Side-by-Side Cognitive Profile: Brittany vs. Lakeland Terrier
Our Pet IQ Lab analysis breaks down canine intelligence into five core dimensions, revealing distinct mental aptitudes. The Brittany, a sporting dog, consistently demonstrates a higher aptitude across several metrics, reflected in its Coren ranking of #19, indicating a strong capacity for understanding and obeying new commands quickly. Its Problem Solving score of 4/5 suggests a dog capable of navigating complex tasks and adapting strategies effectively, while a Training Speed of 4/5 points to a quick grasp of new concepts and behaviors.
The Brittany's Social Intelligence, rated at 3/5, indicates a balanced awareness of human cues and pack dynamics, though not overwhelmingly people-focused to the exclusion of independent thought. Its Instinctive Drive, also 3/5, speaks to its heritage as a bird dog, possessing a natural inclination for hunting and retrieving without being solely driven by it. Crucially, the Brittany's Memory stands out at an impressive 5/5, suggesting an exceptional ability to recall past experiences, learned commands, and intricate routines, making it a reliable partner in consistent environments.
In contrast, the Lakeland Terrier, a terrier breed, presents a different cognitive profile, not appearing on the traditional Coren ranking but possessing its own unique strengths. Its Problem Solving ability is rated at 3/5, indicating a capacity to figure things out, often through persistence and independent thinking, particularly when faced with self-motivated tasks like hunting small prey. The Lakeland's Training Speed is also 3/5, meaning it can learn, but typically requires more repetition and a deeper understanding of its motivations compared to breeds with higher scores.
Like the Brittany, the Lakeland Terrier scores 3/5 in Social Intelligence, suggesting it is perceptive of its human companions but maintains a degree of self-reliance, often making its own decisions. Its Instinctive Drive, also 3/5, is strongly rooted in its terrier heritage—a drive to chase, dig, and explore with considerable tenacity. The most notable difference lies in its Memory, rated at 3/5, which, while adequate for daily life, does not match the Brittany's exceptional recall, implying that learned behaviors might require more reinforcement over time to remain sharp.
Where the Brittany Shows Cognitive Superiority
The Brittany's cognitive strengths are particularly evident in its remarkable memory and faster training acquisition. A Memory score of 5/5 means a Brittany can retain a vast repertoire of commands, routines, and experiences with remarkable fidelity. This translates into a dog that not only learns a new trick quickly but remembers it reliably weeks or months later, even after a break in practice. This exceptional recall is invaluable for complex obedience work, field trials, or even simply maintaining household manners without constant reminders.
Coupled with a Training Speed of 4/5, the Brittany exhibits a pronounced aptitude for absorbing new information. They process new commands and associate them with actions with relative ease, making training sessions highly productive. This rapid learning curve allows owners to progress quickly through various levels of training, from basic manners to advanced agility or hunting commands. Their Problem Solving score of 4/5 further enhances this, enabling them to apply learned solutions to novel situations, making them adaptable and resourceful partners in varied activities.
Understanding the Lakeland Terrier's Unique Cognitive Strengths
While the Lakeland Terrier's scores might appear lower in comparison, their cognitive profile reflects a different kind of intelligence—one deeply rooted in independence and tenacity, characteristic of their terrier lineage. Their Problem Solving score of 3/5, while not as high as the Brittany's, points to a dog adept at figuring out challenges on its own terms. This often manifests as cleverness in navigating obstacles, outsmarting prey, or finding ways to achieve their goals, even if those goals aren't always aligned with human directives. This independent problem-solving can be a strength for owners who appreciate a dog with self-efficacy.
The Lakeland's Instinctive Drive, also 3/5, is a significant cognitive force. This isn't just a physical urge; it involves focused attention, strategic thinking in pursuit, and an unwavering determination to complete a task once started, whether that's tracking a scent or investigating a burrow. This drive, combined with their 3/5 Social Intelligence, means they are observant of their environment and social cues, but are often driven by their own internal motivations, making them discerning and self-assured companions rather than overtly eager-to-please. Their cognitive focus is often on the task at hand, whether it be exploring or guarding, rather than solely on human direction.
