Does Your Dog Make the List of the Dumbest Dog Breeds?
The Border Collie is widely considered to be the world’s smartest dog breed (with the Poodle coming in close second). If some dog breeds are the smartest, it only makes sense that some dog breeds are the dumbest, right? An internet search for dumbest dog breeds will turn up numerous lists of those breeds people think are less intelligent in some ways.
First, what determines the smartest and dumbest dog breeds?
What determines which dogs are among the dumbest dog breeds? Photography by Waldemar Dabrowski / Shutterstock.
So, just what makes a dog smart — or puts him in the rankings for the dumbest dog breeds? Is it simply how trainable he is? His ability to remember things? Sense of direction? Energy level? Something else?
In 1994, a psychologist named Stanley Coren, PhD., DSc., FRSC, wrote a book called The Intelligence of Dogs (Atria Books). Dr. Coren ranked more than 100 dog breeds based on three specific types of intelligence:
- Instinctive intelligence (ability to perform tasks it was bred to perform like herding or hunting)
- Adaptive intelligence (ability to independently problem solve and learn from previous experiences)
- Working and obedience intelligence (ability to learn when being taught by humans)
In The Intelligence of Dogs, Dr. Coren’s top 10 smartest breeds in order of intelligence were:
Border Collies top the list of smartest dog breeds. Photography by oneinchpunch / Shutterstock.
- Border Collie
- Poodle
- German Shepherd Dog
- Golden Retriever
- Doberman Pinscher
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Labrador Retriever
- Papillon
- Rottweiler
- Australian Cattle Dog
The 10 lowest-ranking breeds (or the dumbest dog breeds) according to the book were (in descending order):
Beagles make the list for dumbest dog breeds. Photography by alex_ugalek/Thinkstock.
So, does this mean these are the 10 dumbest dog breeds? Well, not necessarily.
When talking dumbest dog breeds, remember: all dogs have, and were bred for, different skills
“How smart you appear to be depends on the test,” says Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, Dipl. ACVB, professor emeritus and former section head and program director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. “Until quite recently, I had two dogs. One of them was hyper and the other dog would sort of lie around like a lump. You would say Jasper was not as smart as Rusty. But once you were out on a trail, Jasper lit up. He was doing the job that nature intended him to do because he was a coonhound, and he was using his super-intelligent nose. He was brilliant at his job, but not so good at some other things.”
It’s no secret that purebred dogs have very different skills depending on what they were bred to do. For instance, herding breeds like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Corgis are universally considered to be extremely intelligent. Due to the nature of their work, they are excellent at both making independent decisions and taking instructions from humans.
Why are hound dogs considered to be among the dumbest dog breeds?
Why do so many hound dog breeds make the list of dumbest dogs breeds? “Pretty much all scenthounds are governed by their noses,” Dr. Dodman says. “They’re hard to train because they don’t really look up, they look down. They’re not really interested in listening or pleasing anybody, they’re just interested in tracking with their noses. The sighthounds want to chase anything that moves. For every dog breed there’s a purpose, and the mixed breeds are just a combination of the purebreds. I can see how it might be easy to superficially judge a dog who is kind of slow and not paying a lot of attention to what you say and really not that interested in performing tricks, but it doesn’t mean that they’re not smart, and in some ways, being very independent could be more intelligent than being obedient.”
Scenthounds like Basset Hounds, Beagles and Bloodhounds can sniff out almost anything. Sighthounds can spot their prey making the slightest movement and swiftly chase it down. A Border Collie is far more trainable than a Bloodhound, but a Bloodhound is far superior at tracking scents than a Border Collie. They each have different skills, but they excel in their own ways.
Determining the dumbest dog breeds presents the same issues as determining human intelligence
Dr. Dodman notes how gauging human intelligence can present a similar conundrum to determining the dumbest dog breeds. “It just depends on how you grade people,” he explains. “Some people are good at math, some people are good at English. You can be good at some things and not so good at others.”
