Have you ever wondered whether your dog is “not smart” compared with other pooches? The short answer is—there are no “dumb” dogs. Several elements must be considered when it comes to understanding dog intelligence, including what activities the breed was historically bred for, as well as environmental factors.
Dogs are able to solve complex problems and are more like humans as well as other higher primates than previously thought, according to psychologist and lead canine researcher Dr. Stanley Coren from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, who spoke about “how dogs think” at the American Psychological Associations annual convention back in 2009.
“Their stunning flashes of brilliance and creativity are reminders that they may not be Einsteins but are sure closer to humans than we thought,” said Coren, who believes a dogs mental ability is close to a human child aged from two to 2.5 years old, according to several behavioral measures.
Dogs are also capable of deliberately attempting to deceive other dogs and people in a bid to get rewards and “they are nearly as successful in deceiving humans as humans are in deceiving dogs,” Coren added.
Many people base their judgement of a dogs intelligence on the animals trainability. But the idea of breeds being easy or difficult to train is relative, as different breeds were developed to perform specific jobs, says certified applied animal behaviorist Dr. Mary Burch, the family dog director at the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Speaking to Newsweek, Burch said: “The discussion about difficult breeds to train—possibly implying the breed is not known for being smart—is bound to offend someone, who is likely the breeder.
“In the beginning, dogs helped people by herding, hunting and guarding and over time, they became companions. Some breeds were shown to make excellent service dogs or competitors in sports such as agility,” Burch explained.
The key aspects to think about when it comes to training your dog is what your breed was created to do and what kinds of training you want to do with your puppy.
“If you want to train your dog to hunt and you choose a terrier, you might end up thinking your dog is not trainable, when it is actually you who is not so smart,” Burch said.
Have you ever looked at your furry friend as they run face-first into a glass door or bark at their own reflection and wondered, “Is my dog. kinda dumb?” Don’t worry – you’re not alone! As a lifelong dog lover and someone who’s spent countless hours watching my own pup make questionable life choices, I’ve asked myself this question more times than I’d like to admit.
But here’s the thing – the concept of “dumb dogs” is way more complicated than it seems. Today, I want to dive deep into the fascinating world of canine intelligence and challenge some common misconceptions about what makes a dog “smart” or “dumb.”
The Myth of the “Dumb Dog”
Let’s get something straight right off the bat – there’s really no such thing as a truly “dumb” dog. I know that might sound surprising, especially if you’ve just watched your precious pooch try to fetch a ball that’s still in your hand, but experts across the board agree on this point.
According to experts cited in Newsweek several elements need to be considered when understanding dog intelligence including
- What activities the breed was historically bred for
- Environmental factors
- Individual temperament
- Training history
- Socialization experiences
Dr. Stanley Coren from the University of British Columbia, a leading canine researcher, believes a dog’s mental ability is similar to that of a human child aged 2 to 2.5 years. That’s pretty impressive when you think about it! Dogs can solve complex problems and are more like humans and higher primates than previously thought.
What We Mistake for “Dumbness”
When we label a dog as “not smart,” we’re usually referring to behaviors like:
- Not responding to commands
- Being difficult to train
- Having poor recall
- Seeming oblivious to their surroundings
- Making decisions that appear illogical to humans
But here’s where it gets interesting – these behaviors aren’t necessarily signs of low intelligence at all! According to the experts at Wag!, what many dog owners interpret as “dumbness” is often just:
- Under-stimulation
- Breed-specific traits
- Lack of proper training
- Insufficient mental or physical exercise
- Incompatibility between training goals and breed characteristics
Different Types of Dog Intelligence
Did you know there’s more than one type of canine intelligence? According to Dr. Coren, dogs possess three distinct types:
- Instinctive intelligence: What the dog was bred to do
- Adaptive intelligence: How well the dog learns from its environment to solve problems
- Working and obedience intelligence: The equivalent of “school learning”
This explains why some dogs might excel in certain areas while seeming clueless in others. Your retriever might be brilliant at finding hidden toys but terrible at figuring out puzzle feeders. That doesn’t make them dumb – it just means different parts of their brain are more developed than others.
Breed Matters (But Not How You Think)
Many people assume that certain dog breeds are inherently smarter than others. While there’s some truth to this, it’s not as simple as ranking dogs from smartest to dumbest.
