Does Your Dog Make the List of the Dumbest Dog Breeds?

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(Updated by the Dogster Editors)

The Border Collie is wide considered to beryllium the world’s smartest canine breed (with the Poodle coming successful adjacent second). If immoderate are the smartest, it lone makes consciousness that immoderate canine breeds are the dumbest, right?

What makes a canine dumb oregon smart

So, what is the criteria to find canine breed intelligence?

A survey connected canine quality was published successful 2022 in Scientific Reports by University of Helsinki researchers entitled Breed differences successful societal cognition, inhibitory control, and spatial problem-solving quality successful the home canine (Canis familiaris). Between March 2016 and February 2022, a full of 2,352 big dogs (13 breeds positive mixed breeds) went done cognitive and behaviour tests, called the smartDOG trial battery. The researchers utilized the pursuing criteria for the test:

• Greeting behavior

• Activity level behavior

• Exploratory behavior

• Learning

• Short-term memory

• Inhibitory control

• Problem-solving ability

• Social cognition

• Logical reasoning

• Human-directed gesture

The trial concluded that beauteous overmuch the breeds performed however they were bred for, but not all. An illustration was the Kelpie and Malinois scored precocious successful the motion test, which you’d expect from these herding breeds. However, the Finnish Lapphund, besides a herding breed, received the lowest score. The study went connected to say, “Similarly, during the unsolvable task, the Australian Shepherd was the slightest apt breed to wantonness the task, whereas the Kelpie was among the breeds astir apt to wantonness the task. It seems evident that breeds tin alteration behaviorally from each different adjacent wrong their breed groups, since antithetic traits whitethorn person been (both intentionally and unintentionally) selected for successful antithetic breeds, contempt the breed radical they beryllium to.”

The trial did not screen the effects of training, environment, beingness experiences oregon the inheritance of the dogs, which tin besides lend to intelligence. The researchers anticipation to absorption connected that next.

Of course, the Border Collie scored precocious successful the tests, portion it was America’s favourite dog, the Labrador Retriever, that scored the lowest.

In 1994, a scientist named Stanley Coren, PhD., DSc., FRSC, wrote a publication called The Intelligence of Dogs (Atria Books). Dr. Coren ranked much than 100 canine breeds based connected 3 circumstantial types of intelligence:

Instinctive intelligence (ability to execute tasks it was bred to execute similar herding oregon hunting)
Adaptive intelligence (ability to independently occupation lick and larn from erstwhile experiences)
Working and obedience intelligence (ability to larn erstwhile being taught by humans)

The pursuing lists are pulled from the canine quality rankings successful The Intelligence of Dogs by Dr. Coren.

10 Smartest Dog Breeds

10 Dumbest Dog Breeds

So, does this mean these are the 10 dumbest canine breeds? Well, not necessarily.

Dumb and astute canine breeds are bred for antithetic skills

“How astute you look to beryllium depends connected the test,” says Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, Dipl. ACVB, prof emeritus and erstwhile conception caput and programme manager of the Animal Behavior Clinic astatine the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine astatine Tufts University. “Until rather recently, I had 2 dogs. One of them was hyper and the different canine would benignant of prevarication astir similar a lump. You would accidental Jasper was not as astute arsenic Rusty. But erstwhile you were retired connected a trail, Jasper lit up. He was doing the occupation that quality intended him to bash due to the fact that helium was a coonhound, and helium was utilizing his super-intelligent nose. He was superb astatine his job, but not truthful bully astatine immoderate different things.”

It’s nary concealed that purebred dogs person precise antithetic skills depending connected what they were bred to do. For instance, herding breeds like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Corgis are universally considered to beryllium highly intelligent. Due to the quality of their work, they are fantabulous astatine some making autarkic decisions and taking instructions from humans.

Why are hound dogs considered to beryllium dumb?

“Pretty overmuch each scenthounds are governed by their noses,” Dr. Dodman says. “They’re hard to bid due to the fact that they don’t truly look up, they look down. They’re not truly funny successful listening oregon pleasing anybody, they’re conscionable funny successful tracking with their noses. The sighthounds privation to pursuit thing that moves. For each canine breed there’s a purpose, and the mixed breeds are conscionable a operation of the purebreds. I tin spot however it mightiness beryllium casual to superficially justice a canine who is benignant of dilatory and not paying a batch of attraction to what you accidental and truly not that funny successful performing tricks, but it doesn’t mean that they’re not smart, and successful immoderate ways, being precise autarkic could beryllium much intelligent than being obedient.”

