Last Updated: Apr 14, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Smart is the Belgian Sheepdog?
- The Intelligence of Belgian Sheepdog Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- Is the Belgian Sheepdog Smarter than a Cat?
- What is the IQ of the Belgian Sheepdog?
How Smart is the Belgian Sheepdog?
The Belgian Sheepdog is a dog breed that is known to be:
- Active
- Alert
- Confident
- Friendly
- Hard-working
- Protective
- Stubborn
- Watchful
- Intelligent
But, how smart is the Belgian Sheepdog really?
The Belgian Sheepdog is the 15th smartest dog when it comes to obedience and working intelligence.
Accordingly, compared to other dogs, the Belgian Sheepdog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
Belgian Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
These facts on Belgian Sheepdog intelligence are from the published work on dog intelligence and behavior by the renowned Prof. Stanley Coren. Coren is a Canadian Psychology Professor and Dog Researcher.
In the 1990s, Prof. Coren did extensive scientific research where he `measured` what is called the Working or Obedience Intelligence of more than 130 different dog breeds.
Note that the working/obedience intelligence of a dog is one of the three intelligence components that constitute a dog`s total intelligence
. But it is the only intelligence component that can be measured and compared among dog breeds.Later on, we will further explain what the working/obedience intelligence means, and what the other two parts of a dog`s intelligence are.
For his research on measuring and ranking the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren consulted with:
- Over two hundred dog obedience judges
- Over sixty veterinarians, and
- Fourteen guard dog experts
From his research data, Prof. Coren ranked dog breeds according to their obedience intelligence from the smartest to the least smart.
According to the study, the smartest dog breed is the Border Collie. Border Collies are so smart that they can understand any new command that you are trying to teach them after repeating the command to them five times or fewer.
The least smart dog breed is the Afghan Hound. The Afghan Hound is one of the dog breeds with the lowest degree of Working/Obedience intelligence. It will take 80 to 100 repetitions or more for an Afghan Hound to learn a new command.
As mentioned earlier, the Belgian Sheepdog is the 15th smartest dog breed.
Furthermore, Coren placed dog breeds into one of six intelligence categories:
- Brightest Dogs: Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions
- Excellent Working Dogs: Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions
- Above Average Working Dogs: Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions
- Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs: Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions
- Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs: Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!
- Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs: Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More!
The Belgian Sheepdog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
However, note that obedience intelligence is one of the many things that make a good dog. The fact that a dog breed has a low obedience intelligence DOES NOT MEAN the dog breed with not excel at other things.
Intelligence is just one of the many things that make dogs the excellent human companions that they are.
See the intelligence ranking of a few selected dog breeds in the table below: (note, although 133 dog breeds were studied, there are 79 positions because some breeds tied for the same position)
Click here to see the intelligence rank of all 133 dog breeds.
| Breed | Intelligence Rank |
|---|---|
| How Smart is the Belgian Sheepdog? | Ranked 15th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Weimaraner? | Ranked 21st out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Cairn Terrier? | Ranked 35th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Pharaoh Hound? | Ranked 37th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the American Foxhound? | Ranked 46th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the West Highland White Terrier? | Ranked 47th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Chinese Shar-Pei? | Ranked 51st out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Pug? | Ranked 57th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Maltese? | Ranked 59th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Tibetan Terrier? | Ranked 62nd out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Great Pyrenees? | Ranked 64th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Scottish Terrier? | Ranked 65th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Chow Chow? | Ranked 76th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Basenji? | Ranked 78th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Afghan Hound? | Ranked 79th out of 79 |
The Three Parts of the Intelligence of the Belgian Sheepdog
As mentioned earlier, Prof. Coren ranked dogs based on what is called the `Working/Obedience` Intelligence.
The `Working/Obedience` Intelligence is one of the three parts of a dog`s overall intelligence.
All the three parts that make up a dog`s overall intelligence are:
- Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence that comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that have been historically bred to be guard or hunt dogs will have a high `guarding` or `hunting` intelligence compared to dogs that were not bred for guarding or hunting.
