Table of Contents
While breeds like the Border Collie top intelligence rankings, this article focuses on the least intelligent dog breeds, known more for their stubbornness than obedience.
However, there exists a complementary list of the least intelligent dog breeds, according to some training metrics. It’s important to clarify that no dog breed is truly “stupid” — rather, there are differences in the speed at which breeds learn commands and perform certain tasks.
Many emphasize that each dog has its unique intelligence, expressed in its own way. So what criteria are used to determine a dog breed’s intelligence? And what makes certain breeds appear on the “less intelligent” list?
Intelligence Criteria & Training Observations
Experts often assess canine intelligence based on how quickly a dog learns new behaviors or executes specific tasks. It’s worth noting that some breeds labeled as less intelligent are actually among the most loyal and relaxed dogs. So if your priority is spending calm, affectionate time with your dog, a breed considered “less intelligent” might be the ideal new companion for you.
Dr. Stanley Coren, a neuropsychologist at the University of British Columbia in Canada and a dog trainer, published the bestseller The Intelligence of Dogs in 1994 — a book that introduced a ranking system for the most intelligent dog breeds.
Dr. Coren demonstrated how a dog’s mental abilities are shaped by genetic factors and evolutionary forces. His intelligence scale, which rated over 100 breeds, combined adaptive intelligence (problem-solving and learning from experience), instinctive intelligence (ability to perform tasks specific to its breed, like herding or hunting), and obedience/working intelligence (ability to learn human commands). The methodology relied heavily on observing how dogs learned commands.
According to Dr. Coren, the least intelligent dog breeds are those that require the greatest number of repetitions to understand a command. However, not all canine cognition experts agree with this approach.
Anya Farkas from Boston College’s canine cognition program argues that intelligence is increasingly understood as diverse across individual dogs. She believes that intelligence cannot be accurately measured using one standard set of criteria.
Based on Dr. Coren’s ranking — still widely accepted today — here are the dog breeds considered the least intelligent:
1. Afghan Hound
Despite being one of the most expensive breeds in the world, the Afghan Hound tops the list of the least intelligent dog breeds due to its low obedience ranking. Dr. Coren concluded that this beautiful breed is the least intelligent among dogs because it requires at least 80 repetitions to learn a new command. This may be largely due to its reputation as one of the most stubborn breeds, notoriously ignoring its owner’s instructions.
Afghan Hounds belong to the sighthound family, hunting primarily with their speed and vision rather than scent. As such, the ability to learn commands may never have been part of their evolutionary or genetic toolkit.
They are characterized by their long, silky coat in various colors, which requires meticulous grooming — an adaptation to protect them from the extreme cold of Afghanistan’s mountains.
Like many sighthounds, Afghan Hounds can be aloof and independent, as well as stubborn and self-directed. These traits make them challenging to train, but not necessarily unintelligent—they simply prefer to think for themselves and act on their own terms.
Training them may require creativity, but their elegance, regal appearance, and devotion to humans make them extraordinary companions. “ Along with the Afghan Hound, you could rank the Saluki (a sighthound from Iraq) at the top of the list.
It’s one of the oldest domesticated dog breeds in the world, yet it’s also viewed as extremely sensitive and difficult to train and discipline,” notes Dr. Hilik Marom from the Israeli Organization for Veterinary Medicine of Companion Animals.
2. Basenji
The Basenji consistently ranks among the least intelligent dog breeds, not because it lacks smarts but due to its fierce independence.
Originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa, the Basenji is often called the “Yemeni market dog” due to its widespread presence there. Also a member of the sighthound family, the Basenji shares the Afghan Hound’s independence and aloofness.
Some describe this breed (which doesn’t bark but makes yodel-like cries, whines, and howls due to its vocal structure) as having cat-like traits, since it grooms itself much like a feline. The Basenji has earned a reputation for being hard to train—but remember that training ease doesn’t always equate to intelligence.
