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?
First, what are the criteria that determine dog breed intelligence?
So, just what makes a dog smart? 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)
The following lists are pulled from the dog intelligence rankings in The Intelligence of Dogs by Dr. Coren.
10 Smartest Dog Breeds
- Border Collie
- Poodle
- German Shepherd Dog
- Golden Retriever
- Doberman Pinscher
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Labrador Retriever
- Papillon
- Rottweiler
- Australian Cattle Dog
10 Dumbest Dog Breeds
So, does this mean these are the 10 dumbest dog breeds? Well, not necessarily.
When talking about canine intelligence, remember: all dogs are 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?
“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 dog breed intelligence presents the same issues as determining human intelligence
Dr. Dodman notes how gauging human intelligence can present a similar conundrum to determining the intelligence of 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 is not a black and white matter. “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.”
Inaccuracy in the research on dog intelligence
As it turns out, some of the research done to determine the most intelligent 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 these breeds.
The 10 Dumbest Dog Breeds and Their Traits
1. Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound tops the list of “dumbest dog breeds” 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 that they aren’t smart. 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
The Basenji is another sighthound that makes the list 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
Another breed known for stubbornness 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 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
Yet another sighthound, the Borzoi is an independent freethinker. This breed 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
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 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
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
Like Bloodhounds, Beagles like to follow their noses, which can sometimes get them into trouble. The Beagle’s sweet, affectionate nature, combined with his happy-go-lucky outlook might lead you to think he’s empty headed. 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
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
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.”
Note: Dogster does not believe any dog breed is a “dumb” dog breed.
Thumbnail: Photography ©dimarik | Thinkstock.
Originally published in 2012 and updated in 2018.
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237 thoughts on “Does Your Dog Make the List of the Dumbest Dog Breeds?”
How is this Jackie Brown considered a pet expert, when she doesn't even know the definition of dumb? Hard to train, Stubborness, and Independence doesn't mean dumb. Prefer to think for themselves is even listed as a reason they're on the dumb list, seems that would be better catorgized as a smart trait. Also in basically every entry she goes on to say, "but that doesn’t mean they’re dumb", or something along those lines. Really your putting dogs on a dumb list then saying well they're not dumb, makes sense right… Well then why are they on a dumb list? Maybe a different title would more suiting? Pretty sure we got a nominee for the Dumbest writers online.
I feel obliged to tell you that the "dumb list" is authored by Stan Corey in his book, not by Jackie Brown. In this article Jackie raises arguments against calling any breed simply "dumb", when they're just good at the thing they were bred to do, and not quite good at other tasks.
However, I have to say Jackie's arguments aren't really strong at all, and I think Jackie is misguided in this article TBH. If a dog is only good in his instinctive task, and is not flexible in his decision-making, while also being bad at learning new things and solving problems, well, they can be labeled "dumb". Golden Retrievers are not only good as working dogs, they're also good with children, are empathetic, can learn a lot of new things just by OBSERVING their handler… That's a smart dog. If a breed cannot do any of those things, arguments that they're misunderstood fall quite flat IMO.
Cheers, Jack
Rottweilers are mastiffs, this list is….. weird.
"Are the canines we refer to as the dumbest dogs just the ones who are harder for humans to train?"
No, some breeds are smarter than others, just like humans. Who also like to pretend that they are all the same, much to the detriment of society. Only, with dogs we are still allowed to apply science whereas with other humans we are not, and must pretend that we are all equal.
Further, we characterize dumb and smart dogs by how easy they are to train, so the question is utterly ridiculous. For instance, pit bulls commit 65% of all dog attacks despite only being 6% of the dog population. Thus, some can be trained but the vast majority cannot.
65% of REPORTED dog attacks. You do realize that chihuahuas, shih tzus, dachshunds, or any terrier breed attacks people regularly, as these breeds tend to belong to terrible humans. Its about the ability of the human, not the dog.
The only reason pit bulls get such a bad rep, especially being nanny dogs, is because they have a significant amount of bite force.
You claim that chihuahuas, shih tzus, dachshunds and any terrier breeds belong to "terrible people". Can you please throw a peer-reviewed source of that claim my way? A statistical study perhaps?
Statistics don't lie. Claiming that all those attacks are caused not by the dog, but by the ineptitude of the owner is unrealistic, maybe even naive.
Reported attacks are actually "reported" because of their severity. Not all mishandled dogs lash out at people. Yet for some reason, some breeds tend to do it way more often than others. Honestly, whether it's because of cruelty of the handler or perceived threat or whatever else, facts still stand firm – pit bulls attack people way more often than other breeds, and the difference is stunningly huge.
If you lose a jaw or your hand to a random pit bull, will you argue in their defense?
Cheers,
Jack
Pugs should be on the dumbest dog list just for the simple fact that their brains aren’t very big at all, size of a golf ball if that. Chihuahuas should also be on the dumbest dog list plus they’re annoying af…tbh I’d take a pure bred mastiff over a pug or chihuahua any day of the week 🥴
Size of the brain is one thing, but we would also have to measure neuron density to really be able to state that a breed is dumb because of their anatomy.
any of this information is not true the above list of dogs are just hard to train THIS IS A VERY DUMB LIST 😞😞😞😞😞😠😠😠😠
As someone who has owned 3 purebred Beagles now and self trained them for hunting, as well as them being family dogs when not hunting, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that Beagles should be on the smartest list and no where near the dumbest. They are better problem solvers than most humans. They learn things EXTREMELY fast, you just have to deal with their stubbornness to get them to do things a lot of times, but they definitely know what their supposed to do vs what their not. 2 of my beagles I PROMISE you if they had the ability to move their lips to form the sounds, would be speaking words to us as they literally will try to verbally communicate back and forth with people. I've owned other breeds that are in the so called "smart list". I've owned labs, German shepherds, and even had a childhood friend with a collie that I was around a ton growing up. The German shepherds were easily the smartest I have ever been around. But I'm telling you with full confidence and knowledge that Beagles aren't far behind them.
Those breeds are not dumb, they are difficult to train.
This is so dumb and you guys made the dumbest list for having this list. Beagles and all dogs are smarter than most humans. Just need to train them. My Beagle is super smart. Dumb list.
Same. We have an adopted beagle-pointer mix and we take him to off-leash dog parks because he is so good without a leash. He comes whenever we call him, and not all dogs at the park do that. He also knows to stay away from kids (because some are scared of dogs for no reason) and not to go near the road. He's definitely not dumb.