Border collies are great canine companions. Whether you want a dog that hangs around the house or you need a hunting buddy for small game, border collies have your back. That said, if you plan on getting a border collie, you may be curious about their intelligence.

While we can sit here and tell you that they’re smart, why not take a look at the data? This article covers everything you need to know about border collie IQ. Read on to learn more about IQ, how it’s measured in dogs, and what the IQ of a border collie can be.

What Is IQ?

First and foremost, it’s important to understand what IQ is, especially if we’re going to cover how high or low a border collie’s IQ is. IQ refers to an intelligence quotient. In other words, it’s a score that’s used to measure someone’s intelligence based on answers to a test. Usually, IQ is measured by a number, and the higher the IQ, the better.

When it comes to testing IQ in humans, you’ll find that it comes down to someone’s ability to solve problems. Usually, tests are timed, and someone needs to answer as many questions as possible. While this isn’t exactly how IQ is measured in border collies and other dog breeds, you’ll find that the process is similar. If you’re curious what an adult-focused IQ test looks like in practice, Riot IQ’s RIOT assessment uses multiple subtests (like vocabulary, matrix reasoning, and processing speed) to generate an IQ score and a cognitive-ability breakdown.

For dogs, IQ tends to be determined via observation, so not through written tests like humans. Therefore, IQ in animals tends to be a little more subjective.

Can IQ Be Used to Measure Intelligence in Dogs?

IQ can be used to measure intelligence in dogs. However, it’s not measured in the same way that it’s measured in humans. After all, when was the last time you saw a border collie solving a math problem?

Instead, IQ for dogs is measured through a wide variety of tests and applications. Typically, dogs are rated based on their ability to learn commands, solve problems, and sometimes even on their natural instincts. Therefore, you won’t always see IQ assigned to border collies and other breeds as a number.

What Is a Border Collie IQ?

When it comes to border collie IQ, you may be surprised to learn that this is one of the smartest dog breeds on the planet. Yes, you read that right, and you’ll find that border collies tend to rank #1 in many areas.

In fact, some border collies have tested high enough to compare to the intelligence of a 4-year-old. When it comes to a border collie’s ability to learn and respond to commands, you’ll also find that they have a high rate of success. In some tests, border collies obeyed and listened to long commands 95% of the time.

When you compare these stats to those of other dogs, you’ll find that border collies are among the smartest canine companions you can have. Whether you need an emotional support animal or a hunting partner, a border collie can be trained to help you. In fact, border collies are even used for service dog work.

That said, it’s important to note that every border collie is unique. Therefore, you can’t always assume that your border collie will have the highest IQ regardless of their background. Therefore, you need to work with the right breeders if you want to find border collies who may have high IQs.

Our Final Thoughts on Border Collie IQ

Understanding a border collie is important if you want to adopt or buy one, which is why it helps to know what the average border collie IQ is. While IQ in dogs isn’t measured in the same way as it is for people, you’ll find border collies tend to score high on intelligence tests, which enables them to learn a wide variety of commands.

That said, if you plan on welcoming a border collie into your home, it’s important to go through the proper channels. If you want to adopt a border collie, make sure you leverage reliable adoption resources to do so. On the other hand, if you plan on buying a border collie, make sure you only work with reputable breeders.