Discover the 16 Smartest Small Dog Breeds

1. Miniature Poodle

One way a miniature poodle shows their smarts is by being easily trainable. Like other dog breeds, the pet parent will have to be consistent with the training. Miniature poodles take part in a variety of dog sports and are impressive when it comes to retrieving. These dogs have a habit of being extremely alert and can quickly learn new commands.

2. Toy Poodle

If you’re looking for one of the smartest small dog breeds and don’t have a lot of space, consider getting a toy poodle. These precious animals stand around 10 inches tall and share the same intelligence as other types of poodles. 

These dogs are known for being obedient, and agile, and can even compete against retrievers in hunting tests. While they’re sweet and loyal to their owners, they are competitive when they need to be.

3. Miniature Schnauzer

Despite their stout stature, miniature schnauzers are one of the smartest dog breeds. They can learn a new command in less than 15 repetitions. They are also praised for their problem-solving skills. 

Interactive dog toys are perfect for miniature schnauzers as they keep their brain sharp. Not only are they one of the smartest small dog breeds, they are in the top 10% of brightest dog breeds overall.

4. Miniature American Shepherd

Because they are so eager to please their owner, miniature American shepherds can be quite intelligent. They are easy to train and are often used to guard livestock. They have a ton of energy and are thought to be just as smart and athletic as the full-size American shepherd. 

This breed is quickly becoming popular due to its ability to pick up on training queues faster than other breeds.

5. Papillon

You may look at a papillon and think they’re just little bundles of cuteness. While that may be true, they’re one of the smartest dog breeds in the world as well! Unlike other small dog breeds, papillons do not bark a lot, love to socialize with other pets, and are energetic without being excessively so. 

They love to learn new things, making it easy to train from the comfort of your home as long as you are consistent.

6. Shetland Sheepdog

Also called shelties, Shetland sheepdogs are a smart small dog breed that is actually known for their intelligence. At one point, Shetland sheepdogs scored sixth place out of 138 dog breeds in intelligence testing. 

These dogs are full of energy and may test your patience from time to time, but that’s just another part of their personality.

7. Schipperke

Not only are schipperkes one of the smartest small dog breeds, but they’re incredibly energetic as well. They have a habit of chewing anything they can get their paws on. Schipperkes are best for pet parents with plenty of experience. 

This breed is a bit harder to train due to its stubborn nature. Because of their intelligence, Schipperke’s won’t do well with harsh discipline. Rather, train and treat them with love and patience and you’ll quickly become best friends.

8. Border Terrier

Another one of the smartest small dog breeds is the border terrier. These precious pups can learn training cues relatively quickly. Due to their high intelligence, these dogs are great at decision-making and have impressive concentration skills. 

Some pet owners even use them to hunt rats around their farm. Because of their smarts, they require a lot of mental stimulation. Border terriers are the perfect example of a small dog that is capable of many of the things that larger breeds can do!

9. Bichon Frise

Bichon frises are one of the smartest small dog breeds for a unique reason. While they may not be as bright as other breeds on this list, they have an exceptional talent for reading human emotions. 

This makes the bichon frise a fantastic emotional support animal. They even have a habit of picking up on what’s happening in their environment that may affect their owner. Bichon frises also have adaptive intelligence that allows them to not make the same mistake twice if trained properly.

10. Cocker Spaniel

Although cocker spaniels can act like an energetic puppy their entire life, they are one of the smartest small dog breeds in the world. Because of their intelligence, they require a lot of mental and physical stimulation throughout their day.

If they don’t get enough, they may start to show behavioral problems. The English cocker spaniel is in the top 20 of the smartest dog breeds because they are easy to train and quickly learn new skills and commands.

11. Toy Fox Terrier

Don’t let the short stature fool you; toy fox terriers are wildly intelligent. These dogs are also the definition of extroverted. They love to play with other dogs and have no shortage of interests. Toy fox terriers will quickly pick up on training cues, and potty trains with ease, and always need a job to do. 

They can be a bit mischievous at times if they don’t have enough mental stimulation. This lively dog breed is affectionate toward their favorite humans and is always ready to learn something new.

12. Boston Terrier

The Boston terrier is also one of the smartest small dog breeds. While they may be generally average in terms of intelligence, their smarts are due to them being adaptive, obedient, and instinctive. 

This breed was originally bred to help people with a variety of daily tasks. Believe it or not, Boston terriers can herd livestock without being trained! They can be quite scrappy and like other terriers, are great at hunting rodents.

13. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh corgis may be popular for their cuteness, but they’re one of the smartest small dog breeds in existence. They are highly trainable and are plenty eager to learn new tasks and cues.

Corgis are incredibly agile and obedient, and have the skill of herding livestock. If you don’t provide them with enough to do, they’ll find themselves doing things they shouldn’t.

14. Havanese

Just from their appearance, you can tell Havanese know a thing or two. They look like old men full of wisdom. This breed loves to please its owner and will learn whatever they have to in order to do so. 

Like other breeds on this list, they learn from patience, love, and consistency rather than scolding. Havanese are one of the smartest small dog breeds due to their emotional intelligence, as they can easily read human emotions.

15. Brussels Griffon

With a maximum weight of 15 pounds, Brussels griffons are small but mighty. They’re known for their big personality, devotion to their owner, and being quite self-involved. This breed is quick to learn new commands and will be easy to train. 

They may be nervous around other animals and strangers if one does not socialize with them from an early age. Brussels griffons have a strong bond with their humans and will learn new skills just to please them.

16. Pomeranian

Many people view Pomeranians simply as show dogs. Due to their adorable appearance, one may not know they’re one of the smartest small dog breeds. They’re wildly independent and their competition makes them winners at obedience competitions. 

They rank 23rd among obedience and working skills. Pomeranians are fiercely protective over their owners and will never have a shortage of energy when it comes to playtime!