Pets Knowledge

What are the smartest or dumbest dog breeds? 🐕 🐕 🐕

Avatar of the author: Robert Zhao 07/10/2024 11:43:27
Share this

**Is there an intelligence ranking among dogs, with the top being smart and the bottom being dumb? If that's the case, why do breeders still breed those dogs that fall at the bottom?**

So, the answer is quite obvious. This ranking is no different from putting Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Michael Douglas, Mike Tyson, and Michael Schumacher in a singing competition. Naturally, Michael Jackson would come in first, while the others—actors, athletes, and champions—would end up lower on the list.

In reality, these individuals are all No.1 in their respective fields. Likewise, every dog breed has its own functions and roles, and these functions are linked to three types of dog intelligence. Judging dogs based solely on one type of intelligence is meaningless.

### 1. The Three Types of Dog Intelligence
#### Instinctive Intelligence
This is the purpose for which humans breed certain dogs. For example, herding dogs are bred to help people gather and move animals in a specific direction. This ability is innate; humans don't need to "teach" it but merely guide and control it. Different breeds have distinct instinctive intelligence. Guard dogs will watch over things, retrievers will fetch game, and hunting dogs are adept at tracking and hunting down prey. Each breed's instinctive intelligence is suited to their respective tasks rather than being labeled as "smart" or "dumb."

#### Adaptive Intelligence
This measures what dogs can learn on their own from their environment and life experiences, including problem-solving. Dogs adapt and become more "intelligent" by learning from their surroundings. For example, dogs that learn to open doors or turn on lights exhibit a high level of adaptive intelligence. This type of intelligence can vary even within the same breed. Exposure to various environments, people, and animals can help develop a dog's adaptive intelligence, making them more resilient and open to new experiences.

#### Working and Obedience Intelligence
This refers to a dog's willingness to comply with human commands to perform complex actions, such as police dogs, military dogs, guide dogs, and search and rescue dogs. This type of intelligence is similar to human learning abilities in schools, as it’s based on how much a dog can learn from human guidance.

### 2. How does the Intelligence Ranking Differ?
High-ranking dogs on the intelligence chart are evaluated based on the third type of intelligence (working and obedience). Dogs ranked lower are often those with strong instinctive intelligence, doing their tasks without much human interaction, thus appearing less obedient. Breeds like terriers, mastiffs, and scent hounds fall into this category. The Afghan Hound, for instance, is very independent and doesn't rely on human interaction, thus ranking lower in obedience tests.

### 3. The Cost of Being "Smart"
We all want a smart dog, but intelligence comes at a price. A smart dog learns quickly, but they also learn to push boundaries and test your rules. Breeds with strong instinctive intelligence, like herding retriever dogs, can become fixated on certain activities, which might cause trouble in modern settings. Adaptive or working intelligence, if not properly guided, can also lead to problematic behaviors.

### 4. What Dog Should We Choose?
Chasing intelligence is futile. We need to develop and train a dog's intelligence and satisfy its instincts with proper activities. Fit the breed to your lifestyle.
If you're active, choose a breed that matches your energy level. If you're more of a homebody, choose a quieter, less active breed. Your experience with dogs also matters. If you're experienced, you might handle more independent breeds; if not, pick one with high working and obedience intelligence.
Regardless of the breed, you should develop their adaptive intelligence through experiences and training to integrate better into modern life.

**Conclusion:** So, what makes a dog smart or dumb? A dog that fits your lifestyle, builds a strong emotional bond with you, and undergoes your training becomes smart. Conversely, a dog you can't manage or haven't invested time and effort in training is considered dumb. By meeting their instinctive needs and helping develop their adaptive intelligence, you might one day have a dog that feels like a genius 🐕

Related knowledge
Picture of the article:When cats do these "naughty" things, it actually shows high IQ! 😸