Considering the vast differences in skill sets among dogs, and taking into account the fact that dogs don’t speak our language, how can we accurately assess a dog’s intelligence and thus, the dumbest dog breeds? “It seems to be like multiple intelligences,” Dr. Dodman says. “Do you measure them as being particularly bright like Jasper, almost a savant, when it came to hunting? Or do you have to average out all the behaviors over 10 different types of behavior and give them an average score, which I imagine would come back to be pretty much the same for all dogs?”
Brian Hare, Ph.D., associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University in North Carolina, and founder of the Duke Canine Cognition Center, studies dog psychology. “We play the same types of games that researchers play with young children,” he says. “We give dogs puzzles to solve, and the choices they make reveal how their minds work.”
According to Dr. Hare, dog intelligence and the dumbest dog breeds are not black and white matters. “I don’t really think there is any such thing as ‘smart’ dogs and ‘dumb’ dogs,” he states. “That is just a throwback to a linear version of intelligence, as though intelligence is a cup of coffee that is more or less full. Different dogs are good at different things. And all of them are geniuses in their own way.”
In fact, some of the research on dumbest dogs might not be accurate
As it turns out, some of the research done to determine the most intelligent dogs or dumbest dog breeds might not be entirely accurate.
“The scientific work on breeds has not really held up,” Dr. Hare states. “Most breeds are only 150 years old, so there is very little to distinguish them. To scientifically prove the smartest breed, you would need to compare at least 30 dogs from each breed. They would have to be puppies raised and tested in a similar manner to control for the effect to rearing history and age on performance. If you took the AKC breeds or all breeds worldwide, you would need between 6,000 to 12,000 puppies, decades of work, millions of dollars and about a thousand graduate students. It is no wonder no one has done it.”
In fact, in his own research, Dr. Hare has seen as much variation within a breed as between them. “For example, Labradors bred for the military are the same breed as Labradors bred to be assistance dogs — and you have never seen two more different dogs in your life,” he explains.
Humans categorizing certain breeds as the dumbest dog breeds is less about truly measuring their intelligence and more about not understanding the breed’s particular skillset.
“No individual dog or an entire breed should be considered ‘dumb,’” says Gina DiNardo, executive secretary for the American Kennel Club. “Ease of training is not an accurate way to assess a dog’s intelligence. What we humans may perceive as an animal being ‘dumb’ may be independence, stubbornness or aloofness, which are common characteristics in many breeds. Training takes time and patience, and every dog is different. Learn different training techniques available, and if you are having problems, seek out a trainer who can give you the skills that you need to teach your dog.”
So, what is it about certain breeds that caused them to end up as the dumbest dog breeds in Dr. Coren’s book The Intelligence of Dogs? Let’s take a look at each of the supposed dumbest dog breeds.
The 10 Dumbest Dog Breeds and Why They’ve Been Characterized as “Dumb”
1. Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound is the “dumbest” dog. Photography by Olga_i / Shutterstock.
The Afghan Hound tops the dumbest dog breeds list according to The Intelligence of Dogs, but Afghan lovers surely disagree. Afghans are sighthounds, which means they were bred to hunt using their extraordinary speed and eyesight. Like many sighthounds, Afghans can be aloof, which means they can be a little standoffish and reserved, especially with strangers. They can also be stubborn and independent. Due to these traits, Afghans are not easy to train, but that doesn’t mean they’re dumb. They simply prefer to think for themselves and do things on their own terms. You might have to be more creative when training an Afghan, but their elegance, regal air and devotion to their humans makes them special companions.
2. Basenji
Basenjis also make the list of dumbest dog breeds. Photography by krushelss / Shutterstock.
