Mary Allen
Are there not only clever but also particularly stupid dogs? What is it and which breeds are included? These are the supposedly dumbest dogs in the world.
Before die-hard dog fans (which includes us) gasp, don’t worry, we love all dogs no matter how high – or how low – their intelligence is.
It can be assumed that not all dog breeds are equally smart. We humans are not all gifted with the same intelligence. Because we want to democratically give all dogs and all breeds the same attention, after the 10 smartest dog breeds in the world it is now the turn of the 10 dumbest dog breeds. fair is fair What are they and what is behind them?
Can dogs even be stupid?
When it comes to intelligence in dogs, opinions differ in the dog world. Most dog people are adamant that their furry muzzle is the smartest (and prettiest) in the land. After all, who likes to say: My Bello isn’t the brightest candle on the cake?
Certain dog breeds such as the border collie or the poodle are considered to be particularly intelligent. But the question arises: Can the intelligence of dogs be measured at all? For whom is what counts as smart or stupid in a dog?
The measurement methods are questionable
Because measuring intelligence in dogs is of course not that easy, research is mostly limited to the so-called “working intelligence” of dogs. It examines how well and quickly a dog learns and obeys your commands. The obedience of the dogs is therefore a measurable criterion and is used as a quotient for the intelligence of the respective dog breed.
That’s exactly what psychologist Stanley Coren did for his research. Because it is fundamentally difficult to measure the intelligence of dogs, he evaluated the observations of 199 judges at dog competitions. It was all about the obedience of the different dog breeds. IMPORTANT: However, this only says something to a very limited extent about how intelligent a dog actually is. Because often it’s the dogs that don’t carry out an order that is particularly clever.
Nevertheless: According to Coren’s list, these ten dog breeds are the most disobedient – and therefore supposedly the stupidest.
Shih Tzu
Apparently, this cute little rascal is not only stupid but also very old. This dog breed from Tibet is said to have existed since the 7th century. She is a direct relative of the Tibetan Terrier. Initially, the dogs were valued above all for their exceptionally good hearing. You can hear intruders from a great distance.
The breed later became a popular show dog, specially bred to have a particularly “arrogant” appearance. Stanley Coren’s study found that the Shih Tzu obeyed only 30% of commands in competitions. The question arises whether the dog isn’t simply too proud to continue to make a fool of itself for us humans.
Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a brand in itself. Particularly valued for its fine nose, it is a popular companion dog when hunting. Its body is massive, but its legs are quite short. The basset hound is therefore not fast … whether physically or mentally is up to you. But the dog is very persistent.
The breed is considered headstrong, with a strong hunting instinct. Once the dogs have sniffed out a fresh scent, there is no turning back for many of the animals – masters and mistresses can shout commands as they please.
English Mastiff and Beagle
Would the heavyweight English Mastiff and the light Beagle be happy about this joint ranking as one of the dumbest dog breeds in the world? One does not know. Both breeds are known to be stubborn and stubborn, making them valuable companions when hunting.
The little beagle in particular isn’t something that can be said so quickly. In the past, the dogs were even used in packs to hunt big game. Apparently, so much self-confidence has its price: both dogs only give you a crooked look when they are supposed to be manikin for you.
Pekinese
Only emperors are good enough for the Pekingese. In the Chinese Empire, the small dog breed was considered a very popular palace dog. He was coddled and spoiled and probably treated a lot better than some of the household. Whether his brain has shrunk a bit?
The emperor and empress probably let the little dogs get away with everything. Dogs are generally reluctant to accept commands these days. You can’t blame the Pekingese. After all, he has a truly imperial past.
Bloodhound
If there were an award for the finest nose in the canine world, the Bloodhound would have won it for sure. Also called the bloodhound, the breed is known for its incredibly keen sense of smell. In the past, the dogs were therefore often used for hunting as a bloodhound.
Nowadays, the Bloodhound makes a career primarily in the police force. With their extremely fine sense of smell, the dogs can even sniff out tracks that are several days old. At the same time, their nose is also the reason for their ranking among the dumbest dogs. Because anyone who can smell so much is also easily distracted. The dog, therefore, needs an experienced and patient hand that gives the four-legged friend all the time in the world to explore the scents of the world.
