Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds

Humans tend to prize intelligence, even when it comes to our pets. Neuropsychologist Stanley Coren, in his book "The Intelligence of Dogs", ranked the smartest dog breeds according to how fast and well each breed can be trained.

Smartest dog

Do you recognize this breed of dog? It's the smartest in the world.

Do bear in mind though that just like humans, smart dogs does not necessarily equate to good dogs. A smart dog with too much time on its paws can turn a house upside down if left alone. A dense pooch may not even figure out that you are away until you are back home. Each breed also have distinct innate qualities so regardless of intelligence, you're going to be banging your head if you attempt to train your papillon to herd sheep.

Here's the list along with each breed's traits.

No. 10 Australian Cattle Dog

  • Protective
  • Energetic
  • Loves herding and other outdoor activities

No. 9 Rottweiler

  • Courageous
  • Powerful
  • Makes an excellent police dog or guard dog and an equally great family companion

No. 8 Papillon

  • Sharp
  • Very affectionate, which in turn may lead to possessiveness
  • Named is derived from its characteristic butterfly ears
  • Previously known as Dwarf Spaniels in the 16th and 17th centuries

No. 7 Labrador Retriever

  • Gentle
  • Remarkably friendly
  • Great swimmers
  • Ideal sporting and family dog

No. 6 Shetland Sheepdog

  • Loyal
  • Wary of strangers
  • "Sheltie" is a cross between Spitz-type dogs and collies
  • Excels in herding

No. 5 Doberman Pinscher

  • Extremely loyal
  • Fearless
  • Known for its stamina and speed
  • Perfect as a guard, police or military dog

No. 4 Golden Retriever

  • Well known for its loving nature
  • Very loyal
  • Extremely reliable
  • Due to its trainability, they are used in a variety of roles such as search-and-rescue operations, guiding the blind and retrieving game
  • Makes a great family dog

No. 3 German Shepherd

  • Courageous
  • Strong protective instinct
  • The world's leading police, guard and military dog

No. 2 Poodle

  • Suprisingly smart
  • Unlike most breeds, poodles come in a variety of sizes
  • Trained to retrieve things, including from the water
  • Smaller varieties are used for truffle hunting

No. 1 Border Collie

  • Extremely intelligent (obviously)
  • Extraordinary instinct
  • Diligent
  • World's premier sheep herder




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