The Basenji is another sighthound that makes the list of dumbest dog breeds for his independence and aloofness. Some people describe this breed as having feline qualities, and in fact, many Basenjis will groom themselves like cats. The breed has earned a reputation for being “untrainable,” but again, ease of training is not always an accurate indicator of intelligence. Quite the contrary, Basenjis are intelligent, curious and playful. Like inquisitive toddlers, they are smart enough to get into trouble if you don’t watch them carefully. Raising a Basenji can sometimes feel like taming a wild animal. They are watchful and wary, and although most bond with their owners, they may or may not like your friends. Bottom line: Basenjis are stubborn so they aren’t consistently obedient, but they can be trained. Positive methods are best.
3. Bulldog
Bulldogs are known for their stubbornness. Photography ©Lindsay_Helms | Thinkstock.
Another breed known for stubbornness on the list of dumbest dog breeds is the Bulldog. The term “bullheaded” fits the Bulldog to a T. For this reason, Bulldogs can be difficult to train, but dumb? You only have to look to one of the famous skateboarding or surfing Bulldogs to see that they are definitely capable of learning. Bulldogs are also labeled as lazy, but clearly some enjoy more vigorous activities than lying on the couch.
4. Chow Chow
Chow Chows can also be difficult to train. Photography by Sergieiev/Shutterstock.
Chow Chows might look like adorable teddy bears, but they are not always the cuddly type. Originally bred to be guard dogs, Chows are serious, independent and aloof. They are strong-willed and stubborn, and therefore more difficult to train, which lands them a spot on the list of dumbest dog breeds. Chows are intelligent — they just have minds of their own. If not trained correctly, Chows might challenge their humans for authority, which can become problematic. For these reasons, Chows require firm but fair training and extensive socialization starting from an early age. When raised properly, Chows are noble, loyal and devoted companions.
5. Borzoi
Borzois are sighthounds and may be a bit stubborn. Photography ©volofin | iStock / Getty Images Plus.
Yet another sighthound, the Borzoi is an independent freethinker. This breed gets on the dumbest dog breeds list since they can also be stubborn — training a Borzoi is an exercise in patience. Borzois seem to do best with frequent, short training sessions rather than hour-long classes. In the house, they are generally very well-mannered, calm, clean and quite affectionate, especially with their special people.
6. Bloodhound
Bloodhounds are another hound dog on the list of dumbest dog breeds. Photography ©alkir | iStock / Getty Images Plus.
If you have ever witnessed the aurora borealis, the colorful northern lights display that transforming the night sky into a brilliant sight to behold, you might be able to understand how a scenthound like the Bloodhound “sees” the world with his sensitive nose. Bloodhounds make the list of dumbest dog breeds and are hard to train because they are so distracted by all the glorious scents just waiting to be investigated. They also have a ton of energy, are stubborn and independent, and are absolutely relentless when on a scent trail. Combined together, the Bloodhound’s unique skills can sometimes make these dogs challenging to live with, but enter a Bloodhound in a tracking event and watch his special talents shine.
7. Pekingese
Pekingese are somewhat slow and sloth-like. Show Pekingese Malachy. Photography by by Debby Wong / Shutterstock.
One reason people might think Pekingese are a little slow is the fact that they are somewhat sloth-like. At home, they enjoy lounging about and surveying their domain. This could be due to their physical build or partly held over from their history as sacred pets of the Tang Dynasty in 8th-century China. In fact, Pekingese were called “sleeve dogs” because members of the Imperial household carried their cherished companions around snugly nestled in their voluminous sleeves. Can you blame the Peke for enjoying the easy life? Pekingese are also stubborn and difficult to housebreak. This doesn’t make them dumb, but it does make for some training challenges. Start training early and be consistent.
8. Beagle
A Beagle’s keen sense of smell often causes people to label him as “dumb.” Photography ©Halfpoint | Thinkstock.
Like Bloodhounds, Beagles like to follow their noses, which can sometimes get them into trouble … and lands them on the list of dumbest dog breeds. The Beagle’s sweet, affectionate nature, combined with his happy-go-lucky outlook might lead you to think he’s empty headed, but this breed is far from dumb. It’s best to keep Beagles on a leash. They can’t resist the urge to explore, smell the world and chase small critters.
