News — dog intelligence

  While all dogs make for best friends, some are, um, more lovably clueless than others. But when it comes to working intelligence (i.e. following commands), certain dog breeds stand out from the pack. After surveying almost 200 dog-obedience judges, psychologist Stanley Coren named these breeds as the most intelligent of the bunch in his book The Intelligence of Dogs. The book was published in 1994 and updated in 2006, and remains the landmark piece of literature on the subject. What makes a dog "smart?" Coren evaluated breeds' levels of intelligence based on instincts, obedience, and ability to adapt. But pet behavior...