Why is Border Collie the smartest dog?

One of the main reasons that these dogs are so intelligent is because they were bred for their smarts. For over a century, people have bred Border Collies for their intelligence and abilities rather than just their looks.

There are many intelligent dogs, but some breeds are particularly well-known for their high intelligence levels. Word comprehension, problem-solving skills, responsiveness to training, communication abilities (with humans and other animals), memory, and the capacity to anticipate human behavior are some of the aspects that go into determining a dog’s intelligence. Dog breeds with the highest intelligence tend to perform well in each of these areas.

Positive reinforcement, like a treat or praise, helps dogs learn the most effectively. A dog is more likely to remain attentive and learn what you’re trying to teach it if you make training seem like a game.

Most smart dogs also are high-energy dog breeds. To avoid boredom, they require a lot of mental and physical stimulation. Otherwise, they might engage in less-than-ideal activities like destroying your sofa to amuse themselves. Nevertheless, these dogs learn quickly and frequently make excellent working dogs and service animals. They take pleasure in work that involves using their brains.

Measuring the Border Collie’s Intelligence

Why is Border Collie the smartest dog?

Border Collies’ popularity had increased as a result of the list of the smartest dog breeds. Many prospective owners chose to take a closer look at these dogs because they were at the top of the list. But how do we know Border Collies are the smartest breed of canine?

This research has been largely credited to canine psychologist, Stanley Coren. He had the help of 199 obedience trial judges to help with his research. And while his idea was initially met with a lot of criticism, he received a huge response.

The obedience judges evaluated and ranked several hundred dog breeds using Coren’s dog intelligence criteria. Coren was able to complete his list of the most intelligent dog breeds using the judges’ feedback. His criteria for the trials was the following:

  • The number of repetitions necessary for a dog breed to learn an unknown command. As you may have guessed, the fewer repetitions needed, the higher the breed ranked.
  • The success rate that a dog breed obeys a known command on the first try. The higher the success rate, the more intelligent and obedient the dog breed.
  • For Coren’s study on dog intelligence, hundreds of dogs were initially considered, but not all dog breeds were chosen in the end. Instead, only breeds with at least 100 evaluations were included in the final list, resulting in a total of 138 breeds.

    In actuality, not even all dog breeds took part in the competition. The trials were limited to canine breeds recognized by the AKC or the Canadian Kennel Club. In other words, neither rare international dogs nor mixed breed dogs were permitted to be evaluated by the judges.

    Border Collies took part because they were accepted by both the AKC and CKC. And due to the Border Collie’s enormous popularity, they had no trouble making the cut for the final list.

    Real Owner Answers:

    1. Tigui91 agrees, saying that one of the best things about Border Collies is that they are so intelligent that they can practically teach themselves how to crate and potty train. They are very sensitive dogs, so you need to be patient and try not to get frustrated. ”.

    2. Yes, according to Jerretjackzn29: “Until I met my Border Collie, I had never encountered a dog that I considered to be “too smart.” Seriously too smart for his own good sometimes. ”.

    3. Mr. Brant affirms: “My most recent dog, Jett, is by far the smartest of all the dogs I’ve ever owned.” In 2010, I saved him during a particularly trying time in my life, but in actuality, he saved me. “.

    4. Yes, according to Settlersofmixed: “I believe that everyone in the world is aware that Border Collies are smart canines… and if not, trust me they are!“.

    5. Turtlebeansforall says Yes: “So, I grew up with Border Collies. Fair warning to all BC owners. You might not be able to tolerate another breed if you get one that is less intelligent!

    6. Thehazzanator says Yes: “Border Collies are very smart loving creatures. Even though I’ve had a variety of dogs throughout my life, now that I’m an adult and own a Border Collie, I can’t imagine having another breed of dog. ”.

    7. There is a reason why Border Collies are one of the world’s smartest breeds, according to Rcj72688. I was skeptic until I actually brought one home. “.

    8. Yes, according to Ereencepark2: “There are small things he does that let me KNOW he’s smart. However, my Border Collie can be quite resistant to training at times. “.

    9. Border collies are extremely intelligent and high energy, but every individual can have different aptitudes and personalities, according to Tokisushi. ”.

    10. “My 6-month-old Border Collie Kratos is so amazing,” Amareloremipsum affirms. He is incredibly smart, kind to people and children, quick to respond, and athletic. He’s just my dream dog. “.

    What are the criteria for measuring a dog’s Intelligence?

    In his book “The Intelligence of a Dog,” Stanley Coren talked about the emotions, psychology, and Intelligence of dogs. He also devised criteria for measuring the dog’s Intelligence. Following are the two criteria according to Coren:

  • The first criteria are the number of repetitions a dog takes to learn any new thing or a command. The fewer the number of repetitions, the higher is the Intelligence of the dog and vice versa.
  • The second criterion for a dog’s Intelligence is the success rate in learning a new thing or a new command. The dogs who learn commands successfully at a faster rate are indeed intelligent.
  • Border Collies topped the list of dogs in the intelligence test results under the previously mentioned criteria.

    FAQ

    Is the Border Collie the smartest dog in the world?

    The border collie is frequently regarded as the most intelligent dog and an achiever in the canine community. Border collies, who were originally bred as herding dogs, are capable of almost any task you assign them.

    What dog is smarter than a Border Collie?

    It’s the Border Collie. Border Collies are well-known for working on farms and are extremely trainable and intelligent. The German Shepherd (29%), Labrador (28%) and Golden Retriever (18%) were the other working breeds that received the most support for being the smartest, respectively, with 39% of the vote.

    What dog has the highest IQ?

    1. Border collie. The border collie is the most intelligent dog breed known to man, according to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds based on their relative intelligence.

    What is the top 5 smartest dog?

    Top 10 Smartest Dogs in the World
    1. #1 Border Collie. The Border Collie comes in at number one.
    2. #2 Poodle. Easily trainable, steadfast, and sharp-minded, Poodles flourish in human company.
    3. #3 German Shepherd. …
    4. #4 Golden Retriever. …
    5. #5 Doberman Pinscher. …
    6. #6 Shetland Sheepdog. …
    7. #7 Labrador Retriever. …
    8. #8 Papillon. …