When cats do these "naughty" things, it actually shows high IQ! 😸

Robert Zhao

The intelligence of cats is always a puzzling topic. Many IQ tests that work well on dogs and primates don't seem to work with cats. Regardless of whether they're smart or not, cats either ignore the tests or just lie flat... Defining a cat's intelligence is still challenging. However, if your cat shows the following "misbehaviors," it might actually be quite clever: **1. Learning to Open Kitchen and Cabinet Doors** Some cats will simply nudge their owner when they're hungry, but smarter cats have learned to open kitchen doors, cabinets, and even twist off lids through observation. A 2017 study published in Nature suggested that cats, before 14 weeks of age, primarily learn survival skills by imitating their mothers. Another study from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary showed that cats' ability to learn by imitation can last a lifetime (though the desire to learn decreases with age). Therefore, a cat that can open doors and cabinets is displaying strong learning ability. **2. Being Picky Eaters** Some cats are so picky that they won't touch food they don't like, which can even lead to hepatic lipidosis. But smart cats will leave some room for compromise; they might beg for treats before bedtime but will eat their cat food if there's no other option when the owner goes to bed. Cat picky eating is often a self-protective behavior. If they are unsure something is edible or if they think the food smells off, they may refuse to eat it to avoid food poisoning. Of course, some cats will give in and eat their cat food when they realize there are no other better options left. **3. Hiding When You Take Out the Carrier** Does your cat look up when you take out the carrier or hide immediately, refusing to come out? Or run away but return if you offer food? The latter two behaviors indicate strong associative memory, suggesting higher intelligence. In a cat's world: taking out the carrier means they’ll go outside, possibly to the vet or some other uncomfortable place. This shows logical thinking and strong survival skills. **4. Biting You During Petting** How does your cat express its needs while being petted? Does it quietly walk away when it's had enough, or does it bite you to signal "continue" or "stop"? Light biting to remind you of something not only shows that the cat has a mind of its own but is also a common way for senior cats to instruct kittens. If your cat lightly bites you when hungry, wanting to play, or wanting to stop interacting, it sees itself as the boss, kindly reminding you what to do next. **5. Ambushing You During Hide and Seek** If you suddenly disappear from your cat's view, most cats will be indifferent or puzzled, staying in place. But smart cats will show signs of anxiety and repeatedly search for you where you vanished. Smart cats exhibit these behaviors because they understand that things should exist even when hidden. Researchers from the University of Quebec discovered in 1992 that cats could predict the movement of an object even after it was hidden, demonstrating an intelligence equivalent to that of a 2-year-old human. **6. Attacking the Camera When You Talk to Them** What does your cat do when you speak to it through a camera? If it looks confusedly at the camera or attempts to "attack" it, reacting with what seems like destructive behavior, it indicates the cat's intelligence. A 2021 study from Kyoto University found that when a cat's owner appeared in front of them but the owner's voice played from behind, over 90% of cats showed signs of confusion or fear. This means cats are startled when the same voice appears to teleport to different places. So if your cat gets confused or scared, it actually shows that it's quite intelligent. **7. Blocking Your Screen When You're Working** What does your cat do when you're working or playing on your computer? Lower-level cats might be fascinated by the cursor or screen movements, but higher-level cats will block the screen just to get your attention. Behaviorists speculate that whether a cat is attracted to screen movements is related to its intelligence, experience, personality, and age. Very smart cats might be indifferent to these on-screen distractions. Instead, if a cat tries to block your vision to attract your attention, it's a sign of intelligence. In conclusion, does your cat seem pretty smart? Actually, not only are humans worried about the intelligence of cats, but cats are also striving to make us smarter! Research from Tokyo University of Agriculture found that the mysterious personalities and behaviors of cats, when played with, increased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex of their owners' brains, stimulating rapid brain function, enhancing problem-solving skills, and improving empathy. So it's hard to say: are cats truly uncooperative, or are they pretending to be disobedient to make us smarter? 😺

Picture of the article:What should I do if my dog is always overly excited? 🤔

What should I do if my dog is always overly excited? 🤔

Robert Zhao
Picture of the article:The Ultimate Guide to Correcting Puppy Behavior 🐶

The Ultimate Guide to Correcting Puppy Behavior 🐶

Robert Zhao
Picture of the article:6 Tips to Teach Your Puppy to Fetch, Easily Retrieve Packages and Deliveries ✅

6 Tips to Teach Your Puppy to Fetch, Easily Retrieve Packages and Deliveries ✅

Robert Zhao