Which is Easier to Train, and Why?
Based on their cognitive profiles, the Brittany is generally easier to train than the Lakeland Terrier. The Brittany's 4/5 Training Speed and 5/5 Memory are key factors. They pick up new commands with fewer repetitions and retain them over long periods. Their relatively balanced Social Intelligence (3/5) means they are attuned to their handler's desires, and while they possess an instinctive drive, it is often channeled effectively into cooperative tasks like retrieving and pointing. This combination makes them highly responsive to positive reinforcement and consistent training methods, often eager to please and quick to form associations between commands and actions.
The Lakeland Terrier, with a 3/5 Training Speed and 3/5 Memory, presents a different training dynamic. While capable of learning, they typically require more patience, consistency, and creative motivation. Their independent problem-solving and strong instinctive drive mean they might be more inclined to follow their own instincts or investigate interesting scents than to immediately comply with a command. Training a Lakeland often involves understanding their independent nature, making sessions engaging, and leveraging their natural drive rather than trying to suppress it entirely. Their memory, while sufficient for everyday life, means that learned behaviors might need more frequent refreshing to remain reliable, especially under distracting circumstances.
Matching Breeds to Lifestyles: Active vs. Relaxed Owners
The Brittany's cognitive makeup makes it an ideal companion for active owners who relish engaging their dog in various activities. Owners who enjoy dog sports like agility, obedience, flyball, or hunting will find the Brittany's high Problem Solving, rapid Training Speed, and exceptional Memory to be tremendous assets. They thrive on mental stimulation and physical exercise, excelling when given tasks to complete and problems to solve alongside their human partners. A Brittany will flourish in a home where its cognitive abilities are regularly challenged through training, games, and outdoor adventures, making it a true partner in an active lifestyle.
The Lakeland Terrier, with its independent problem-solving and strong instinctive drive, is better suited for owners who appreciate a dog with a robust personality and a self-sufficient streak. While they still require regular exercise and mental engagement, their preferred mode of activity might lean more towards independent exploration, digging, or chasing small prey, rather than strictly human-directed tasks. Owners who enjoy long, investigative walks, are prepared for a dog that might follow its nose more than a direct command, and appreciate a discerning, tenacious companion will find a rewarding partnership with a Lakeland. They are not necessarily for 'relaxed' owners in terms of minimal activity, but rather for owners who are relaxed about a dog's independent problem-solving and less about strict, high-level obedience.
The Verdict
Choose the Brittany if you seek a highly trainable, quick-to-learn companion with exceptional memory, eager to partner in complex activities and training endeavors.
Opt for the Lakeland Terrier if you appreciate an independent, tenacious dog with strong natural drives and a self-reliant problem-solving approach, valuing character over absolute compliance.
🧠 Find Your Pet's IQ Score
Our Pet IQ Lab assessment covers 25+ tests across 5 cognitive dimensions — personalized to your breed.
Take the Full IQ Test →Frequently Asked Questions
Does a dog's Coren ranking fully define its intelligence?
No, the Coren ranking primarily measures a dog's working intelligence and obedience, specifically how quickly it learns and obeys commands. It doesn't fully encompass other forms of intelligence like problem-solving in natural environments, social intelligence, or instinctive drives, which are equally important aspects of a dog's overall cognitive profile.
How does 'Instinctive Drive' impact a dog's daily life?
Instinctive Drive refers to a dog's inherent genetic predispositions for certain behaviors, such as hunting, herding, or guarding. A strong drive means the dog will naturally be more inclined to engage in these behaviors, which can be a strength for specific tasks but may also require management in a domestic setting to ensure it's channeled appropriately and safely.
Can a Lakeland Terrier be trained for advanced obedience despite its scores?
Yes, a Lakeland Terrier can absolutely be trained for advanced obedience, but it will typically require more consistent effort, patience, and creative motivation compared to a breed with higher training speed and memory scores. Their independent nature means training must be engaging and rewarding to maintain their focus and willingness to cooperate.