There's no single "smartest" animal because intelligence is measured differently, but chimpanzees, dolphins, orangutans, and elephants are consistently ranked highest, along with crows and octopuses showing advanced problem-solving, tool use, self-awareness (mirror tests), and complex communication, with some primates even learning sign language and outperforming humans in memory tasks.
Most scientists believe the chimpanzee is the “smartest animal in the world,” behind humans.
If you've ever wondered what is the smartest animal with the highest IQ, chimpanzees are your answer. The smartest animal in the world happens to also be our closest living relative.
Number 1: Border Collie.
Chimpanzees have been subjected to countless hours of research with the goal of better understanding their cognition. The result is that we can confidently say that chimps are one of the most intelligent species on earth. Humans share 99 percent of our DNA with chimps, so this should come as no surprise.
Dolphins are smarter overall when it comes to communication, social interaction, and emotional intelligence, while octopuses are clever escape artists with short lifespans and different brain structures.
They are certainly more intelligent than most pets (dogs/cats). They'll figure things out a lot faster and without specific training. For example, I knew one cow that learned how to open gates and doors with their tongue just by watching us open the doors/gates.
Most loyal dog breeds are good family dogs, though some might be better suited for older children.
Aussies are remarkably intelligent, quite capable of hoodwinking an unsuspecting novice owner. In short, this isn't the pet for everyone.
The Top 10 Smartest Pets: Understanding Their Intelligence
Rats are the smartest of the most common domesticated rodents. The Rat Assistance and Teaching Society (yes, that exists!) states that some rats are more intelligent than dogs! They can be trained to a number of tricks (see video), recognize their name and come when called, and even use a litter box!
While horses may not match the intellectual capabilities of elephants, they are often considered more intelligent than dogs or cats in some areas, excelling in equine-assisted therapies where their sensitivity to human emotions makes them invaluable in psychological treatments.
Chimps are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, so it's unsurprising they display intelligence similar to that of humans. Chimps fashion spears and other tools, display a wide range of emotions and recognize themselves in a mirror.
Greenland sharks are the longest-living vertebrates in the world. The oldest known individuals recorded by scientists have been about 400 years old, though with the large margin of error, it's possible that they could live for more than 500 years.
Among non-human animals, chimpanzees demonstrate the most convincing evidence of self-awareness (Gallup, 1970; Lethmate and Dücker, 1973; Suarez and Gallup, 1981; Marino et al., 1994; Gallup and Anderson, 2019), with roughly 75% of young adult chimpanzees passing the MSR test (Robert, 1986).
Encephalization quotient?!
Humans, as you could probably guess, have the largest quotient, at a whopping 7. Dolphins aren't far off us, at around 5. Your pet dog is in at around 3. It may be due to this that dolphins have so many traits that we see among human toddlers.
While there's no single "number one," the Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever consistently rank as top friendly dogs due to their gentle, outgoing, and loyal temperaments, making them excellent family pets good with kids and other animals, though they need plenty of exercise. Other top contenders for friendliness include Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Pugs, known for their playful, affectionate, and people-loving natures.
As a result of their high intelligence, Aussies make excellent choices for many different careers. In addition to being amazing Seeing Eye dogs, they are also great hearing dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs.
The #1 smartest dog breed, consistently ranked by experts like Dr. Stanley Coren, is the Border Collie, known for its exceptional ability to learn commands quickly (sometimes in under five repetitions) and obey them consistently, excelling in problem-solving and demanding mental stimulation. Other top contenders for intelligence often include the Poodle, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and Shetland Sheepdog, recognized for their trainability and eagerness to please.
1. Golden Retrievers. Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds around, and part of the reason for this is the affectionate personality common to the breed. They're known for being loving and loyal, but they're also very smart dogs, making them quite easy to train.
Hachiko was a real dog who lived in Tokyo in the early 1900s. After his owner passed away, he continued to wait for his owner at a train station everyday. Hachiko became famous for his loyalty and devotion.
While there isn't a standardized test to measure animal intelligence, horses are often considered to be among the smartest animals on Earth. They are compared to dogs and cats, and some argue they might be smarter due to their ability to live independently from humans.
🧠 They can remember faces - both human and animal - for years and even recognize familiar voices. Cows also form close bonds with each other and can even hold grudges if they're treated poorly.
Research shows pigs are more intelligent than dogs — and even many children: Pigs are highly intelligent animals with remarkable cognitive abilities that rival some of the smartest species on Earth.