When it comes to picking the right dog for you and your family there are many traits that you might consider.
While loyalty, potential for shedding and the amount of exercise the dog will need are all considerations, some people are more concerned with the capacity of the dog to learn.
In this article we will cover the top 10 smartest dogs – at least the general consensus as to the top ten breeds when it comes to intelligence testing in a canine forum.
Please note that smart does not always mean the easiest to train as sometimes the smartest dogs can also find ways around the rules or get bored during training.
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While loyalty, potential for shedding and the amount of exercise the dog will need are all considerations, some people are more concerned with the capacity of the dog to learn.
Please note that smart does not always mean the easiest to train as sometimes the smartest dogs can also find ways around the rules or get bored during training.
Know more about Best Dog Crate.
The Border Collie. A Brief Note About the Border Collie
Border Collie going through slalomsThe border collie is a popular breed known for being the most intelligent dog breed worldwide. This dog was initially developed as a herding dog in England and Scotland where it herded a number of livestock but particularly sheep.
The border collie is still widely used as a herding dog in England and Scotland both and are often found on farming properties.
The border collie is still widely used as a herding dog in England and Scotland both and are often found on farming properties.
The Appearance of the Border Collie
The border collie is a medium sized dog that has a moderate coat that is much like the German Shepherds in the presence of a double coat. Unlike the German shepherd the border collie is not known to shed too much.
The border collie coat comes in a variety of colors including red, black and white, red merle, blue merle, brindle and Australian red. The most commonly seen coloring of the border collie is a combination of black and white with a long silky coat.
The eyes of the border collie can vary in color and a dog may even have heterochromia or two different colored eyes. Heterochromia is particularly common in border collies, Australian shepherds and husky dogs.
The border collie coat comes in a variety of colors including red, black and white, red merle, blue merle, brindle and Australian red. The most commonly seen coloring of the border collie is a combination of black and white with a long silky coat.
The eyes of the border collie can vary in color and a dog may even have heterochromia or two different colored eyes. Heterochromia is particularly common in border collies, Australian shepherds and husky dogs.
Keeping a Border Collie as a Pet
Keeping a border collie as a pet can be challenging for a household that is not prepared for a highly energetic and demanding dog. Border collies require a lot of exercise both physically and mentally and when they are not provided with these things they can quickly become neurotic.
A bored border collie is a dog that no one wants to contend with because this boredom is frequently channeled in to extremely destructive behaviors such as digging and chewing. Most commonly the border collie excels in a household that provides extracurricular activity such as agility work, herding work, extensive obedience work or fly ball competition.
Even with adequate outlets for their energy, border collies are herding dogs by nature and this often breeds into them an instinctive herding instinct which they will perform on anything and everything including young children.
A bored border collie is a dog that no one wants to contend with because this boredom is frequently channeled in to extremely destructive behaviors such as digging and chewing. Most commonly the border collie excels in a household that provides extracurricular activity such as agility work, herding work, extensive obedience work or fly ball competition.
Even with adequate outlets for their energy, border collies are herding dogs by nature and this often breeds into them an instinctive herding instinct which they will perform on anything and everything including young children.
See our in depth Border Collie Profile. The Poodle. A Brief Note About the Poodle
Poodle standing on the base of a treeThe poodle is recognized as being among the smartest dog breeds in the world. There are three sizes of poodles, the miniature, the toy and the standard poodle.
This breed of dog was originally bred to be a water dog; however, over the years this breed has adapted to a number of different sports and jobs. Today the poodle is often used in agility, tracking, obedience and herding.
This breed of dog was originally bred to be a water dog; however, over the years this breed has adapted to a number of different sports and jobs. Today the poodle is often used in agility, tracking, obedience and herding.
The Appearance of the Poodle
As mentioned above there are three sizes of poodles but all have a curly coat that does not shed which makes this breed appeal to many families with allergies.
Poodles do not have a double coat like Labradors and German shepherds; they come in a variety of colors including: grey, white, black, red, cream, brown, apricot, blue and silver.
Poodles have a long and straight muzzle with long and flat ears. Keeping a Poodle as a Pet.
Poodles do not have a double coat like Labradors and German shepherds; they come in a variety of colors including: grey, white, black, red, cream, brown, apricot, blue and silver.
Poodles have a long and straight muzzle with long and flat ears. Keeping a Poodle as a Pet.
Poodles are extremely intelligent dogs and are fast learners which make them great pets for those who are willing to work with them.
Due to the fact that these dogs are such fast learners many people believe that they make the perfect pet however, without direction and teaching poodles can be difficult to handle and hard headed.
Of all varieties of poodle the standard sized poodle is the version of this breed with the lowest level of energy but all versions of poodles can become highly strung and resistant when not handled with proper care.
Poodles are needy dogs and as a breed they require an attentive family not only to keep them stimulated psychologically and physically but also a family that makes them feel like part of the pack.
Due to the fact that these dogs are such fast learners many people believe that they make the perfect pet however, without direction and teaching poodles can be difficult to handle and hard headed.
Of all varieties of poodle the standard sized poodle is the version of this breed with the lowest level of energy but all versions of poodles can become highly strung and resistant when not handled with proper care.
Poodles are needy dogs and as a breed they require an attentive family not only to keep them stimulated psychologically and physically but also a family that makes them feel like part of the pack.
The German Shepherd. A Brief Note about the German Shepherd. German Shepherd police dogThe German shepherd dog is a breed that dates back only as far as 1899 where it was developed as a working dog in Germany.
The original purpose of the German shepherd dog was for herding sheep and guarding them to ensure that flocks were not decimated by predators. The strength of these dogs alone makes them ideal for guardians of sheep flocks but so too does the dogs ability to be easily trained.
The extreme intelligence of this dog breed however soon resulted in German shepherds being used for various other working jobs as well.
The original purpose of the German shepherd dog was for herding sheep and guarding them to ensure that flocks were not decimated by predators. The strength of these dogs alone makes them ideal for guardians of sheep flocks but so too does the dogs ability to be easily trained.
The extreme intelligence of this dog breed however soon resulted in German shepherds being used for various other working jobs as well.
The Appearance of the German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is a relatively large dog that has a long and square muzzle with a scissor bite. The ears of this dog stand tall and pull backwards when the dog moves.
Most commonly the German shepherd is black and tan in color and can have a variety of markings; however, other base colors of German shepherds are noted including: all black, all white, sable and blue.
The German shepherd has a double coat with the undercoat being particularly thick and protective of the skin.
Most commonly the German shepherd is black and tan in color and can have a variety of markings; however, other base colors of German shepherds are noted including: all black, all white, sable and blue.
The German shepherd has a double coat with the undercoat being particularly thick and protective of the skin.
Keeping a German Shepherd as a Pet
German shepherds are much like Labrador retrievers in that they require constant stimulation in order to thrive.
A German shepherd that is not provided with adequate intellectual or physical activity will take that energy and turn it elsewhere.
German shepherds almost always thrive in taking part in rewarding jobs such as working as police dogs, drug dogs, therapy dogs or in physically rewarding jobs such as agility work. See our in depth German Shepherd Profile
A German shepherd that is not provided with adequate intellectual or physical activity will take that energy and turn it elsewhere.
German shepherds almost always thrive in taking part in rewarding jobs such as working as police dogs, drug dogs, therapy dogs or in physically rewarding jobs such as agility work. See our in depth German Shepherd Profile