- Adaptive Intelligence: This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not specific to a dog breed. You can improve your dog`s adaptive intelligence (and therefore its overall intelligence) by investing time to train your dog.
- Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence type is the subject of this article. This type of intelligence is breed-specific. Certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than other breeds. This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. This type of intelligence can be measured for each dog breed. Furthermore, the working/obedience intelligence of one dog breed can be compared to that of another dog breed to see which dog is smarter
You can tell what type of instinctive intelligence a dog breed will have based on the dog group the dog belongs.
The Belgian Sheepdog belongs to the Herding Dogs group.
Dogs in the Herding Dogs group, like the Belgian Sheepdog, were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer.
Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable.
Herding dogs have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior.
Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.
The natural breed-specific working/obedience intelligence is a heavy chunk of a dog`s overall intelligence.
According to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances. Environmental circumstances include how much training you give to a dog.
In short, it will be much easier to train a naturally smart dog.
However, we should mention that a dog breed should not be judged based on its intelligence alone.
There are other important factors you need to consider when deciding on which dog breed to get.
The most important factor to consider is how compatible a dog breed`s overall temperament is with your lifestyle.
The Intelligence of Belgian Sheepdog Compared to Other Dog Breeds
See how smart the Belgian Sheepdog is compared to some other dog breeds.
To see how smart the Belgian Sheepdog is compared to all other dog breeds, see this ranking of dog breeds based on intelligence.
Is the Belgian Sheepdog Smarter Than the Belgian Malinois?
The Belgian Sheepdog is smarter than the Belgian Malinois.
This is because the Belgian Sheepdog ranks 15th out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the Belgian Malinois is 22nd out of 79 in the ranking of the intelligence of 133 dog breeds (133 and not 79 because some breeds tied for intelligence in the same spot).
Because of its intelligence rank of 15th, the Belgian Sheepdog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Belgian Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 22nd, the Belgian Malinois belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Belgian Malinoiss tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
| Belgian Sheepdog | Belgian Malinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 15th out of 133 dog breeds | 22nd out of 133 dog breeds |
| Learning Ability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions |
Learn more about how smart Belgian Malinoiss are here.
Is the Belgian Sheepdog Smarter Than the Wire Fox Terrier?
The Belgian Sheepdog is smarter than the Wire Fox Terrier.
This is because the Belgian Sheepdog ranks 15th out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the Wire Fox Terrier is 51st out of 79 in the ranking of the intelligence of 133 dog breeds (133 and not 79 because some breeds tied for intelligence in the same spot).
Because of its intelligence rank of 15th, the Belgian Sheepdog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Belgian Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 51st, the Wire Fox Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category.
This means that Wire Fox Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
| Belgian Sheepdog | Wire Fox Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 15th out of 133 dog breeds | 51st out of 133 dog breeds |
| Learning Ability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions |
Learn more about how smart Wire Fox Terriers are here.
Is the Belgian Sheepdog Smarter Than the Siberian Husky?
The Belgian Sheepdog is smarter than the Siberian Husky.
This is because the Belgian Sheepdog ranks 15th out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the Siberian Husky is 45th out of 79 in the ranking of the intelligence of 133 dog breeds (133 and not 79 because some breeds tied for intelligence in the same spot).
Because of its intelligence rank of 15th, the Belgian Sheepdog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Belgian Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 45th, the Siberian Husky belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category.
This means that Siberian Huskys tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
| Belgian Sheepdog | Siberian Husky | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 15th out of 133 dog breeds | 45th out of 133 dog breeds |
| Learning Ability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions |
Learn more about how smart Siberian Huskys are here.
Is the Belgian Sheepdog Smarter Than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?
The Belgian Sheepdog is smarter than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.
This is because the Belgian Sheepdog ranks 15th out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 52nd out of 79 in the ranking of the intelligence of 133 dog breeds (133 and not 79 because some breeds tied for intelligence in the same spot).
Because of its intelligence rank of 15th, the Belgian Sheepdog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Belgian Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 52nd, the Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category.