Basenjis are naturally curious and mischievous—much like inquisitive toddlers, they can get into trouble if unsupervised. They can be trained, but they are alert, cautious, and obstinate, so they may not always obey. They require plenty of playtime to burn off their high energy.
If they don’t receive physical activity, they might channel that energy in undesirable ways, such as chewing household items. Still, Basenjis are often recognized as intelligent in other respects—for example, their capacity to make decisions based on self-interest, such as securing food.
3. English Bulldog
Known for its stubborn streak, the English Bulldog is another breed that can be difficult to train. Originally bred in 17th-century England for bull-baiting, Bulldogs served in that role for around 600 years through the Middle Ages. Its reputation as lazy—content to lounge rather than chase balls like Labradors or Border Collies—may contribute to its low rank.
Dr. Coren ranked the breed third in terms of obedience/working intelligence (first-command understanding or ability to learn a new command). Bulldogs tend to learn only a limited set of commands, so owners should carefully select which to teach, based on consistency and patience.
4. Chow Chow
Despite resembling a lion, the Chow Chow is far from a jungle king—or even a neighborhood park dog. Dr. Coren even stated that “there are probably pieces of furniture that are easier to train than Chow Chows.”
Originally bred as hunting or guard dogs, Chow Chows are among the oldest dog breeds. While officially originating in China, some argue that Mongolia is its true homeland, based on findings showing Mongolians used heavy, black-faced dogs in warfare as early as 3,000 years ago.
Besides their hunting background, these dogs were also stationed in temples as guardians and were attributed mystical or supernatural powers for warding off evil spirits. Chow Chows are serious, independent, and distant.
They have strong wills and are stubborn, which makes training challenging. For this reason, Chow Chows require consistent yet positive reinforcement, plus early and extensive socialization from a young age.
When raised properly, they become noble, loyal, and devoted companions—making up for any perceived intellectual shortcomings with sheer devotion and the will to protect their owners.
5. Borzoi
The Borzoi is a large sighthound breed from Russia, known for its independence. Its stubbornness can make training difficult and requires a tremendous deal of patience. Borzois respond best to frequent, short training sessions rather than prolonged lessons.
They enjoy chase-based play, where their sighthound traits shine most. With their stunning silky coat, they are also among the cleanest breeds—spending significant time grooming themselves, often leaving little energy for other behaviors.
6. Bloodhound
If you’ve ever witnessed the Northern Lights—nature’s dazzling display of colorful skies—you might begin to understand how a dog with an exceptionally developed sense of smell, like the Bloodhound, “sees” the world using its sensitive nose.
Training Bloodhounds can be tough because they become easily distracted by smells from near and far. This breed is gentle and easygoing, with a remarkable persistence in scent tracking.
Because of their powerful scent drive, inexperienced handlers often struggle to train them in obedience. Yet it’s important to note: the Bloodhound excels at something no other creature on earth does better—tracking missing persons.
7. Pekingese
The Pekingese hails from China. People may perceive this breed as somewhat slow, partly due to its sedentary nature. Indoors, they enjoy lounging and calmly surveying their surroundings. This may stem from their body structure or their historical role as sacred lapdogs in ancient Chinese nobility.
They were nicknamed “sleeve dogs” because members of the imperial household carried these precious companions inside wide sleeves. Due to their strong independence, Pekingeses are considered challenging to train. Nevertheless, they’re deeply loyal to their owners and fearless about protecting their territory.
Although their obedience training may not rank high, they can still learn basic commands when approached patiently.
8. Beagle
Like bloodhounds, beagles love following their noses—sometimes to their own detriment. Traditionally used for pack hunting of small animals such as rabbits and foxes, they were also employed for tracking larger prey such as wild boar and deer.
Today, Beagles serve as beloved pets and as detection dogs in various contexts, from drug sniffing to detecting organic compounds at border crossings, ports, and airports.
Beagles’ advantage over some other scent breeds is their smaller size, which allows for flexibility in deployment, a non-threatening appearance, and a friendly temperament. Although they appear on the “difficult to train” list, Beagles are not the most challenging—they can be trained.
