We all know that dogs are highly intelligent creatures that possess many endearing characteristics that have earned them the special privilege of being called “man’s best friend.” Their amazing ability and innate instinct to accomplish tasks have helped humans for thousands of years, and because of this special partnership, the bond between dog and master remains strong to this day.
But just how intelligent are dogs? Many say that their ability to empathize with us and sense what we feel inside emotionally is enough evidence to prove the case, a point that we can all certainly agree with. However, in the name of science, a study was done to try to measure and define what really makes these animals stand out.
In 1994, Stanley Coren, a professor of canine psychology at the University of British Columbia, suggested that dogs had three aspects to their intelligence: Instinctive intelligence or their ability to perform tasks they were bred for; adaptive intelligence or their ability to find solutions to problems without any help; and lastly, working intelligence or their ability to learn from and obey humans.
He found that certain dogs were more gifted than others in the field of working intelligence, and by surveying obedience trial judges from both the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs, he was able to up with a ranking of breeds which is listed in his book, The Intelligence of Dogs.
We have gathered the 30 smartest dog breeds in the world in this article, but regardless of where they appear in the ranking, one thing remains true, all pooches are equally loving, loyal, and deserving of our affection.
