The Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds According To Experts
Dogs are one of the most diverse animals alive today. They come from all around the world in countless sizes, builds, colors, and temperaments. Within the large variety of dog breeds, each one has its own particular set of abilities and smarts.
Here is a list of the top 10 breeds that dog experts agree are some of the smartest dogs in the world today.
Border Collie
Whenever dog intelligence comes into account, the border collie is the epitome of a smart dog. This black-and-white collie is capable of strategically herding sheep and learning new tricks or behaviors with amazing speed.
Clever and curious, Border Collies are full of energy and need a job to do or a highly active owner who is willing to engage in long daily play or exercise sessions. The Border collie’s athletic streak makes it a fantastic agility dog for those with a casual or competitive interest in the sport.
German Shepherd
Known for their fierce protectiveness and unwavering obedience, it is no wonder this dog is often part of teams in the military and police force. With unmatched focus and intelligence, German Shepherds are one of the most reliable dogs of all time if trained well.
Suspicious of strangers and fiercely protective of their owners and property boundaries, German Shepherds make great watch or guard dogs.
This serious breed thrives under well-structured training and direction and loves a good challenge. German shepherds are frequently trained as search-and-rescue dogs, herders or trackers in the police force.
You may also like: Top 10 Most Hyper Dog Breeds at Petsoid
Poodle
Whether toy, miniature, or standard, all poodles regardless of size possess a high level of intelligence. They are capable of learning large numbers of new tricks with ease and are receptive to being trained in obedience or any other type of task.
Despite their stereotypical reputation of being stuck-up, poodles are actually quite the opposite. With an athletic history involving hunting and herding, these eager, energetic dogs thrive on regular exercise and challenging sport or trick training sessions.
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers were originally bred as hunting dogs to retrieve downed water fowl from the water.
Golden retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds for a good reason. These well-rounded dogs are known for both their hard-working natures and their gentle temperaments. They love to play and are especially fond of swimming after sticks or other toys that are thrown into a pool or lake.
Golden retrievers make both ideal pets for families with kids or the perfect working dog. Golden retrievers thrive in sports or as therapy animals and guide dogs for the disabled. They can be trained to do well over a hundred tricks or commit to more serious tasks such as sniffing out drugs.
Labrador Retriever
Similar in appearance and temperament to the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular family dogs of all time. Friendly and full of energy, these dogs love nothing more than to play.
This energetic, fun-loving dog is an excellent swimmer and excels at sports and as a water rescue dog. The Labrador’s easy-going personality and receptivity to training also makes it an ideal guide dog.
Labrador Retrievers come in three different coat colors including: black, yellow, and chocolate brown.
Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher is a highly intelligent breed with a historically fearsome reputation as military and police dogs. With proper training, however, these brave and intense dogs are loyal, loving, and highly protective of their owners.
Powerful, long-legged and full of energy, Doberman Pinschers love to play and require lots of consistent exercise. The Doberman’s strength, bravery and imposing appearance makes it an ideal guard dog.
Rottweiler
Large and muscular, Rottweilers were originally bred as working dogs for the purposes of herding cattle and pulling small carts.
Rottweilers are energetic, perceptive and need regular mental and physical stimulation. With a good foundation of obedience training, Rottweilers are friendly, playful, and loyal to their families.
Rottweilers’ courageous, protective nature and their large, imposing size makes them great police or guard dogs.
Shetland Sheepdog
These small collies are energetic and eager to learn, making them both fantastic working dogs or family pets. Shetland Sheepdogs are devoted to their owners and love to be included their families’ daily lives and routines.
Shetland sheepdogs are highly perceptive and catch on to new things very quickly, making them easy to train in a number of tasks or to do tricks. These agile little dogs make fantastic herders and can excel in sports such as agility.
Australian Cattle Dog
As their name suggests, Australian Cattle Dogs were originally bred to herd and guard cattle. Crossed between a Blue Merle collie and a dingo, this unique breed is short, stocky, and considerably strong for its size. These highly perceptive dogs are alert, loyal, and take any tasks they are in charge of quite seriously.
Australian Cattle Dogs need almost constant stimulation and are best suited to active owners who have the time and energy to exercise them, engage in long play sessions, or to train them as a working dog.
Papillon
With large, unique ears shaped like butterfly wings, Papillons certainly have an elegant appearance. They are an old French breed once known as the Dwarf Spaniel and were first bred several centuries ago.
Papillons may be small, but they are not suited to be apartment lapdogs. They possess a surprising amount of stamina for their small size and have energy levels comparable to a much larger dog.
Agile and energetic, this unique little dog enjoys long walks and can do well in sports such as agility.
A common trait found in the top 10 smartest dogs tend to be that they are extremely loyal to their families and tend to be relatively easy to train. Many of these breeds are also highly energetic and must be adopted only by families or individuals who are willing and able to give them plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