Dr. Mary Burch, the family dog director at the American Kennel Club, explains that different breeds were developed to perform specific jobs. The idea of breeds being easy or difficult to train is relative because various breeds were bred for different purposes.
For example, Border Collies consistently rank high in trainability and problem-solving because they were bred to make independent decisions while herding livestock. On the other hand, scent hounds like Bloodhounds might seem “stubborn” or “dumb” when it comes to obedience training, but they’re absolute geniuses when it comes to tracking scents!
Adam Boyko, assistant professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, notes that breed only explains about 20% of the variation in trainability across dogs. The remaining 80% comes from environmental factors and individual differences not tied to breed. That’s huge!
The “Difficult to Train” Breeds
The AKC has identified several breeds that can be more challenging to train, including:
- Afghan Hound: Aloof, dignified, with strong hunting instincts
- Basenji: Independent, smart, “catlike” with quick loss of interest
- Basset Hound: Agreeable but independent and sometimes stubborn
- Bloodhound: Affectionate but stubborn and independent
- Borzoi: Intelligent but can be stubborn
- Bulldog: Friendly but dignified, good at specific tricks
- Chihuahua: Sassy, confident, intelligent but sometimes challenging
- Chow Chow: Dignified, serious-minded, and can be stubborn
- Pekingese: Self-important, opinionated, and sometimes aloof
- Scottish Terrier: Independent, spirited, may get bored easily
But here’s the important thing – these breeds aren’t harder to train because they’re less intelligent! They’re harder to train because they were either:
- Bred for independent thinking rather than following human commands
- Not selected for working closely with humans
- Bred for specific traits that don’t prioritize obedience
Signs Your Dog Is Under-Stimulated (Not Dumb!)
If your dog is exhibiting behaviors that make you question their intelligence, they might actually be under-stimulated. Look for these signs:
- Barking randomly at objects
- Chewing inappropriate items
- Seeming “spaced out” or disengaged
- Difficulty focusing during training
- Destructive behaviors
- Excessive energy or restlessness
- Seeming unresponsive to commands they previously knew
These behaviors don’t indicate low intelligence – they show a need for more mental and physical stimulation! Just like a bored human might make poor decisions, a bored dog will find ways to entertain themselves (often to our dismay).
The Truth About Training Different Dogs
Training challenges vary widely between breeds and individual dogs. Here’s what the experts say:
For “Slower” Learners
Some dog breeds like Beagles, Mastiffs, Bulldogs, and Chihuahuas may need more repetition when learning new commands – sometimes over 100 repetitions! This doesn’t mean they’re dumb; their breed just has a different learning style.
Tips for training these dogs:
- Be extremely patient and consistent
- Use high-value rewards
- Keep training sessions short but frequent
- Celebrate small successes
- Don’t compare them to other dogs
For Quick Learners
Dogs that learn quickly (like Border Collies, Poodles, and German Shepherds) come with their own challenges. They often need:
- More mental stimulation
- More physical exercise
- Challenging training goals
- Variety in activities
- Prevention of boredom
I’ve found that my quick-learning dog gets into MORE trouble when understimulated because she has the smarts to figure out how to open cabinets, steal food creatively, and generally outsmart my prevention efforts!
Food Motivation and Intelligence
Here’s an interesting fact from Cornell University professor Boyko: Some Labrador retrievers have a mutation in the POMC gene that gives them much higher food motivation. This can make them appear more trainable in the right environment (because they’ll do anything for a treat!).
However, without proper training, these same dogs might be more prone to obesity or swallowing inappropriate objects – highlighting how trainability and “common sense” can be very different things!
Can Dogs Get “Smarter”?
The good news is that YES, dogs can absolutely become “smarter” with proper training and stimulation! The National Canine Research Council’s Janis Bradley explains that all dogs who’ve had some training can become quicker to catch on to new skills.
Once a dog learns that it can do something in exchange for a reward, it starts trying various behaviors until it hits the one you want. The dog thinks, “Are we playing the sit game? The lie down game? The come game?” This process speeds up over time.
But here’s the catch – the person training must first prove to the dog that it can actually influence the trainer’s behavior. This makes the dog a “believer” and easier to train. Dogs with little or inconsistent training simply don’t know this is possible!
Matching Your Expectations to Your Dog’s Abilities
One of the biggest mistakes we make as dog owners is expecting our dogs to excel at things that go against their natural inclinations. As Dr. Burch from the AKC pointedly states, “If you want to train your dog to hunt and you choose a terrier, you might end up thinking your dog is not trainable, when it is actually you who is not so smart.”
