Gold Standard Dog Training

Breed reference

Breed analysis

Compare purebred traits across ten dimensions on a 1–10 scale. Search, sort, and pin breeds for side-by-side comparison — then explore mongrel and cross-breed mixes with probabilistic ranges.

Purebred rankings

Breed intelligence table

Overall IQ draws on Stanley Coren's obedience/working intelligence rankings for the top tier. Cognitive sub-scores are expert-informed estimates; dominance, protectiveness, and neuroticism are breed-type estimates from temperament data — useful for comparison, not fixed labels for any dog. Open a breed row for detail cards including stress patterns, common sensitivities, and puppy-phase notes. Breeds outside Coren's obedience evaluation are placed using known tendencies and relationships to ranked breeds in the same category.

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Intensity
10
8.6
7.3
5.9
4.5
10 = vivid · column min = none
Size
Instinct types

Instinct training leverage — open a breed above, then scroll here

Stress patterns
Columns
IQ #BreedIQInstAdaptWorkEmotSpatDomProtNeurVocal
1Border Collie
9.8
9.5
9.8
9.9
8.2
9.5
5.5
4.0
6.8
5.0
2Poodle (Standard)
9.6
8.5
9.5
9.7
8.8
8.0
4.5
4.5
3.0
4.0
3German Shepherd
9.4
9.2
9.2
9.5
9.0
8.8
7.5
9.2
5.0
6.5
4Golden Retriever
9.2
9.0
8.6
9.2
9.5
7.8
3.5
4.0
3.0
4.0
5Doberman
9.0
8.8
8.8
9.1
8.5
8.6
7.2
9.0
5.0
6.5
6White Swiss Shepherd
9.0
9.0
8.8
8.8
8.8
8.6
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
7Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)
8.9
9.2
8.5
9.0
8.0
9.0
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
8Labrador Retriever
8.8
9.0
8.4
8.9
9.4
7.6
3.5
4.0
5.0
4.0
9Papillon
8.7
7.5
8.3
8.8
7.5
8.0
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
10NZ Heading Dog
8.6
9.3
8.5
8.4
8.1
9.2
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
11Rottweiler
8.6
8.8
8.5
8.7
7.8
8.2
8.0
9.5
5.0
6.5
12Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler)
8.5
9.3
8.6
8.6
7.2
9.2
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
13Kelpie
8.3
9.2
8.2
8.2
7.3
9.0
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
14Miniature Schnauzer
8.3
8.0
8.2
8.4
7.6
7.5
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
15Koolie
8.2
9.1
8.0
8.0
7.5
9.0
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
16Springer Spaniel
8.2
8.8
7.8
8.3
8.5
7.8
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
17Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael / Tervuren)
8.1
9.0
8.4
8.2
7.8
9.0
7.0
8.5
6.8
5.0
18Rough / Smooth Collie
7.9
8.5
7.7
7.9
8.5
8.2
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
19Keeshond
7.8
7.5
7.4
7.8
8.6
7.2
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.2
20Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
7.8
8.8
7.6
7.7
8.5
7.8
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
21Flat-Coated Retriever
7.7
8.5
7.5
7.7
8.4
7.4
3.8
4.2
5.0
4.0
22Pointer (English / GSP)
7.7
9.2
7.8
7.7
7.5
8.5
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
23Welsh Corgi (Pembroke / Cardigan)
7.7
8.7
7.6
7.8
7.9
8.7
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
24Cocker Spaniel
7.6
8.5
7.3
7.6
8.7
7.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
25Standard Schnauzer
7.6
7.8
7.7
7.6
7.2
7.6
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
26Brittany Spaniel
7.5
8.8
7.5
7.5
7.8
8.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
27German Wirehaired Pointer
7.5
9.0
7.6
7.4
7.4
8.3
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
28Curly-Coated Retriever
7.4
8.4
7.2
7.3
8.0
7.2
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
29Weimaraner
7.4
9.0
7.6
7.4
7.5
8.2
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
30Belgian Malinois
7.3
9.2
8.2
7.3
7.0
9.0
7.8
9.3
5.0
6.5
31Beauceron
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
32Bernese Mountain Dog
7.2
8.0
6.8
7.2
9.0
7.0
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
33Black Russian Terrier
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
34Boerboel
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
35Chow Chow
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
36Dogo Argentino
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
37Dogue de Bordeaux
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
38Lagotto Romagnolo
7.2
8.2
7.4
7.0
8.0
7.2
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
39Mastiff (English / Bull / Neapolitan)
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
40Presa Canario
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
41Shar Pei
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
42Tibetan Mastiff
7.2
8.5
7.8
7.4
7.5
8.0
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
43Pomeranian
7.1
7.0
6.8
7.1
8.0
6.5
5.5
3.5
6.8
8.0
44Bearded Collie
7.0
8.8
7.5
7.2
7.8
8.5
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
45Briard
7.0
8.8
7.5
7.2
7.8
8.5
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
46Old English Sheepdog
7.0
8.8
7.5
7.2
7.8
8.5