9. Mastiff
Mastiffs make the list of dumbest dog breeds. Photography ©Photology1971 | iStock / Getty Images Plus.
The large, laid-back Mastiff is a very chill dog. So chill, in fact, that you might thing he’s a little dense. They are also a bit stubborn and might be more challenging to train than some breeds. Again, activity level and ease of training aren’t necessarily good indicators of intelligence. Mastiffs are actually quite bright. Due to their size and natural wariness of strangers, it’s essential for owners to start training and socialization early in puppyhood so Mastiffs develop into well-behaved and discerning companions.
10. Basset Hound
Basset Hounds, like Beagles and Bloodhounds, are very guided by their sense of smell. Photography by momente / Shutterstock.
Like the Pekingese, Basset Hounds can be a bit lazy. This could be in part to their long and low bodies or their laid-back personalities. Bassets can be a little stubborn, and like their scenthound cousins the Bloodhounds and the Beagles, Bassets might have trouble ignoring the amazing scents around them long enough to concentrate on learning. However, Bassets want to please their people and are very food motivated, so they do respond well to training. Don’t mistake the Basset’s easy-going personality for lack of intelligence, though. They are bright and affectionate dogs.
The bottom line on the dumbest dog breeds
It’s not fair to label any breed or individual dog dumb. Yes, some dogs are brighter than others, but most dogs are good at something — you just have to figure out what.
“Some dogs do some things better than others, and they have different behaviors.,” Dr. Dodman says. “Police dogs and army dogs tend to be the German Shepherd Dog and Malinois types because they’re easily trainable. Does that mean they’re smart? Or does it mean they’re not so smart because they always follow other people’s directions and don’t think independently? You can argue it both ways.”
Tell us: Is your dog’s breed or breeds on this list of dumbest dog breeds?
Thumbnail: Photography ©dimarik | Thinkstock.
Having trouble training your dog? Find out 3 reasons why dogs ignore our cues >>
This post was originally published in 2012 and updated in 2018.
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35 comments on “Does Your Dog Make the List of the Dumbest Dog Breeds?”
Bulldogs are stubborn for sure, but they can be trained and they have a good memory. They won’t forget something you’ve taught them. I don’t think my bulldog is dumb at all!
I love love love my beagle, he’s a runner for sure tbough.????He’s very loving and loyal and interacts with other dog’s and people extremely well. He’s patient and kind and loves to follow his nose.
How on earth is a Rottweiler on this list? I’m hard-pressed to think of smarter dogs. Border Collies and Poodles are among the only dogs I would say are smarter/more trainable. I’m shocked to see them on here. They’re brilliant dogs. The author has clearly never owned one and any they have met were very untrained.
What a great post!
My bulldog isn’t as dumb as he makes out. He just pretends so we all feel sorry for him!
I agree that Rottweilers belong on this list, I know many people with Rottweilers and they are truly a dumb dog.
Our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is extremely intelligent. He learns word meanings very quickly and anticipates our actions really well. Clearly the author has never owned one! They are the sweetest natured, most loving dog breed on the face of the planet into the bargain.
The word “dumb” offends me, period. These are only generalities and the lady who protested the Rottweiler’s inclusion on this list has probably read some of the same articles that I have that contradict your assessment. No, I do not have one- I have a Shih Tzu and can’t seem to find that breed on any of your lists. BTY it doesn’t take a genius to realize one’s dog is not one. Example: my brother had a border collie for years.
