With the help of hundreds of dog trainers and veterinarians, Canadian psychologist Stanley Coren developed a canine IQ test to determine dogs’ intelligence. It also ranks dogs’ ability and willingness to solve problems and obey commands.
Coren’s intelligence is based on the number of repetitions each breed took to learn a specific command. A score of 54 classifies a dog as excellent.
The following are the breeds that consistently scored 18 or less, indicating a breed clearly deficient in many areas of adaptive intelligence.
10th Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu was a royal dog, and its sole purpose was to be a affectionate lap dog, a task that requires little intellect.
9th Basset Hound
Originally from France, Bassets were bred for hunting, but that’s where this breed’s talent ends; it doesn’t have much physical energy.
A Basset Hound needs to be watched. If the dog catches an interesting scent, it follows the smell and forgets how to get back.
8th Beagle
Beagles were dogs in British wars against the Romans, taken to Rome by Julius Caesar to face lions and gladiators in the notorious Colosseum.
Now they are known for their docility and short attention span, taking a long time to learn simple things that are quickly forgotten.
7th Pekingese
The breed was created for companionship, believed to be one of the oldest and still living breeds. The Pekingese is extremely brave for its size. However, training these dogs has been quite difficult.
6th Bloodhound
To give credit to this breed, Bloodhounds are rescuers and lifesavers. These dogs had a keen sense of smell.
5th Borzoi
Its name is Russian for speed. Canine IQ, on the other hand, claims slowness.
4th Chow Chow
It is very demanding, jealous, and difficult to teach.
3rd English Bulldog
One of the most popular companion dogs, its name comes from the cruel British sport. It’s the type that loves a couch, has a calm temperament, and always wants to be near its human family.
2nd Basenji
An African hunting dog, a favorite of hunters since before the construction of the pyramids. They have a wide range of howls, screams, and are a breed that is difficult to train.
1st Afghan Hound
Its main function was as an excellent hunter, but after some years, it became much more used as a competition dog for its beauty.
In addition to needing a lot of space, it can become quite stubborn and cause beautiful messes inside the house.