When it comes to dogs, every breed has its defining traits. Some are known for their loyalty, while others are renowned for their striking good looks, then there are those that seem to have it all—like the Border Collie. These super smart black-and-white (and sometimes merle, red, or tricolor) beauties have earned a reputation for being the Einsteins of the canine world. But are they really the most intelligent breed, or is this just myth?
Are Border Collies Really the Smartest Dog Breed?
by HollieT
Border Collies are renowned for intelligence, excelling in obedience and task learning but are they really the smartest dog breed? See how they measure up
How do we define canine intelligence?
Before we prematurely crown the Border Collie as the top dog in the intelligence stakes, it's worth considering what we mean by "intelligent." Dog intelligence isn't just about how fast they can learn tricks or how quickly they respond to commands. It’s more about a mix of problem-solving abilities, social intelligence, and adaptability.
According to Stanley Coren, a renowned psychologist with expertise in dog intelligence, the Border Collie leads when it comes to canine intelligence and his work has has greatly influenced our understanding of this. His book, The Intelligence of Dogs, ranks different breeds based on their ability to understand new commands and obey the first given command. Border Collies, unsurprisingly, came out on top in his rankings. But there's more to the story.
Border Collies: The Brains Behind the Bark
There's no denying that Border Collies are incredibly sharp. Bred originally as working dogs, they've had to develop strong problem-solving skills to herd sheep and other livestock, including geese and often working independently to gather and move the flock from A to B. This background has honed their ability to learn commands quickly and execute them with incredible precision.
Border Collies have also shown some remarkable feats of intelligence. Chaser, for example, was a famous Border Collie who could understand over 1,000 words and even grasp basic concepts like object permanence and categorization. That’s pretty impressive and might make you think, "Well, case closed. Border Collies are the most intelligent!" But intelligence is multi-faceted, and there are different ways in which it can be measured.
 Border Collie I'm a Genius T-Shirt |  Border Collie Pup- Genius in the Making |
Canine Intelligence is Multi- Faceted
Labrador Retriever Vs Border Collie Vs the Poodle
While Border Collies are amazing at learning new tasks, other breeds also shine in areas that the standard tests might overlook or completely ignore. For instance, consider the Labrador Retriever, which might not top the obedience charts like the Border Collie but excels in emotional intelligence and therapy work, making them a firm favourite when it comes to the role of the comfort dog. Labs are often the go-to dogs for search-and-rescue missions too, or as guide dogs because of their calm temperament and ability to understand and respond to human emotions. Pretty smart, wouldn't you agree?
Then there’s the Poodle, which ranks just behind the Border Collie in Coren’s intelligence tests. Poodles are incredibly versatile and have been used for everything from circus performances to hunting. They’re fast learners and can adapt to a wide range of different environments, making them strong contenders in the canine intelligence stakes
The Verdict
The jury is out
Is the Border Collie really the smartest breed, the most intelligent? Well, If we’re talking about learning new commands exceedingly quickly and performing highly complex tasks, by canine standards, then yes, they most certainly are. But intelligence is a broad and slippery concept, and what makes a dog intelligent can vary depending on what you value in a dog, be it as a pet or working dog
Some people might prefer a dog that can perform tricks and follow simple commands, while others might value a dog’s ability to understand human emotions or adapt to new environments. At the end of the day, intelligence is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to finding the right dog for you. Whether it's a Border Collie, a Poodle, a Golden Retriever, or a mixed breed from the local rescue shelter, each dog has its own unique way of being absolutely brilliant.
Updated: 08/31/2024, HollieT
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Comments
Animal sentients can consider some responsibilities gender-specific or cooperate with job-sharing responsibilities.
For example, some male birds do such co-parenting responsibilities as feeding duties even as other male birds disappear so as to do no co-parenting duties.
Might border collies who manage such animal-herding movements as mixing with geese and sheep sentients be male, female or both?
The article The AKC’s Annual List of Popular Dog Breeds Has Some Major Changes, by Sarah Vincent for the Mar 20, 2025 online issue of Good Housekeeping, announces least-popular, most-popular, new breeds annually per The American Kennel Club (AKC).
The AKC ascribes least-popular attributes to Sloughi, Norwegian Lundehund, Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen, Bergamasco sheepdog and English foxhound.
The AKC 2024 attributes such to the next least-popular breeds -- black and tan Coonhounds, wirehaired Vizsla, Chinese shar-pei and field spaniel.
So no description -- positive, neutral, negative -- designates border collies.
Online sources do not detail why such disregard develops about such an agreeable, attractive, congenial, cooperative, hard-working, intelligent, personable, sensitive, valuable breed.
Might the Royal Kennel Club have any details?
The article The AKC’s annual list of popular dog breeds has some major changes, by Sarah Vincent for Good Housekeeping online Mar 20, 2025, advises us of two newly-accepted breeds. It brings into American Kennel Club breeds the Lancashire heeler, since January 2024, and the Danish-Swedish farmdog, since January 2025.
Does the Royal Kennel Club designate Danish-Swedish farmdogs and Lancashire heelers among RKC breeds?
Sarah Vincent, in The AKC's annual list of popular dog breeds has some major changes, for the Good Housekeeping site (Life > Pets) Mar 20, 2025, advises us of the 2024 listing as:
1. French bulldog; 2. Labrador retriever; 3. Golden retriever; 4. German shepherd dog; poodle.
The afore-designated author divulges as upcomingly popular Kerry blue terrier, Bracco italiano, German pinscher, American Staffordshire terrier, Bedlington terrier and Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever.
The Vincent article never mentions border collies!
Would The Royal Kennel Club annually write something similar about most and least wonderful breeds?
Icelandic sheepdogs particularly interest me.
Some sources list border collies and Icelandic sheepdogs as among the intelligentest of animal sentients.
Might you have come across Icelandic sheepdogs when you mustered everything together for this wizzley?
Authoress Sy Montgomery has a book about What the chicken knows.
That brief book is elucidating and entertaining. The afore-mentioned authoress keeps chicken sentients on her property in New Hampshire.
Her husband and she also keep among their sentient companions ... a border collie!
Wouldn't it be wonderful if she wrote a book on What the border collie knows and if she worked your wizzley into the text and works consulted?
The very first two sentences, that "When it comes to dogs, every breed has its defining traits. Some are known for their loyalty, while others are renowned for their striking good looks, then there are those that seem to have it all—like the Border Collie," catch my attention again and again.
What breeds count among the loyalist?
Online sources allude to the multi-cultural background of border collies.
The aforementioned canine sentients are so-called because of their associations with the areas between northern England and Scotland, correct?
Exposure to such different biogeographical expressions as the English and the Scottish cultural geographies perhaps encouraged sensitivity to everything done and said by humans co-existing in those areas.
The above-mentioned canine sentients in essence figured how to feature on both border sides' best-loved lists -- by following orders and suggestions faithfully ;-D -- without falling out of favor with one, the other, both human fellows.
Thank you for your comment below, in answer to my previous observation and question.
Your answer three comment boxes down intrigues me in its information about Piebald and Welsh Mountain ponies as possible candidates for the pony breed in your avatar.
Is the rug complicating the pony-breed identification or might it always be an involved investigation to identify whether it's a Piebald or a Welsh Mountain?
I think he was just playing, DerdriuMarriner.
It was a sunny January day but the field was really muddy, I think he had just enjoyed rolling in the mud