Belgian Malinois Tops Border Collie as Smartest Dog Breed

Forget everything you thought you knew about the smartest dog breeds. A 2023 University of Helsinki study just flipped the script, and the winner might surprise you.

Researchers tested 1,002 dogs from 13 breeds using the smartDOG cognition battery, measuring skills like problem-solving, memory, and reading human gestures. The Belgian Malinois, a shepherd breed often used in police and security work, scored an impressive 35 out of 39 points on the three most important intelligence tests.

The famous Border Collie, long considered the Einstein of the dog world, came in second with 26 points. A lesser-known breed called the hovawart claimed third place with 25 points.

So what makes a dog smart? The researchers focused on three key tasks that reveal true intelligence.

In the V-detour test, dogs had to navigate around a transparent fence to reach a treat, showing their problem-solving abilities. The human gesture reading test measured how well dogs understood five different pointing signals and following a person's gaze. An unsolvable task test watched how quickly dogs asked humans for help when they couldn't open a food box themselves.

The Belgian Malinois looks similar to a German Shepherd but weighs less and has more triangular ears. These traits, combined with their quick thinking, make them perfect for security work where split-second decisions matter.

Every breed showed unique strengths and weaknesses across different tests. The Malinois actually scored among the lowest on the cylinder test, which measures impulse control. But for a working dog that needs to respond quickly in high-pressure situations, lower inhibition can actually be an advantage.

Why This Inspires

This study reminds us that intelligence comes in many forms. Just like people, different dogs excel at different things. Some breeds scored sky-high on certain tests while struggling on others, while some maintained steady middle-of-the-road scores across the board.

The research breaks new ground because so few studies have examined specific breeds instead of breed groups. Even fewer have looked at nonsocial cognitive traits like spatial reasoning and logical reasoning, which this study covered thoroughly.

"The Belgian Shepherd Malinois stood out in many of the cognitive tasks, having very good results in a majority of the tests," said study author Dr. Katriina Tiira. She added that Border Collies also performed impressively across many challenges.

Whether you have a Malinois, a Border Collie, or a mixed breed snoozing on your couch right now, every dog brings its own brand of brilliance to our lives.