what a stupid article. Smartest are Jack Russells and Cattle Dogs the woman that wrote this must have a 12 iq
It’s worth noting that this article’s comments are dated before the article was published. Is this an attempt from the author to address the previous firestorm from the original article? Reading this article (second round) causes me to still question the author’s motive. At least other professionals and organizations mentioned in the article comment that there are no real ‘dumb’ dog, as each group was bred for specific purposes and intelligence is subjective to the task being performed. The main body of the paragraph dig give me hope until I reached the section related to “some of the research on dumbest dogs might not be accurate”. Is this an inference from the author hinting that these are the dumbest still breeds? From personal experience, I have had a total of four dogs from the breed list. Either I was lucky or all four of my dogs were intelligent and trainable. I will be honest, it did take time and patience, but the rewards were worth it. All it took me was to understand their breed specifics and adjust my training to incorporate those natural tendencies. The last part of the article that briefly talks about the ten dumbest dogs does little to counter argue their intelligence and left me wonder how much experience the author has in regards to these specific breeds. Maybe it’s a subtle hint regarding dogs and that I should pick from the ten intelligent breeds at the beginning of the article or switch to cats by clicking the “Prefer Cat’s, Visit Castster” link located at the bottom of the page in a dog website.
The author’s logic is bizarre and leaves me questioning much of the writing (and this entire website). The article says that it would be impossible to breed intelligence into breeds, but then suggest that some breeds have specific other mental traits. This makes no sense by any genetics standard. If a breed cannot be dumb by the author’s logic, it also cannot be stubborn.
Second, the author says about many of these breeds that they are actually intelligent. But the author literally just said breeds don’t have intelligence! These here are just arbitrary claims, and pure hypocrisy.
Finally, exceptions don’t disprove the rule. There are standard deviations and acceptable variance levels. Because there have been a few smart bulldogs does not mean most bulldogs are dumb.
If this is the standard for writing on this website, I would say you can’t trust it at all.
They are on the smartest list, #9. The dumb dog list comes right after the most intelligent.
owner of a sighthound!! Sighthounds are not dumb,, they are independent thinkers,,, aloof? not with their ”people’- family members that they have bonded with. generally aloof with strangers… they were bred to think on their own.. certainly not dumb.. I have actually been amazed to watch my sighthound think situations through on her own.. independent- but not dumb.
owner of a sighthound!! Sighthounds are not dumb,, they are independent thinkers,,, aloof? not with their ”people’- family members that they have bonded with. generally aloof with strangers… they were bred to think on their own.. certainly not dumb.. I have actually been amazed to watch my sighthound think situations through on her own.. independent- but not dumb.
owner of a sighthound.. they are independent thinkers.. but not dumb in the least. Am often amazed to watch my sighthound think situations through on her own. That shows real intelligence!
Aloof.. only with strangers, very bonded with her ”family” members.
I had a Pekingese for over 17 years , a real smart clever little guy. I now have a 5 year Peke and he’s the smartest little dog ever. He will make sure he disappears when he sees me approaching with grooming tools in my hand. He loves to play hide and seek outdoors on a sunny day and always knows where to find me, so they’re not dumb.
I have a 3 year old Pekingese male. He is pure joy and the heart of our home. We have 4 children and he is so smart he plays differently with each of them. He knows every sound in the house and when he hears anything unfamiliar he will let us know. He knows which toy I’m telling him to get so he can play fetch. It seems he actually understands what I’m saying to him. He’s full of kisses and can get feisty. I can’t see him being a dumb dog. We had a bulldog for 7 years that we loved very much, and he was difficult to train, he just didn’t get it… my peke was trained in 3 days.
My Afghan Hounds know all the commands, and will comply if they want to.
Is that smart or dumb?
I think my dogs do it to piss off the “experts”!
my afghan is smarter than the author of this article, but he won’t admit it!
People saying Rottweilers shouldn’t be on the dumbest dog breed list should probably have paid closer attention to the article considering it’s actually on the list of smartest breeds.
Regarding the actual lists, everyone will have anecdotes to defend breeds that they own, but at the end of the day, some breeds just aren’t as intelligent as others.