Scenthounds like Basset Hounds, Beagles and Bloodhounds tin sniff retired astir anything. Sighthounds can spot their prey making the slightest question and swiftly pursuit it down. A Border Collie is acold much trainable than a Bloodhound, but a Bloodhound is acold superior astatine tracking scents than a Border Collie. They each person antithetic skills, but they excel successful their ain ways.

Research connected canine quality is not perfect

As it turns out, immoderate of the probe done to find the astir intelligent oregon dumbest canine breeds mightiness not beryllium wholly accurate.

“The technological enactment connected breeds has not truly held up,” Dr. Hare states. “Most breeds are lone 150 years old, truthful determination is precise small to separate them. To scientifically beryllium the smartest breed, you would request to comparison astatine slightest 30 dogs from each breed. They would person to beryllium puppies raised and tested successful a akin mode to power for the effect to rearing past and property connected performance. If you took the AKC breeds oregon each breeds worldwide, you would request betwixt 6,000 to 12,000 puppies, decades of work, millions of dollars and astir a 1000 postgraduate students. It is nary wonderment nary 1 has done it.”

In fact, successful his ain research, Dr. Hare has seen arsenic overmuch saltation wrong a breed arsenic betwixt them. “For example, Labradors bred for the subject are the aforesaid breed arsenic Labradors bred to be assistance dogs — and you person ne'er seen 2 much antithetic dogs successful your life,” helium explains.

Humans categorizing definite breeds arsenic the dumbest canine breeds is little astir genuinely measuring their quality and much astir not knowing the breed’s peculiar skillset.

“No idiosyncratic canine oregon an full breed should beryllium considered ‘dumb,’” says Gina DiNardo, enforcement caput for the American Kennel Club. “Ease of grooming is not an close mode to measure a dog’s intelligence. What we humans whitethorn comprehend arsenic an carnal being ‘dumb’ whitethorn beryllium independence, stubbornness or aloofness, which are communal characteristics successful galore breeds. Training takes clip and patience, and each canine is different. Learn antithetic grooming techniques available, and if you are having problems, question retired a trainer who tin springiness you the skills that you request to thatch your dog.”

According to Dr. Hare, canine quality is not a achromatic and achromatic matter. “I don’t truly deliberation determination is immoderate specified happening arsenic ‘smart’ dogs and ‘dumb’ dogs,” helium states. “That is conscionable a throwback to a linear mentation of intelligence, arsenic though quality is simply a cupful of java that is much oregon little full. Different dogs are bully astatine antithetic things. And each of them are geniuses successful their ain way.”

So, what is it astir definite breeds that caused them to extremity up arsenic the dumbest canine breeds successful Dr. Coren’s book The Intelligence of Dogs? Let’s instrumentality a look astatine each of these breeds.

The 10 Dumbest Dog Breeds and Their Traits

1. Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound tops the database of “dumbest canine breeds” according to The Intelligence of Dogs, but Afghan lovers surely disagree. Afghans are sighthounds, which means they were bred to hunt utilizing their bonzer velocity and eyesight. Like galore sighthounds, Afghans tin beryllium aloof, which means they tin beryllium a small standoffish and reserved, particularly with strangers. They tin besides beryllium stubborn and independent. Due to these traits, Afghans are not casual to train, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t smart. They simply similar to deliberation for themselves and bash things connected their ain terms. You mightiness person to beryllium much originative erstwhile grooming an Afghan, but their elegance, regal aerial and devotion to their humans makes them peculiar companions.

2. Basenji

The Basenji is different sighthound that makes the database for his independency and aloofness. Some radical picture this breed arsenic having feline qualities, and successful fact, galore Basenjis volition groom themselves similar cats. The breed has earned a estimation for being “untrainable,” but again, easiness of grooming is not ever an close indicator of intelligence. Quite the contrary, Basenjis are intelligent, funny and playful. Like inquisitive toddlers, they are astute capable to get into occupation if you don’t ticker them carefully. Raising a Basenji tin sometimes consciousness similar taming a chaotic animal. They are watchful and wary, and though astir enslaved with their owners, they whitethorn oregon whitethorn not similar your friends. Bottom line: Basenjis are stubborn truthful they aren’t consistently obedient, but they tin beryllium trained. Positive methods are best.

3. Bulldog

A canine sleeping with his lingua out. dumbest canine breeds

Another breed known for stubbornness is the Bulldog. The word “bullheaded” fits the Bulldog to a T. For this reason, Bulldogs tin beryllium hard to train, but dumb? You lone person to look to 1 of the celebrated skateboarding oregon surfing Bulldogs to spot that they are decidedly susceptible of learning. Bulldogs are besides labeled arsenic lazy, but intelligibly immoderate bask much vigorous activities than lying connected the couch.

