Personal opinion on this subject is widely varied. Some of us will swear that you can’t grade a dog on intelligence solely on it’s “breed”.
I’ve owned several “Heinz 57 Mutt dogs”, that show extreme intelligence.
Based on how quickly some breeds tend to learn though, there is a list of the “smartest” full bred canines.
My own personal favorite is the Labrador Retriever. It is ranked # 7 on the “official” smart pooch list.
It is known to be very affectionate and patient. It is one of the most popular dogs in the world for families.
Downfalls would be that they tend to be overweight, sometimes even with a proper amount of exercise.
I own a half Lab, half German Shepherd, and although he has fenced acres to run around on, (and run he does!), he tends to be a little on the chubby side.
German Shepherds are listed as # 3 for intelligence. They are also known to be very courageous and protective. They need to be trained as a puppy for obedience, and that should ensure they are under control. We’ve all seen how this very smart breed is used in police work, and that is due to their ability to be easily trained. They are also known for their loyalty.
The # 1 dog listed, is the Border Collie.
A family member of mine owned one of these, and I have to admit, the dog seemed to be smarter then the owner at times! It behaved as if it was professionally trained, even though it had only been taught basic commands at a young age. They are a “people” dog, and don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time. They are also herding dogs, and like to have a job to “work” at, be it herding sheep or toddlers. They are very agile, and compete in many agility trials against other dogs.
The # 2 dog listed, is the Poodle.
From Standard size to Tea Cup, they love to be around people and don’t like to be left alone. Most are sensitive and pleasant. (I have known one or two that tended to be “barkers”, but it could be they just weren’t taught that it isn’t acceptable to bark non-stop ).
As I mentioned above, the # 3 dog listed for intelligence, is the German Shepherd.
# 4 is the Golden Retriever. It is currently ranked the number one most popular breed.
They are known to be loyal, patient, great with children and can excel in obedience trials.
# 5 on the list is the Doberman Pinscher.
They have extreme stamina and energy. They can be very loyal to their owner and family, but wary of strangers. If trained from an early age, they can be very docile. As in most breeds, early training is very important.
# 6 on the list is the Shetland Sheepdog.
My own personal experience with this breed, is that they are hyper and “yappy”, but that is only based on meeting three dogs of this breed, and is only my opinion. Most owners of this breed will almost swear they have near human intelligence. They are also a herding dog, so like to have a job. They can be slightly wary of children.
# 7, as listed above, is the Labrador Retriever.
My all time favorite of all breeds. I’ve only ever “met” one that had a bad disposition, and I think it was due to inbreeding.
# 8 is listed as the Papillon.
It is known to be very easy to train and very intelligent. It can also be moody and very possessive of it’s owner.
Although small in size they are apparently a lot tougher then they look!
# 9 is the Rottweiler.
These dogs have fearsome reputations, but don’t always live up to the “killer” types they look like they could be.
It is known to be very intelligent, but also very courageous, and one of the best dogs to have for guarding.
#10 is the Australian Cattle dog.
It is a very active breed and needs early training. They were bred to herd cattle in Australia, thus their name. They are very protective of their property and their families. If raised as a young pup with children, they accept them as
their litter mates, but they do need to be raised from a puppy, and not just introduced quickly to young children without supervision.
www.petwave.com/Dogs/Breeds
www.loveyourdog.com/labs.html