Their slight stubbornness can be overcome with treats since they’re highly food-motivated. They struggle to resist the urge to explore using their sensitive noses and to chase small creatures.
9. Mastiff
“Mastiff” refers to a group of large and powerful breeds that are also calm and relaxed. Yet, even these gentle giants can present training challenges due to stubbornness. Mastiffs often become bored during standard training, so training sessions should be short and varied.
Given their size and natural wariness around strangers, owners need to begin training and socialization early so they grow into well-rounded, well-behaved adults.
Many Mastiff owners know that eventually their dog will comply—but it may take time, which contributes to their reputation as “slow learners.” Some well-known Mastiff types include the Pyrenean Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, English Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff), Neapolitan Mastino, Persian Mastiff, Russian Mastiff, and Dogo Argentino.
10. Basset Hound
Like the Pekingese, Basset Hounds can appear a bit lazy—possibly due to their long, low-set bodies or their relaxed temperament. Similarly to other scent breeds (like Bloodhounds and Beagles), Basset Hounds may struggle to ignore ambient smells long enough to focus on training.
If you’re looking to raise a Basset Hound and want it to be obedient, be aware that training can be a lifelong process, potentially extending across its 12–13‑year lifespan.
“There Are No Stupid Dogs”
It’s no secret that purebred dogs have widely varying skills depending on the role they were bred for. Herding breeds like the Border Collie are universally considered among the most intelligent—they excel at independent decision-making and following human cues.
Scent hounds, on the other hand, rely primarily on smell rather than sight and occupy the opposite side of the intelligence spectrum. “They’re difficult to train because they don’t look up—they look down.
They’re not interested in listening or pleasing anyone—they just want to follow with their noses. Scent hounds want to chase whatever moves,” said Dr. Nicholas Dodman, a leading animal behaviorist who directed the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University for over two decades, in an interview with Dogster.
Moreover, some studies attempting to rank the smartest or “dumbest” breeds may be inaccurate. “Most breeds are only about 150 years old, so there are very few differences among them. To scientifically determine which breed is the smartest, you’d need to compare at least 30 dogs of each breed,” said Dr. Brian Hare of Duke University, a specialist in canine cognition, in an interview with Dogster. “They’d have to be puppies raised and tested in similar ways to control for the effects of upbringing and age.
If you consider all recognized breeds in the U.S. or worldwide, you’d need thousands of puppies (6,000 to 12,000), decades of work, millions of dollars, and about a thousand graduate students. No wonder it hasn’t been done.”
According to Dr. Hare, canine intelligence isn’t black and white. “For instance, a Labrador raised for military service is the same breed as a Labrador raised as a service dog—but there’s a huge difference between them. I don’t think there are ‘smart’ and ‘stupid’ dogs. Different dogs excel at different things, and each is intelligent in its unique way. It’s unfair to label any breed or individual dog as ‘stupid.’”
Dr. Marom, from the Israeli Organization for Veterinary Medicine of Companion Animals, states that “there are no stupid dogs, but there are specific dogs that don’t possess a lot of learning aptitude, and some breeds are harder to train.”
Many of these breeds originated in regions not traditionally easy for Israel, like Yemen. Dog trainer Dudi Freeman from the organization “Let Animals Live” adds that these are not “stupid” dogs, but simply independent dogs with strong drives. “Purebred dogs were created by humans for specific purposes.
A skilled trainer knows how to use the right tools, matching the dog’s genetics, and understands what motivates the dog to follow commands. Ultimately, my recommendation is not to choose a dog based on intelligence but based on temperament and compatibility with the owner,” says Freeman, who emphasizes that mixed-breed dogs often have powerful survival instincts, high social communication, and work well in a pack when they belong to one.
“At the ‘Let Animals Live’ shelter, dozens of smart and wonderful dogs await. We don’t judge their intelligence—we only judge their right to a warm and loving home,” he adds.
Leave a Reply