Not everyone knows, but the Border Collie is the smartest dog in the world. He has an unusual cleverness and several other qualities that stand out when it comes to canine intelligence. But have you ever stopped to think about the criteria that define which breed of dog is the smartest? It may seem like an abstract idea, but there is a whole study done to better understand the dog's intelligence?dogs' brains and their cognitive abilities. And believe me: puppies can be very shrewd in this regard!

To discover curiosities about the subject - such as which is the smartest dog in the world and other breeds that are part of the ranking - we have prepared a special article on the subject. Just take a look!

Smartest dog breeds in the world: what defines canine intelligence?

The American psychologist Stanley Coren did a very thorough research, analyzing the behaviors, intelligences and abilities of different breeds. From the results, he wrote the book "The Intelligence of Dogs" and concluded that there are different forms of canine intelligence. The main ones are the instinctive (which is innate to the dog, such as hunting and herding), the intelligent (which is innate to the dog), the intelligent (which is innate to the dog) and the intelligent (which is innate to the dog).adaptive (related to the dog's ability to adapt to the environment) and operational (related to trainability - i.e. the pet's ability to learn tricks and follow commands).

So what defines the smartest dog in the world is actually a set of factors! Ease of learning - measured mainly by the ability and speed to process commands and responses - is certainly one of the main ways to measure this. However, the way the pet relates to other people should also be taken into account to identify a smart dog.intelligent dog, as well as his instincts.

There are many other forms of intelligence, behaviors and skills that were analyzed and debated in the study. But if you are curious to know which are the most intelligent dog breeds, just come with us: here below we have gathered the top 10 of Stanley Coren's ranking!

Ranking of smartest dogs looks at the operational intelligence of the species

First of all, it's important to note that the Dog Intelligence Ranking takes into account the dog's operational intelligence - that is, its ability to obey and learn new tricks. Breeds that can learn commands faster are considered more intelligent.

1. border collie

The title of the smartest dog in the world belongs to the Border Collie, and it really lives up to its reputation! According to the ranking prepared by Stanley Coren, the breed has a great facility to learn commands and, being a herding dog, its instinctive abilities are also well honed. The Border Collie, in general, exhibits behaviors such as "crouching, staring and looking at the dog.make eye contact", according to the psychologist's study, and can do various things because of their intelligence.

What's more, they are dogs that have excellent concentration and focus. They communicate very well and assimilate orders quickly, so they are good in the herding function and in sports such as dog agility. No wonder he is the smartest dog in the world !

2. poodle

Despite not being the most intelligent dog breed, the Poodle comes in second place in the ranking of canine intelligence (and deservedly so!). He is a very easy dog to train and has a well above average operational and adaptive intelligence. In addition to being agile, the Poodle is a determined, obedient dog who likes to please his guardian. These characteristics make this one consideredan intelligent and skillful dog breed!

This is not a "traditional" working dog, but the Poodle's ability to learn has made it a favorite for circus performances and other shows.

3. German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent dogs in the world. With enormous learning ease, the breed excels when it comes to training. In addition, they are extremely obedient dogs, with great physical strength, agility and insight - which is why this is one of the most used breeds for police work and services. The German Shepherd does not need a lot of repetition during the training sessions.training, but should be trained according to the function to be performed.

When acting as a police dog, for example, the German Shepherd helps detect explosives, drugs and fulfills other security-related functions. If it is a guard dog or personal protection dog, it must be trained to take care of the property.

4. golden retriever

In addition to being an intelligent dog, the Golden Retriever is one of the most docile and friendly breeds you will find out there. They are companionable, sociable and with an enormous facility to adapt to different circumstances, always being very sweet, gentle and playful. The Golden Retriever stands out for its good operational intelligence (it can learn commands quickly and effectively) and...,including being widely used as a guide dog for the blind and an emotional support dog.

This intelligent dog breed has all the traits needed to help care for humans in a variety of ways - be it physically or emotionally - and can be trained without issue.

