What breed of dog is the smartest?
By saralee1
@saralee1 (1983)
United States
9 responses
@iiartisanii (254)
• United States
31 May 07
There really is no "smartest" breed as that is a very subjective topic. What constitutes "smart"? Ability to learn a trick quickly? Problem solving like escaping from yards/crates?
A lot of people say that Labs and Goldens and all those other popular breeds are "smart" because they'll do anything for a piece of food. I think most of them lack any problem solving ability. It doesn't take a genius to learn that if you sit your butt on the ground someone will give you a treat.
If I had to pick a smartest group of dogs, I'd say the Herding Group, hands down. Most were bred to work alone without the direction of a trainer. They can go over a mountain and bring back a flock of sheep safely without ever having been taught. They are also good problem solvers and can figure things out for themselves. They are also smart enough to get out of doing mundane things like obedience training and take a skillful owner to keep them out of trouble.
By and large I think some of the dumbest dogs I have ever met were in the Working and Sporting group. Boxers, Huskies, Labs, all the Setters . . I think they're all kind of "deedeedee" in the words of Carlos Mencia. Dogs that would sit next to a closed door for hours whining when there was a doggy door right behind them lol.
2 people like this
@saralee1 (1983)
• United States
31 May 07
Was that a typo? because the Australian Shepard, the one you were talking about is indeed a working class dog, oh yes! have had one of those too.
Indeed Boxers can be kind of bubbly, but they are very protective of their families. And, suspicious of strangers, until they get to know you.
and, indeed I have known herding dogs, or working class dogs that needed training to bring herds to the right spot. that statement you made, was kind of weird.
My Australian Shepard took to herding day two of training, and the people training thought that was indeed amazing.
1 person likes this
@iiartisanii (254)
• United States
31 May 07
In the AKC Herding and Working are two different groups. I was talking about the AKC group Herding. Sure herding dogs are technically workers. I wasn't arguing that. I meant the AKC Herding Group which includes the following breeds:
Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Bearded Collie, Border Collie, all the Belgian dogs, Bouviers, Briards, etc etc.
The AKC Working Group is Boxers, Malamutes, Huskies, Rottweilers, Dobermans, etc etc.
2 people like this
@JYOTHICHOWDARY (232)
• India
31 May 07
hi
franky speking it depends on the attitude of the person if its fun loving jovial type of person they would prefer a small pupply like pamarian or such breads
if the person is lik a military mentality and prefers disiplin he would prefer some breed like german shepard or some thing like daber man it depends on the mentality of the owner
@Daremyth (49)
• Venezuela
31 May 07
I like all kinds of dogs, but if I were to pick one for myself I'll go for medium to big dogs, I think the little ones are cute but most of them are too nervous for me. My cousin bought a miniature pinscher, a very cute dog but very very hyperactive... it just drives nuts... hahaha. Big dogs are often more calm and placid, but like everything in life there are exceptions to the rule.
2 people like this
@vivienna (582)
• Venezuela
31 May 07
That depends very much on what breed's your pet!:) Seriously: dogs are smart, all of them, but I have a great preference for working dogs, and I suppose that these breeds are still smarter ones!
There are herding dogs, assistence dogs, search dogs, tracking, hunting, watch, police, sled ...dogs. They arn't only useful but actually perform tasks that human can't do. Breeds that belong to this group are: shepherds, mastiffs, danes, rottweiler, dobermans, huskies. A more complete list and description is avalaible at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_dog
My late fourlegged friend was a Saint Bernhard, a classic search breed, and his perspicacy, attention, care and affection, were unique.
2 people like this
@tredale (1309)
• Australia
31 May 07
The labador and german shephard are two of the most keen learners Ive experienced though Im sure that most breeds of dogs are bright and keen to learn. I believe this is the reason they use labs as guide dogs because they learn fast and are good with people. They also read human behavior well with in a week of having our lab he was already bring the kids in on dark. He would shephard my three and five year old inside and then stay guard and block the door if they tryed to get out.
@saralee1 (1983)
• United States
31 May 07
LOL! indeed the dobermans have a maternal instinct about them! (alot of dogs do) but dobermans are cuuuute! and, they really do pack with other dogs. It is kind of funny. One of my roommates had two king dobermans, and an austrailian shepard, and a very small dog that looked like a chihuahua mutt. (LOL) she was a dog groomer, hence the animals. but, her Dobermans were funny dogs! one minute, they would be gently nuzzled next to you, the next minute barking ferociously at a stray cat in the alley.
1 person likes this
@Daremyth (49)
• Venezuela
31 May 07
Hi saralee. Hmmm, well I had a boxer and he was pretty intelligent, since then I always adopted mixed breed dogs and they're very very intelligent... I currently have 3 dogs, one male and two females, and they're so intelligent that I swear sometimes they can manipulate us into doing what they want! o_O I know some people who firmly believe mixed breed often turn to be more intelligent and loyal that dogs with a pedigree. :P
2 people like this
@saralee1 (1983)
• United States
31 May 07
Unfortunately, where I live I can't have a do, but can have a cat. I am a cat lover, but I am indeed a dog lover as well! I had a Scottish terrier mix (or it might have been poodle because of the curly hair) that was a pretty good dog. She loved grooming day! she'd walk around all pretty, and was kind of specific too, had to have the bow in her hair that the groomer gave, or it just wasn't the same! She was a pretty vain dog, I think, ha ha!
She loved her car rides, and would sulk if you didn't take her. she was great on a leash, but terrible at chasing things, ie. frisbees, cars, balls... maybe the "not chasing cars" was a good thing!
1 person likes this
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
31 May 07
Oh, boy! I wonder what kinds of replies you will get for this one? No two answers the same, I'll bet. Personally, I think the smartest dog is a cat! lol! Seriously, I don't know if they are really the smartest, but I think border collies are pretty intelligent.
2 people like this
@saralee1 (1983)
• United States
31 May 07
ha!ha! I was kind of wondering what replies I would get too, since my grammar in that one is an "F".
That is what I get, I guess!
indeed cats are smart creatures! my baby kitten was originally adopted by a lady who owned a dog. She had to give the kitten back to the agency though, because the dog was too rough. however, this kitten is remarkable! He fetches! he sits! he listens to commands! because he is on the verge of adulthood though, he has a terrible co-dependency problem though. He cries when I leave the apartment, and it was one of the contributing factors as to why I quit my job, because it was disturbing the neighbors, and I was pretty determined to keep him here.
He seems to be better now, so it is no longer a contributing factor for a job, thank goodness!
1 person likes this