This means that Rhodesian Ridgebacks tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
| Belgian Sheepdog | Rhodesian Ridgeback | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 15th out of 133 dog breeds | 52nd out of 133 dog breeds |
| Learning Ability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions |
Learn more about how smart Rhodesian Ridgebacks are here.
Is the Belgian Sheepdog Smarter Than the Japanese Chin?
The Belgian Sheepdog is smarter than the Japanese Chin.
This is because the Belgian Sheepdog ranks 15th out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the Japanese Chin is 62nd out of 79 in the ranking of the intelligence of 133 dog breeds (133 and not 79 because some breeds tied for intelligence in the same spot).
Because of its intelligence rank of 15th, the Belgian Sheepdog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Belgian Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 62nd, the Japanese Chin belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category.
This means that Japanese Chins tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.
| Belgian Sheepdog | Japanese Chin | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 15th out of 133 dog breeds | 62nd out of 133 dog breeds |
| Learning Ability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! |
Learn more about how smart Japanese Chins are here.
Is the Belgian Sheepdog Smarter than a Cat?
Dogs have more neurons in their brains than cats. In fact, a dog has twice the number of brain neurons of a cat (500 million versus 250 million neurons).
This is according to a research study in which the scientist counted the number of brain neurons in dogs and in cats.
Brain neurons are used for processing information. Hence, it is likely that the Belgian Sheepdog will have a better information processing power than a cat
Thus, if we are to use the number of neurons in an animal`s brain as a measure of intelligence, then the Belgian Sheepdog is definitely way smarter than a cat because the Belgian Sheepdog has twice as many brain neurons as a cat.
However, intelligence is a very complex concept that may not be explained simply by how many neurons an animal`s brain has. Learn more here.
What is the IQ of the Belgian Sheepdog?
Before discussing the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of the Belgian Sheepdog, let us first define what Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is. IQ is simply a measure of how mentally advanced a person is relative to that person`s chronological age (the typical age that is calculated from birthday).
For example, a 2-year-old child with the mental capacity of a 4-year-old has an IQ of 200 (that is 4 divided by 2, multiplied by 100).
This is an old but simple definition of IQ.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, a dog has the mental capacity of a 2-year-old human child.
Let us assume that Belgian Sheepdogs become full-grown and reach mental maturity at one year of age.
Also, let us make the bold assumption that, as Belgian Sheepdogs get older, they do not get significantly smarter than a 2-year-old human child (You Can`t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks).
Thus, a one-year-old Belgian Sheepdog will have the mental capacity of a 2-year-old human child, and a 2-year-old Belgian Sheepdog will still have the mental capacity of a 2-year-old human child, and a 3-year-old Belgian Sheepdog will have the mental capacity of a 2-year-old human child, and so on.
Then, from the way IQ is defined, a one-year-old Belgian Sheepdog, which will have the mental capacity of a 2-year-old child, has an IQ of 200! This is not too surprising because Belgian Sheepdogs mature and age faster than humans.
A one-year-old Belgian Sheepdog is twice as smart as a one-year-old human child.
Also, since a 2-year-old Belgian Sheepdog will have the intelligence of a two-year-old human, then the corresponding IQ of a 2-year-old Belgian Sheepdog is 100. Similarly, a three-year-old Belgian Sheepdog will still have the mental capacity of a two-year-old human, making its IQ 66, and so on.
These may sound odd. But this is because the concept of IQ was designed to test human intelligence and not Belgian Sheepdog intelligence. That is what you get when you use human intelligence as a reference to measure Belgian Sheepdog intelligence.
Conclusion
We hope this article has provided you with all the facts you need to know on Belgian Sheepdog intelligence.
To learn more about the Belgian Sheepdog, check out our article where we reviewed the Belgian Sheepdog breed.
If you do not own the Belgian Sheepdog yet, and you are planning to get one, check out our list of reputable Belgian Sheepdog breeders and article on Belgian Sheepdog price and buying advice.