsh corgis are friendly, playful, and highly intelligent dog breeds. These pups excel at tracking small games and have an uncanny ability to anticipate their owners’ needs.

Papillons
The smallest dog in our ranking, the papillon is known for being both intelligent and charming. They possess enough intelligence that they can learn a new command after only five repetitions and are incredibly easy to train. Furthermore, these intelligent pups are highly responsive to their owners’ cues, interpreting facial expressions and body language accurately.