Last Updated: Apr 14, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Smart is the Bernese Mountain Dog?
- Bernese Mountain Dog Intelligence. A Second Opinion
- The Intelligence of Bernese Mountain Dog Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Smarter than a Cat?
- What is the IQ of the Bernese Mountain Dog?
How Smart is the Bernese Mountain Dog?
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a dog breed that is known to be:
- Affectionate
- Faithful
- Intelligent
- Loyal
But, how smart is the Bernese Mountain Dog really?
The Bernese Mountain Dog is the 22nd smartest dog when it comes to obedience and working intelligence.
Accordingly, compared to other dogs, the Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
These facts on Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is the 22nd 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Doberman Pinscher? | Ranked 5th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Shetland Sheepdog? | Ranked 6th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Belgian Tervuren? | Ranked 14th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Bernese Mountain Dog? | Ranked 22nd out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Irish Water Spaniel? | Ranked 24th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Bouvier des Flandres? | Ranked 29th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Clumber Spaniel? | Ranked 37th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Norwich Terrier? | Ranked 38th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the American Foxhound? | Ranked 46th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Alaskan Malamute? | Ranked 50th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Chinese Crested? | Ranked 61st out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Tibetan Terrier? | Ranked 62nd out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Scottish Terrier? | Ranked 65th out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Pekingese? | Ranked 73rd out of 79 |
| How Smart is the Bloodhound? | Ranked 74th out of 79 |
Bernese Mountain Dog Intelligence. A Second Opinion
We reviewed another research study to find out more about the intelligence of the Bernese Mountain Dog. This other study is The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) study.
This study was done by research veterinarians from the University of Pennsylvania.
In the study, the researchers asked owners of different dog breeds, including owners of the Bernese Mountain Dog to describe how trainable their dogs are.
149 Bernese Mountain Dog owners were asked to describe
how easy it was to train their Bernese Mountain Dog in the CBARQ research survey.We analyzed what these Bernese Mountain Dog owners said about the trainability of their Bernese Mountain Dogs and compared that to what other owners said about other dog breeds (125 other breeds).
Dogs that are easy to train are always very eager to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Also, dogs that are easy to train tend to do well at fetching objects when asked to. Furthermore, this category of dogs also responds positively to correction and ignores distraction.
According to the results from the CBARQ research, Bernese Mountain Dogs are quite a bit easy to train.
In fact, the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks 35th out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
Based on our further analysis of the CBARQ research data, we found that the Bernese Mountain Dog has a trainability score of 78.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit easy to train just like the Bernese Mountain Dog are listed in the table below:
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Papillon | 78.8 % |
| 33 | Labrador Retriever | 78.8 % |
| 34 | Weimaraner | 78.8 % |
| 35 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 78.1 % |
| 36 | Chinook | 76.4 % |
| 37 | Poodle (Miniature) | 76.4 % |
| 38 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 76.3 % |
According to the CBARQ research data, the dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
According to the CBARQ research data, the dog breeds that are most difficult to train are the:
However, it is important to note that trainability does not always equal intelligence.
This is because a dog can be smart and stubborn at the same time. A smart but stubborn dog will be hard to train.
Visit this page to see the complete temperament profile (trainability, aggression, shyness, prey drive, etc) of the Bernese Mountain Dog according to the result of the CBARQ research study.
The Three Parts of the Intelligence of the Bernese Mountain Dog
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 Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the Working Dogs group.
Dogs in the Working Dogs group, like the Bernese Mountain Dog, were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families.
Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless..
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 Bernese Mountain Dog Compared to Other Dog Breeds
See how smart the Bernese Mountain Dog is compared to some other dog breeds.
To see how smart the Bernese Mountain Dog is compared to all other dog breeds, see this ranking of dog breeds based on intelligence.
Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Smarter Than the German Shorthaired Pointer?
The German Shorthaired Pointer is smarter than the Bernese Mountain Dog.
This is because the German Shorthaired Pointer ranks 17th out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 22nd, the Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 17th, the German Shorthaired Pointer belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that German Shorthaired Pointers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
| Bernese Mountain Dog | German Shorthaired Pointer | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 22nd out of 133 dog breeds | 17th 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 German Shorthaired Pointers are here.
Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Smarter Than the English Setter?
The Bernese Mountain Dog is smarter than the English Setter.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks 22nd out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the English Setter is 37th 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 22nd, the Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 37th, the English Setter belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category.
This means that English Setters tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.
| Bernese Mountain Dog | English Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 22nd out of 133 dog breeds | 37th out of 133 dog breeds |
| Learning Ability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions |
Learn more about how smart English Setters are here.
Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Smarter Than the Whippet?
The Bernese Mountain Dog is smarter than the Whippet.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks 22nd out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the Whippet 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 22nd, the Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 51st, the Whippet belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category.
This means that Whippets tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
| Bernese Mountain Dog | Whippet | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 22nd 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 Whippets are here.
Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Smarter Than the Miniature Pinscher?
The Bernese Mountain Dog is smarter than the Miniature Pinscher.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks 22nd out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the Miniature Pinscher is 37th 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 22nd, the Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 37th, the Miniature Pinscher belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category.
This means that Miniature Pinschers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.
| Bernese Mountain Dog | Miniature Pinscher | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 22nd out of 133 dog breeds | 37th out of 133 dog breeds |
| Learning Ability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions |
Learn more about how smart Miniature Pinschers are here.
Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Smarter Than the Puli?
The Bernese Mountain Dog is smarter than the Puli.
This is because the Bernese Mountain Dog ranks 22nd out of 79 in the intelligence ranking of 133 dog breeds, while the intelligence rank of the Puli is 27th 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 22nd, the Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category.
This means that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
On the other hand, because of its intelligence rank of 27th, the Puli belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category.
This means that Pulis tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.
| Bernese Mountain Dog | Puli | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 22nd out of 133 dog breeds | 27th out of 133 dog breeds |
| Learning Ability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions |
Learn more about how smart Pulis are here.
Is the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is definitely way smarter than a cat because the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog?
Before discussing the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of the Bernese Mountain Dog, 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs become full-grown and reach mental maturity at one year of age.
Also, let us make the bold assumption that, as Bernese Mountain Dogs 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 Bernese Mountain Dog will have the mental capacity of a 2-year-old human child, and a 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog will still have the mental capacity of a 2-year-old human child, and a 3-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog, which will have the mental capacity of a 2-year-old child, has an IQ of 200! This is not too surprising because Bernese Mountain Dogs mature and age faster than humans.
A one-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog is twice as smart as a one-year-old human child.
Also, since a 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog will have the intelligence of a two-year-old human, then the corresponding IQ of a 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog is 100. Similarly, a three-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog intelligence. That is what you get when you use human intelligence as a reference to measure Bernese Mountain Dog intelligence.
Conclusion
We hope this article has provided you with all the facts you need to know on Bernese Mountain Dog intelligence.
To learn more about the Bernese Mountain Dog, check out our article where we reviewed the Bernese Mountain Dog breed.
Also, to learn more about the temperament and behavior of the Bernese Mountain Dog, check out our article on the temperament profile of the Bernese Mountain Dog. This will tell you what Bernese Mountain Dogs are really like.
If you do not own the Bernese Mountain Dog yet, and you are planning to get one, check out our list of reputable Bernese Mountain Dog breeders and article on Bernese Mountain Dog price and buying advice.