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
47Polish Lowland Sheepdog
7.0
8.8
7.5
7.2
7.8
8.5
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
48Puli
7.0
8.8
7.5
7.2
7.8
8.5
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
49Swedish Vallhund
7.0
8.8
7.5
7.2
7.8
8.5
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
50Vizsla
7.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
8.8
7.8
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
51Chesapeake Bay Retriever
6.9
8.8
7.0
6.9
7.5
7.5
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
52Bichon Frise
6.8
7.0
7.0
6.6
8.5
6.5
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
53Cane Corso
6.8
8.5
7.2
6.8
7.5
7.8
8.0
9.2
5.0
6.5
54Clumber Spaniel
6.8
8.0
7.0
7.0
8.5
7.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
55Field Spaniel
6.8
8.0
7.0
7.0
8.5
7.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
56Giant Schnauzer
6.8
8.2
7.5
6.8
7.2
7.8
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
57Hungarian Pointer
6.8
8.0
7.0
7.0
8.5
7.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
58Hungarian Pumi
6.8
8.0
7.0
7.0
8.5
7.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
59Newfoundland
6.8
8.0
6.5
6.8
8.9
6.8
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
60NZ Huntaway
6.8
9.0
7.0
6.2
7.8
8.5
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
61Wirehaired Vizsla
6.8
8.0
6.8
7.0
8.5
7.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
62Yorkshire Terrier
6.8
7.2
6.9
6.8
7.8
6.4
5.5
3.5
6.8
8.5
63Airedale Terrier
6.7
8.0
7.2
6.7
7.2
7.2
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
64Mini Australian Shepherd
6.7
8.8
7.5
6.8
7.8
8.3
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
65Miniature Poodle
6.7
8.0
7.0
6.9
8.8
7.0
4.5
4.5
7.0
6.0
66Portuguese Water Dog
6.7
8.5
7.0
6.7
8.0
7.5
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
67Bouvier des Flandres
6.6
8.8
7.4
6.6
7.0
8.5
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
68Toy Poodle
6.6
8.0
7.0
6.8
9.0
6.7
4.5
4.5
8.0
6.5
69Akita
6.5
8.0
6.8
6.4
7.2
7.5
7.8
8.5
5.0
6.5
70Border Terrier
6.5
8.0
7.0
6.5
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
71Gordon Setter
6.5
8.4
6.4
6.4
8.2
6.6
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
72Australian Shepherd
6.4
9.0
8.0
6.4
8.0
9.0
6.0
5.0
6.8
5.0
73Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
6.4
7.5
6.5
6.2
9.3
6.2
5.5
3.5
7.2
5.5
74English Setter
6.4
8.3
6.3
6.3
8.3
6.7
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
75Leonberger
6.4
7.8
6.2
6.2
8.3
6.8
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
76Rhodesian Ridgeback
6.4
8.2
6.8
6.2
7.8
7.5
7.5
9.0
5.0
6.5
77Siberian Husky
6.4
8.5
7.5
6.4
8.2
8.8
6.0
4.5
5.0
8.8
78American Staffordshire Terrier
6.3
7.6
6.6
6.1
8.7
6.6
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
79Irish Setter
6.3
8.5
6.2
6.3
8.5
6.8
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
80Affenpinscher
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
81Boston Terrier
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
82Boxer
6.2
7.8
6.5
6.2
8.8
6.5
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
83Brussels Griffon
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
84Chinese Crested
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
85Coton de Tulear
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
86Dachshund
6.2
8.5
6.8
5.8
7.2
6.8
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.0
87Havanese
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
88Japanese Chin
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
89King Charles Spaniel
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
90Lhasa Apso
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
91Maltese
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
92Miniature Pinscher
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
93Pekingese
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
94Shiba Inu
6.2
7.8
6.8
5.8
7.0
7.5
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.5
95Shih Tzu
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
96Silky Terrier
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
97Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffy)
6.2
7.5
6.5
6.0
8.8
6.5
6.5
6.0
5.0
4.0
98Tibetan Spaniel
6.2
6.8
6.5
6.0
8.1
6.2
5.5
3.5
6.8
7.5
99Great Dane
6.1
7.5
6.0
6.1
8.5
6.5
5.5
6.5
3.0
4.5
100Pit Bull type
6.1
7.4
6.4
5.9
8.6
6.4
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
101Bedlington Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
102Bull Arab
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
103Cairn Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
104Catahoula Leopard Dog
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
105Chihuahua
6.0
6.5
6.8
5.8
7.8
6.0
5.5
3.5
7.5
8.0
106Fox Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
107Irish Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
108Kerry Blue Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