Borzoi
Fast, faster, borzoi. The Russian dog breed belongs to the greyhound family and is considered one of the fastest breeds in the world. The majestic dog with the long snout and soft fur was once used for hounding in Russia.
And even today the borzoi is considered a hunting dog through and through. The nature of the dog breed is characterized by self-confidence and noble distrust. Dogs have a very low threshold for stimulation, which is probably why he was included in this list. After all, an “intelligent” dog does not rush off at the slightest stimulus and almost breaks the sound barrier. Or?
Chow Chow
Like the Pekingese, the chow chow comes from China. However, unlike the Imperial Dog, the Chow Chow definitely did not lead a fine aristocratic life. The ancient dog breed is considered a hardworking working breed, used for sledding and herding. Because you can still find a high proportion of the gray wolf in the gene pool of the chow chow, it is also referred to as an ancient breed that is genetically very different from other breeds.
Self-confidence and independence are therefore also part of the distinctive characteristics of the Chow-Chow. So males definitely don’t make the chow chow that fasts.
English bulldog
British nationals are definitely getting a thick neck at this point, so just to be on the safe side, we would like to point out again: We did not compile this list. It was Stanley Coren. And in his opinion, the English bulldog is also one of the dumbest dog breeds in the world.
The breed comes from England and is considered the national dog there. Due to its earlier use as a fighting dog, traits such as bravery and courage were particularly important in breeding for many years. Unconditional obedience is not his thing. However, the English bulldog is the best proof that stupidity doesn’t stop popularity: the breed is considered one of the most expensive dog breeds in the world today.
Basenji
If you’ve never heard of the Basenji, don’t worry: we had to look it up first. The dog breed comes from central Africa and, like the chow chow, is considered to be primitive. This means that there is still a high proportion of wolves in the dog gene pool.
The Basenji was not discovered in Africa until 1870, but the breed is believed to be very old. To this day, the dog is said to be a faithful companion of the pygmies in the African rainforest. The character of the Basenjis is very gentle and lovable. At the same time, however, they are also considered to be very stubborn, active, and enthusiastic about movement. They are reluctant to subordinate themselves, love their own free mind, and prefer to do what they want. And that’s usually not what they’re supposed to be.
Afghan Hound
Curtain up for the dumbest dog in the world. The Afghan hound appears to have performed the worst in all of the canine competitions Coren has studied.
The dogs are regarded as highly valued detection and hunting dogs by the nomadic peoples in the Middle East. In addition, they are very gentle and lovable. At the same time, the Afghan loves his independence.
Because the dog has a very low threshold for stimulation, unleashing it in the wild is not a good idea. Like all greyhounds, the Afghan loves to run around quickly – sometimes forgetting about the world around them. Mister, which mister?
Conclusion: intelligence is overrated
From these short portraits of the (supposedly) dumbest dog breeds in the world, you can already read it: all breeds have in common that they look back on an eventful past. Most of the breeds mentioned were (and are) valued companions when hunting or were used as guard dogs, some to this day.
Especially when hunting, other traits are considered to be particularly helpful than, for example, a domestic dog. And that includes self-confidence, independence, or the ability to act independently. The will to please their people at all costs – i.e. the so-called “will to please”, as it is strongly present in the Labrador Retriever, for example – is often simply not particularly pronounced in the dog breeds mentioned.
All of the dogs on this list are considered stupid because they are slow to learn commands. The faster the four-legged friend learns something, the smarter he has to be. Right? No!
Because “working intelligence” is one thing. However, adaptive intelligence, i.e. the dog’s ability to think and act independently, is difficult to measure. But it is also an essential part of intelligence. Is a dog that specifically refuses to quickly learn the useless command “male” particularly stupid? Or is he not particularly intelligent because he sees through the futility of this order and refuses to cooperate? Is this four-legged friend maybe even smarter than its humans, who think that a dog should be able to be a male? In the end, only the dog knows.