5. doberman pinscher

Like the German Shepherd, the Doberman is an intelligent dog that stands out for its working instinct and trainability, as it learns quickly, is very strong, agile and works as a great watchdog. Loyalty and devotion to the owner, in fact, is one of the greatest qualities of the breed, and one of the reasons why the Doberman makes a point of learning everything that is passed on first: he always wants tomake the guardian happy.

The good thing is that you won't need to repeat the commands much for him to learn and be an obedient dog. Here's the suggestion for those looking for a protective and at the same time super loyal dog!

6. shetland shepherd

Similar to the Border Collie, the Shetland Shepherd is also considered one of the most intelligent dogs. In his studies, Stanley Coren says that this breed is known for being very smart and easy to train. According to the psychologist, the personality of this dog is marked by obedience - that is, he loves to receive commands and can learn very different tricks.

When it comes to training, not much repetition is needed, as the Shetland Shepherd's memory is very good! The Shetland Shepherd can also be used as a herding dog, and does the job with mastery and dedication.

7. labrador retriever

The Labrador is one of the most intelligent dogs (it learns faster than other breeds), it is strong, agile, loves to play and usually gets along very well with children (and with any type of person, actually). It is sociable, adaptable and has a very special bond with its owners. In addition to being one of the most docile and playful breeds you will find on the list, the Labrador has incredible versatility and it iswidely used for different types of work.

Like the German Shepherd, it can be used as a police dog to detect drugs and assist in search and rescue missions (including in aquatic environments). It can also be like the Golden and act as an excellent guide dog.

8. continental dwarf spaniel (Papillon)

Little known here in Brazil, the Continental Dwarf Spaniel breed (or Papillon, as it is also called) stands out for being one of the most intelligent dogs in the world, occupying the eighth position in Stanley Coren's ranking. Despite its small size, the dog is extremely protective of its owners and has as some of its main characteristics fast learning and a good memory. That is, it does notthere's no reason to give this cuteness a chance!

The Papillon was once used as a hunting dog, and even today these instincts are present in the breed. They like to be stimulated and have a powerful dog nose!

9. rottweiler

Even though the Rottweiler has an unfair reputation for being brave and aggressive, it has many qualities, such as obedience and unusual intelligence. These dogs are incredibly strong, disciplined, and easy to train. The Rottweiler is a smarter dog than many others out there, showing abilities to solve complex problems (such as figuring out a way to escape from the house, for example). Ifraised the right way, they make great companions!

According to Stanley Coren, the Rottweiller also ranks as the Top Dogs for Watchdog Barking. They take care of home and property with excellence.

10. Australian Cattleman

Now that you know which dog breed is the most intelligent and other dogs that stand out in terms of intelligence, it's time to find out who occupies the tenth position in the ranking! And the answer is the Australian Cattleman, a breed that is rarely found in Brazil, but that has a lot to offer for those who are willing to get to know the dog better.

Like the Border Collie, they are a great herding dog, often used by farmers to look after their livestock. They have above average instinctive and working intelligence, and are very obedient and loyal to their owners.

How to know if you have a smart dog - here are some tips!

There are several signs that indicate a dog is smart! If you have a puppy, just pay attention to the details and behavior of your friend on a daily basis. To find out if your dog is smart, observe whether he..:

• Learns tricks and commands with ease;
• Can communicate clearly with you;
• Has a well-developed memory;
• Maintains a good relationship with other people and pets;
• Easily adapts to new situations;
• He takes the initiative to start games and always shows what he wants;
• It is more cautious and not very impulsive;
• Responds well to challenges.

In addition to these characteristics, one thing that helps a lot to know which dog is smarter is to understand how canine language works! Dogs are more expressive than we think and communicate with us - and with other pets - through body posture and vocalization (barking, howling, grunting). Therefore, it is important to know your pet very well to understand what he wants to say ina few moments.