109Lakeland Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
110Manchester Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
111Norfolk / Norwich Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
112Parson Russell Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
6.0
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
113Patterdale Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
114Rat Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
115Samoyed
6.0
7.8
6.5
6.0
8.5
7.0
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.0
116Scottish Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
117Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
118Welsh Terrier
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
119West Highland White Terrier (Westie)
6.0
8.2
7.0
5.8
7.5
7.0
6.5
4.5
6.8
7.0
120Dalmatian
5.9
7.5
6.8
5.9
7.0
7.2
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
121Alaskan Klee Kai
5.8
7.8
6.5
5.5
8.0
7.8
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.5
122Alaskan Malamute
5.8
7.8
6.5
5.5
8.0
7.8
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.5
123American Bulldog
5.8
7.2
6.0
5.7
8.2
6.2
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
124Anatolian Shepherd / Maremma
5.8
7.5
5.5
5.5
8.2
6.5
7.5
9.5
3.0
4.5
125Bull Terrier
5.8
7.0
6.0
5.6
8.0
6.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.0
126Bullmastiff
5.8
7.5
5.8
5.6
8.0
6.5
7.5
8.8
5.0
6.5
127Caucasian Shepherd
5.8
7.5
5.5
5.5
8.2
6.5
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
128Central Asian Shepherd
5.8
7.5
5.5
5.5
8.2
6.5
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
129Estrela Mountain Dog
5.8
7.5
5.5
5.5
8.2
6.5
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
130Eurasier
5.8
7.8
6.5
5.5
8.0
7.8
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.5
131Finnish Lapphund
5.8
7.8
6.5
5.5
8.0
7.8
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.5
132Finnish Spitz
5.8
7.8
6.5
5.5
8.0
7.8
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.5
133German Spitz
5.8
7.8
6.5
5.5
8.0
7.8
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.5
134Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog)
5.8
7.5
5.5
5.5
8.2
6.5
7.0
9.0
3.0
4.5
135Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
5.8
7.5
5.5
5.5
8.2
6.5
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
136Jack Russell Terrier
5.8
8.5
7.8
5.8
7.2
7.8
7.0
4.0
6.8
7.5
137Japanese Spitz
5.8
7.8
6.5
5.5
8.0
7.8
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.5
138Komondor
5.8
7.5
5.5
5.5
8.2
6.5
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
139Kuvasz
5.8
7.5
5.5
5.5
8.2
6.5
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
140Norwegian Elkhound
5.8
7.8
6.5
5.5
8.0
7.8
5.5
5.0
5.0
8.5
141Pyrenean Mastiff
5.8
7.5
5.5
5.5
8.2
6.5
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
142Beagle
5.6
9.2
7.5
5.6
7.8
7.5
4.5
3.5
3.0
8.5
143St Bernard
5.6
7.2
5.4
5.4
8.5
6.2
7.0
8.5
3.0
4.5
144Basenji
5.5
8.0
6.5
5.2
6.8
7.0
5.5
5.0
5.0
2.0
145Bloodhound
5.5
9.8
6.5
5.5
7.5
8.8
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.5
146Coonhound
5.4
9.0
6.8
5.2
7.2
7.2
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.0
147Foxhound (English / American)
5.4
9.0
6.8
5.2
7.2
7.2
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.0
148Hamiltonstövare
5.4
9.0
6.8
5.2
7.2
7.2
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.0
149Harrier Hound
5.4
9.0
6.8
5.2
7.2
7.2
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.0
150Miniature Dachshund
5.4
9.0
6.8
5.2
7.2
6.9
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.0
151Otterhound
5.4
9.0
6.8
5.2
7.2
7.2
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.0
152Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
5.4
9.0
6.8
5.2
7.2
7.2
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.0
153Basset Hound
5.2
9.0
6.2
5.0
7.5
6.8
4.0
3.5
3.0
8.5
154Whippet
5.2
9.0
5.5
4.8
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
155Azawakh
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
156Borzoi
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
157Bulldog (British)
5.0
6.5
4.8
5.0
7.5
5.0
4.5
4.5
5.0
3.5
158Ibizan Hound
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
159Irish Wolfhound
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
160Italian Greyhound
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
161Pharaoh Hound
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
162Saluki
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
163Scottish Deerhound
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
164Sloughi
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
165Staghound (NZ hunting type)
5.0
9.0
5.2
4.6
6.8
5.8
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
166French Bulldog
4.8
6.0
5.0
4.6
8.3
5.2
5.5
3.5
6.5
6.0
167Greyhound
4.8
9.2
5.0
4.4
6.5
5.5
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0
168Pug
4.6
6.2
5.2
4.5
8.5
5.0
5.5
3.5
6.0
5.5
169Afghan Hound
4.5
9.0
5.0
4.5
6.5
5.5
3.5
3.0
5.0
3.0