Look at all butthurt dog owners here, just because you love your dog and you think it’s smart, doesn’t mean it actually is. It’s a psychological thing.
I totally agree. Noone yours is the first real comment on here. All I am reading is a bunch of people who think their dogs are brilliant.
I think my sheltie is the dumbest dog I ever owned . She may be friendly and harmless, and she was easy to train and used to listen pretty good, but I don’t think she is very smart. She doesn’t think much and never knows what to do when faced with other dogs or people. She would go with anybody that offers her ride, she goes in water even though she knows she’ll sink like a rock etc. On the other hand, my Dobie rottweiler was very smart. He knew his toys by name and understood me when I spoke either French or English. I love them both though 🙂
As a person who has had beagles for 20 years, I am highly offended at the characterization of them as ‘dumb.’ And the idea that they are hard to train because they don’t look up is ludicrous — it just means that you have to use different training techniques than you would with other dogs. They were bred to be smellers. For someone to then turn around and say that doing exactly what they were bred to do makes them ‘dumb’ is asinine.
I agree. I have a beagle (rescue one ) and he us by no way dumb at all. He is stubourn sometimes but he has more intelligence than some humans I come across. He will solve most puzzles and brain games and knows all his commands. Even learns new tricks easily. Once he sees his clicker he knows is fun learning time. 100% not dumb. Very loving loyal and full of character. If he could read the article he would tell you himself ????????
I absolutely agree. My experience with many years of owning beagles has born out that they are quite intelligent.
For example, one of our beagles expressed her displeasure with us clipping her toenails outside on the back deck by escaping, grabbing the clippers in her mouth, and sailing over the lawn to the hedges where she promptly hid them. No fool that dog!
The smartest dog? Judge from my story. “Pudgy” was 1/2 Ridge back with something unknown, maybe a hound? My wife taught her to leap into her arms in 15 min ! She would find our two sons by name and nudge them into our presence. If she wanted to sit in a soft chair we’d place socks on her paws then place her on the chair. She’d then go find her socks and lay them by the chair until we would put them on, then jump on the chair. She knew “mommy” from “daddy” and look for us independently ! She lived for 15 yrs. and sadly developed splayed paws. We bound them up but it got too painful for her, so we had to send her to God in Heaven. I got teary writing this. I miss her so much. We wrapped her in cloth and buried her in the bag yard. My Pudgy was half human.
My beagle does take about 10 seconds to comprehend any command, then nods and smiles crazily like Odie from “Garfield”, as if to say, “Yeah yeah yeah!” However, I attribute most of this “dumb” behavior to being scent-smart and not language-smart. The more scent-incentivized the command or task, the quicker she responds and the more in her element she appears.
I will take the “dumb” dog over the dumb human who wrote this excrement of an article.
My 9 year old English Mastiff isn’t interested in fetching sticks and seeking approval, he’s far too intelligent to be interested in that! lol However, he does understand every word we say to him and is the most loyal and intelligent canine companion I’ve ever had, and I’ve had several.
I’m surprise that Pluto is not here. He’s just so dumb compare to Goofy!
Guys, why you’re angry with the author if she said, “So, does this mean these are the 10 dumbest dog breeds? Well, not necessarily. Remember: all dogs have, and were bred for, different skills”.
I think you’re just furious because she used the word “DUMB”..
So author don’t use words that make close-minded people angry… HAHAHA! 🙂
Beagles aren’t ‘dumb’! 🙁 Just not quite smart enough to know what side their bread is buttered on.
Intelligence does not necessarily equate with trainability.
Really smart dogs can be real problems — they will know all the loop-holes and how to manipulate their humans.
Give me plodding loving German Shepherds any day. “Yes, I can do that!” “And that! And I love you and I will never run away when your back is turne or take off if I don’t have a lead on.”
Beagles, on the other hand, always ask “What’s in it for me, if I do that?” “Why do you want me to do that?” or ‘But I don’t WANT to do that!”