Ouch! But she’s got a point.
I’ve seen this firsthand with my friend’s Shih Tzu. She was frustrated that her dog wouldn’t play fetch or learn agility tricks, not realizing that Shih Tzus were literally bred to be lap companions. The dog was perfectly fulfilling its genetic purpose by wanting to cuddle all day!
Remember: They’re Just Dogs!
Sometimes, we need to take a step back and remember that even the smartest dogs have limitations. While they may understand commands, they’ll never become fluent in English. While they may recognize that certain times of day mean food, they’ll never learn to read a clock.
We might get frustrated when our dogs don’t understand something that seems simple to us, but to them, it might be extremely complex. Patience and love are key when working with our four-legged friends.
My Personal Experience
I’ve had both “smart” and “challenging” dogs over the years, and I’ve learned so much from each of them. My Border Collie mix could learn new tricks in just a few repetitions but would get into trouble if I didn’t give her enough to do. My stubborn Basset Hound took forever to house train but never forgot a walking route, even years later.
Were either of them dumb? Absolutely not! They just had different strengths, weaknesses, and ways of processing the world.
Final Thoughts: Intelligence is Complex
So, can dogs be dumb? After looking at all the evidence and expert opinions, I’d have to say no – not in the way we typically think about intelligence.
Dogs have different types of smarts, different motivations, and different genetic predispositions. What looks like “dumbness” to us is usually just a mismatch between our expectations and a dog’s natural tendencies, or a lack of proper training and stimulation.
Next time your dog does something that makes you question their intelligence, try to look at it from a different angle. Maybe they’re bored. Maybe they’re doing exactly what their ancestors were bred to do. Or maybe they’re just being a dog – imperfect, lovable, and wonderful in their own unique way.
After all, as the saying goes – if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it’s stupid. Let’s not do that to our dogs.
What do you think? Have you ever had a dog that seemed particularly “smart” or “challenging”? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!
Are Certain Dog Breeds ‘Smarter’ Than Others?
According to the UBCs Coren, based on data from 208 dog obedience judges from the U.S. and Canada showing the differences in working and obedience intelligence of dog breeds: “Border collies are number one; poodles are second, followed by German shepherds. Fourth on the list is golden retrievers; fifth, dobermans; sixth, Shetland sheepdogs; and finally, labrador retrievers.”
Cornell University professor Boyko, however, noted that for the most part, how difficult it is to train a certain dog has very little to do with its intelligence and everything to do with its temperament and motivation.
Breed only explains only about 20 per cent of the variation in trainability across dogs. The remaining 80 per cent of the difference not attributed to breed “simply means that environmental factors, or genetic factors not fixed in the breed, are the cause of the differences,” Boyko said.
An example of this is the mutation in the POMC (proopiomelanocortin) gene found in some labrador retrievers. This gives some labradors a much higher food motivation which, in the right environment, could make them a lot more trainable than dogs that are less motivated by food, the professor explained.
However, this also means that without the right training and environment, these labradors are more prone to obesity or swallowing inappropriate objects, “highlighting how trainability and common sense can be two very different things,” according to Boyko.
Overall, how easily trainable or “smart” a dog is cannot be judged according to the breed, as it differs depending on the individual dog, according to experts.
Speaking to Newsweek, Dr. José Arce, the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), said that while there are certainly physical and behavioral characteristics associated with different breeds, “so much depends on the traits of each individual dog, such as their age, health, socialization and previous experiences.”
“When it comes to training dogs, and canine behavior in general, I think its important to focus on the individual, and not make presumptions about what that dog can or cant do based on their breed,” Arce said.
Dog breeds that have been identified as highly trainable or not so trainable have often been named as such based on “studies that have sometimes fallen into the category of pseudo-research,” the AKCs Burch noted. “Some authors have ranked breeds based on how well they do in obedience competitions. However, not all breeds are geared to competitive obedience training.”
The National Canine Research Councils Bradely added theres no point in trying to predict how easy or difficult it will be to train a dog (or how “smart” it is) based on their breed, because many dogs have various breeds in their ancestry, so its more difficult to associate any given trait or their trainability down to a single breed.
“A few studies have attempted to correlate the human perception of trainability by breed, but there is simply no way to account for the numerous confounds involved to make such an effort productive,” Bradley said.