Scroll the table to browse all 169 breeds.

The IQ # column is overall IQ rank only. Other columns are independent — sort by any heading to reorder. Cognitive columns shade green (vivid at high, pale at low); behavioural columns use colour for type and vividness for strength.

Tap filter badges to narrow the breed list by instinct type, stress pattern, or column strength. Breeds must match every selected filter. Tick a row checkbox to open temperament details above the table; click a row to pin it for comparison.

All scores are on a 1–10 scale. Coren's top-tier breeds use his obedience/working rankings; others are estimated from category tendencies and kinship to ranked breeds.

Training tools

Instinct training leverage

Open a breed in the table above to see methods matched to its Inst column bar — weighted by drive share. Functional substitution: offer a legitimate job through the drive the dog already carries before denying access or correcting fixation.

Open a breed in the table above — tick the row checkbox on desktop or tap the breed name on mobile — to see training methods matched to that breed's instinct breakdown.

Crosses & mixes

Mix intelligence explorer

Assign fractional parent contributions — half of one breed, a quarter of another — to see likely intelligence ranges and temperament notes. Outcomes are probabilistic; real mixes routinely surprise their owners.

Build a cross or mongrel mix by assigning fractional parent contributions. Scores show a likely range, not a fixed result — genetics in mixes is a lottery.

Genetic lottery

Mixes inherit unevenly. These ranges are illustrative — individual dogs routinely land outside them. For training-specific temperament attribution, use the owner exam mix flow.

Training context

Intelligence rankings describe learning aptitude — not trainability in your home, and not temperament. For how breed type shapes correction delivery and reward currency, see the Client Reference Guide or take the owner exam.