4. Chow Chow

Chow Chows mightiness look similar adorable teddy bears, but they are not ever the cuddly type. Originally bred to be guard dogs, Chows are serious, autarkic and aloof. They are strong-willed and stubborn, and truthful much hard to train, which lands them a spot connected the database of dumbest canine breeds. Chows are intelligent — they conscionable person minds of their own. If not trained correctly, Chows mightiness situation their humans for authority, which tin go problematic. For these reasons, Chows necessitate steadfast but just grooming and extensive socialization starting from an aboriginal age. When raised properly, Chows are noble, loyal and devoted companions.

5. Borzoi

Yet different sighthound, the Borzoi is an autarkic freethinker. This breed tin besides beryllium stubborn — grooming a Borzoi is an workout successful patience. Borzois look to bash champion with frequent, abbreviated grooming sessions alternatively than hour-long classes. In the house, they are mostly precise well-mannered, calm, cleanable and rather affectionate, particularly with their peculiar people.

6. Bloodhound

If you person ever witnessed the aurora borealis, the colorful bluish lights show that transforming the nighttime entity into a superb show to behold, you mightiness beryllium capable to recognize however a scenthound similar the Bloodhound “sees” the satellite with his delicate nose. Bloodhounds are hard to bid due to the fact that they are truthful distracted by each the glorious scents conscionable waiting to beryllium investigated. They besides person a ton of energy, are stubborn and independent, and are perfectly relentless erstwhile connected a scent trail. Combined together, the Bloodhound’s unsocial skills tin sometimes marque these dogs challenging to unrecorded with, but participate a Bloodhound successful a tracking lawsuit and ticker his peculiar talents shine.

7. Pekingese

One crushed radical mightiness deliberation Pekingese are a small dilatory is the information that they are somewhat sloth-like. At home, they bask lounging astir and surveying their domain. This could beryllium owed to their carnal physique oregon partially held implicit from their past arsenic ineffable pets of the Tang Dynasty successful 8th-century China. In fact, Pekingese were called “sleeve dogs” due to the fact that members of the Imperial household carried their cherished companions astir snugly nestled successful their voluminous sleeves. Can you blasted the Peke for enjoying the casual life? Pekingese are besides stubborn and hard to housebreak. This doesn’t marque them dumb, but it does marque for immoderate grooming challenges. Start grooming aboriginal and beryllium consistent.

8. Beagle

Like Bloodhounds, Beagles similar to travel their noses, which tin sometimes get them into trouble. The Beagle’s sweet, affectionate nature, combined with his happy-go-lucky outlook mightiness pb you to deliberation he’s bare headed. It’s champion to support Beagles connected a leash. They can’t defy the impulse to explore, odor the satellite and pursuit tiny critters.

9. Mastiff

The large, laid-back Mastiff is simply a precise chill dog. So chill, successful fact, that you mightiness happening he’s a small dense. They are besides a spot stubborn and mightiness beryllium much challenging to bid than immoderate breeds. Again, enactment level and easiness of grooming aren’t needfully bully indicators of intelligence. Mastiffs are really rather bright. Due to their size and earthy wariness of strangers, it’s indispensable for owners to commencement grooming and socialization aboriginal successful puppyhood truthful Mastiffs make into well-behaved and discerning companions.

10. Basset Hound

Basset Hound by momente / Shutterstock.dumbest canine breeds

Like the Pekingese, Basset Hounds tin beryllium a spot lazy. This could beryllium successful portion to their agelong and debased bodies oregon their laid-back personalities. Bassets tin beryllium a small stubborn, and similar their scenthound cousins the Bloodhounds and the Beagles, Bassets mightiness person occupation ignoring the astonishing scents astir them agelong capable to ore connected learning. However, Bassets privation to delight their radical and are precise nutrient motivated, truthful they bash respond good to training. Don’t mistake the Basset’s easy-going property for deficiency of intelligence, though. They are agleam and affectionate dogs.

The bottommost enactment connected the dumbest canine breeds

It’s not just to statement immoderate breed oregon idiosyncratic canine dumb. Yes, immoderate dogs are brighter than others, but astir dogs are bully astatine thing — you conscionable person to fig retired what.

“Some dogs bash immoderate things amended than others, and they person antithetic behaviors.,” Dr. Dodman says. “Police dogs and service dogs thin to beryllium the German Shepherd Dog and Malinois types due to the fact that they’re easy trainable. Does that mean they’re smart? Or does it mean they’re not truthful astute due to the fact that they ever travel different people’s directions and don’t deliberation independently? You tin reason it some ways.”

Note: Dogster does not judge immoderate canine breed is simply a “dumb” canine breed.

Originally published successful 2012 and updated successful 2018.

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