Every dog is an individual “dizzying combination” of environmental and genetic factors that interact and influence how they respond to the world.
“Training is simply a question of how good we are at setting up situations that will result in our dogs wanting to do the things we want them to do. The differences are just what happens to motivate a given individual most strongly,” Bradley explained.
Can Dog Intelligence Be Measured?
Its certainly possible to measure a dogs intelligence level but its important to note there are many different types of intelligence, Adam Boyko, assistant professor in biomedical sciences at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, told Newsweek.
For example, wolves are quite intelligent and great at solving problems but lack the “social intelligence” that most dogs have, which makes them able to understand and use human social cues. Some dogs may have a good working memory but have poor spatial reasoning or vice versa, said Boyko, who is an expert on genomic investigation of dogs and has uncovered the genetic basis for many dog diseases and traits.
“The differences we see in dogs in these specific measures of intelligence tend to vary more at an individual level than a breed level, even when the specific skills that were selected for in each breed (e.g. herding, retrieving, pointing, sledging) mean dogs of specific breeds tend to have more of an innate drive to perform certain behaviors,” Boyko said.
The UBCs Coren explained there are three types of dog intelligence. They include instinctive intelligence (what the dog is bred to do), adaptive intelligence (how well the dog learns from its environment to solve problems) as well as working and obedience intelligence (the equivalent of “school learning”).
Janis Bradley, the director of communications and publications for the U.S. National Canine Research Council, told Newsweek its hard to define dog intelligence because it depends on the criteria, which is set by humans.
She said: “The idea of measuring a dogs intelligence is just too fuzzy to be of much use.” If we measure intelligence based on the speed of training, this changes through time with the dogs experiences, so it cant be described as a fixed trait, explained Bradley, who also spent a decade teaching at the San Francisco SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Academy for Dog Trainers.
“If we mean speed of problem solving, then what kinds of problems? Finding pieces of food hidden under cups? The least talented dog is so vastly much better at this than the most talented human that we can barely even talk about it intelligibly. And anything we try to measure may simply be a measure of how well we humans can predict how a dog may respond to a given situation,” Bradley said.
Smart Dog vs Dumb Dog ❌
FAQ
Are dogs ‘dumb’?
In short, while dogs can’t necessarily be considered “dumb” there are specific behaviors and traits that make certain dogs more responsive to commands and more aware of their surroundings than others. What you may think is “dumb” is actually just an under-stimulated, unfulfilled pup.
Should dogs be labeled ‘Dumb’?
Overall, labeling dogs as “dumb” oversimplifies their intellectual capabilities. Canines have impressive cognitive abilities, including their understanding of human emotions, adaptive intelligence, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking abilities.
Why is my dog ‘dumb’?
Whereas we humans see “dumb” as dogs that don’t really understand training commands, responding to us calling them, and doing other things like never learning to not go through the trash, these can actually be signs that your dog is under-stimulated, or just a matter of their breed.
Are Pugs dumb?
These breeds of dogs, like pugs, beagles, and Mastiffs, are the ones that will be happy to sit on your lap (or try to, in the case of bigger ones!) all day, needing little stimulation. They’re not dumb, they’re just happy to be around you!
Do dogs deceive humans?
Dogs are also capable of deliberately attempting to deceive other dogs and people in a bid to get rewards and “they are nearly as successful in deceiving humans as humans are in deceiving dogs,” Coren added. Many people base their judgement of a dog’s intelligence on the animal’s trainability.
Do dogs lack ‘common sense’?
Speaking to Newsweek, Dr. Melissa Bain, professor of clinical animal behavior at the University of California (UC) Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said: “There is no evidence that certain breeds lack ‘common sense.’ Some breeds aren’t ‘expected’ to be smart, so those owners may not spend time training them, therefore, they ‘aren’t smart’.”
Are some dogs just not smart?
Individual Variation: Just like humans, individual dogs can have varying levels of intelligence regardless of their breed. Some dogs may excel in certain tasks or problem-solving situations while others may not.
Can dogs have low intelligence?
For example, Afghan Hounds have the lowest adaptive intelligence, which makes them the least intelligent dog. They face issues in understanding a new command and grasping the ways of executing it. At the same time, Border Collie is the most intelligent dog. It can learn 1000 proper nouns in a lifetime.
Can dogs have autism?
Can some dogs be dumber than others?