Some dogs come across as highly intelligent, while others can seem lovable but dopey. But how do you measure intelligence? After all, you can't give your dog an IQ test.

You can measure problem-solving ability, obedience, recall, or ability to learn quickly. But what does it all mean?

In 1994, a professor of psychology named Stanley Coren published a book titled "The Intelligence of Dogs". He covers several theories, and also ranks many breeds of dogs.

The top ten brightest dogs, according to Mr Coren:

  1. Border Collie
  2. Poodle
  3. German Shepherd
  4. Golden Retriever
  5. Doberman Pinscher
  6. Shetland Sheepdog
  7. Labrador Retriever
  8. Papillon
  9. Rottweiler
  10. Australian Cattle Dog

This list might hold a few surprises for you. The criteria used to rank these dogs was "understanding of new commands" and "obey first command". While these are good criteria if you're looking for a dog well suited to training, it does have some drawbacks.

For instance, as the author freely admits, the list favors obedience related behavioral traits, commonly found in working dogs and guard dogs. It doesn't award points for creativity, independence, or perseverance.

Border Collies have been selectively bred for generations with the goal of heading sheep quickly and with little training. They are obedient and follow commands well, so they score highly on the list.

On the other hand, Beagles score very low on the list – #73, actually. But Beagles are well suited to hunting, with excellent tracking instincts and a very strong sense of smell. In fact, they're a great choice for detection dogs, sniffing cargo and luggage for contraband. (And don't forget Snoopy's celebrity status, from Peanuts)

With dogs, as with humans, lets remember that intelligence isn't everything. A sweet disposition can make up for a lot, and blind obedience isn't always a sign of intelligence.